Is it Thursday?
There is a vacancy at Tavistock for someone to manage my diary so I know what day of the week/date it really is. I have a paper desk diary, a calendar thing on my computer, my phone, the lovely ladies in the office and I still get my days mixed up. I sent you all to the TAFF tidy up last Saturday and it’s this Saturday! It was so funny on Monday or Tuesday when I spoke to one of the TAFF mums and asked if they had a good turn out at the weekend. She very kindly put me right and said it was the 16th, to which I said I didn’t think it looked like much had been done! Oh we did laugh. Do come along this weekend if you can.
In the vein of being unable to please all the people all of the time and no-one being perfect they just think they are; we had a lovely email from a parent last week as well thanking us for making their child feel happy because they had dressed up for World Book Day a day early. It wasn’t a problem. I come dressed in strange frocks and tights every day. In fact I have my bright green tights on today that someone told me they weren’t fond of. Even if my tights offend the eyes, I like them and at least everyone can see me coming a mile away!
A couple of governors were in school this week checking up on my tights and as always they spoke to the children to gain their opinion of life in school. The focus was on safeguarding this week and whether the children liked school, felt safe and knew about their rights. They spoke to a wide range of children not just the school councilors and were very impressed with their answers. There was only one little person who said they didn’t like anything about Tavistock at all but his friend did say, and these were her words, he had been naughty at lunchtime and that was why he was unhappy; a grown up had told him off! I have to admit I don’t like school when I have been ‘told off’ but I do learn from my mistakes and move on.
The part of the meeting I reflected on the most was about children’s rights (UNCRC). As you know the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is something that we talk about in school. There is information on the website if you would like a refresher. Not only is UNCRC quite a mouthful, it is also quite a hard concept especially with very young children. We clearly don’t talk about all 42 articles and use child friendly language but we want children to not only have a voice but also recognise they have responsibilities to others. For example article 28 says that children have the right to an education and with that comes the responsibility to try your best to be a good learner and not stop others from learning by disturbing them or behaving in a way that stops others from learning. Another favourite is article 27 which is the right to food, clothes and a place to live therefore the responsibility is that children should not waste the food they are given and look after their clothes/belongings. There were a lot of vegetables left again today and lost property is spilling out onto the table! I am going to deliver my assemblies next week on rights as a refresher and it will be interesting to see what they remember after Easter.
Right, I need to move on to the next thing on my list. I do hope it is something nice…but even if it isn’t, I have to get on with it because it is my job and I have the responsibility to do the awful things as well as the not so nice things. Actually, I am sure you say that to your children at home because we certainly say it at school. Everyone has the right to be safe so please pick up your own coat/bag/toys/shoes so that everyone else doesn’t fall over them!
Have a wonderful weekend when it arrives.