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Dormer House School Blog: Mrs Claire May
- Headmistress
Monday 13th February
Since my last update, we've had lots of new families signing up their children to Fledglings and Skylarks, which is lovely. I have enjoyed showing prospective parents round the school and always feel proud to show Dormer House on a normal working day. I never know as I open a classroom door what I'm about to find, but it's always an example of excellent teaching and learning.
This half term has gone in a flash and school life is as busy as ever. It's been wonderful sharing the 11+ successes as they have begun to roll in. As I write, we are still waiting for the grammar school results and a few last private school decisions to be made, but most of the children are now through to excellent secondary schools and we have had scholarship successes too :-)
The teaching staff have been busy piloting "Pupil Profiles" which I'm fairly confident will become part of our teaching practice from now on. These visual records of achievement will help teachers, pupils and parents see at a glance what level a child is working at and what needs to be done to reach the next level.
Play times at the park are now up and running. The children have taken the health and safety insturctions very seriously, so that we are getting there quickly and safely and enjoying the space to play that the park offers us. If only it were a little warmer...
Tuesday 17th January
The Open Day on Saturday was a huge success. 20 interested families dropped by, which made all the preparation worthwhile. The children were our best ambassadors and I heard over and over again what a fantastic impression they made. Let's hope that a few of our visitors sign their children up.
Wednesday 4th January
It's always a bit of a shock coming back to school after a nice long break, but all the children have been bouncing around, excited to be with their friends again. I enjoyed giving out the new house badges today. They should promote extra pride in the house system and they certainly look lovely and smart on the children's blazers. In assembly this morning, I talked about the Military Wives' Choir. I found the recent TV documentary about Gareth Malone and his ambition and passion totally inspiring and wanted to share it with the school. I think they understood what I was going on about!
Well, I'm hoping that the new term will be as exciting and rewarding as the last one. At least I'm not the new girl any more :-)
Wednesday 14th December
It's the last day of my first term at Dormer. The school is full of excitement today. The school council have just finished running the inter-house Christmas quiz. There is a Danish Christmas meal going on in Year 4 (they don't seem to think that 9.30 is too early for frikadelas and red cabbage!), other classes are giving and receiving cards and presents, there seem to be an awful lot of chocolates and mince pies floating around...
The carol service last night was beautiful. I hope I don't ever become complacent about what we achieve at Dormer. The standard at Batsford Church was what I am getting used to now and the atmosphere was just lovely. I don't know why I was so worried about the risk assessment. Hot mulled wine in a confined space, with candles flickering all around, didn't seem at all out of place.
Off to our final assembly of the term. There are effort prizes and the house cup to be awarded, a range of thank yous and goodbyes, and a surprise slide show of what's been going on since September.
If you are reading this, I'd like to wish you a happy festive season and all the best for 2012.
Friday 9th December
Today saw the nativity performances from our little ones. The Nursery play was very cute. The songs were delightful and the children enchanting. The Reception play was amazing. I cannot believe how well rehearsed they were. It's incredible what the teachers get out of such little people. Full credit to them! I'm sitting at my desk now, after eating a huge Christmas lunch - turkey and all the trimmings. I'm feeling very full! The atmosphere at lunch time was lovely. Everyone was in good spirits, the food was fab and everyone enjoyed the crackers, music and eco-decorations. Now we've got a weekend to recover before the home straight next week!
Tuesday 6th December
Wow - it just gets better and better.
I've just returned from the Year 1-3 nativity. It was absolutely brilliant. Every single child knew every single word and every single action to every single song. I don't know how they did it. All the hard work put in by Mrs Goddard, Mrs Preston and Mrs Marshall (and of course the children) really paid off. "Prickly Hay" was such a good choice - just the right mix of traditional Christmas story with fun, funky music. It was such fun walking down to the hall with the Year 4-6 children to see it. We stopped in the market to sing a few carols on the way. The crowd loved it! Christmas is really in the air!
Saturday 3rd December
Just got home from watching our choir singing at the Fosseway Garden Centre Christmas Market. They were soooooo good! I don't know how Mrs Goddard gets them to be so word perfect and so in tune. I was very proud of them. I hope Nick's feeling better now - it's far too hot for the time of year!
Wednesday 30th November
Sitting at my desk, trying to proof read (or should that be proofread?) the new Employee's Handbook. To be honest, it's not the most thrilling part of my job, but I am being entertained at the same time by Mrs Kropf, who is decorating my office window! Come and have a look!
Tuesday 29th November
An exciting day – my first ever blog! I’m not sure how this is going to go, how regularly I will have time to update things, or whether anyone will bother to read my ramblings...
Christmas is definitely in the air. Decorations are going up and the children are about to go to the Redesdale Hall to practise their Nativity play. The marketing team met this morning to go through plans for our Open Morning and we are sending out flyers and posters to be displayed in all the local towns and villages. The new website is up and running (as you know if you are reading this) and feedback has been really positive. Dormer is just buzzing!!
I can’t believe I’ve almost done a whole term as Headmistress. It's the best job in the world!
If you would like to respond to this blog please use the form below or email Mrs May at
cmay@dormerhouse.co.uk
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Dormer House School
Moreton in Marsh
Gloucestershire
GL56 0AD
Tel: 01608 650758
Fax: 01608 652238
office@dormerhouse.co.uk |
