Thursday 18th June
Good evening all. I hope you’ve had a lovely day. I can’t believe it is Thursday already and nearly 6.30 in the evening. I just don’t know where the time has gone!
Previously, I told you that we are busy making plans for September (fingers crossed that we will be able to have all of our lovely children back in the building - learning together and achieving success). A very important part of that planning is ensuring that we have a wonderful teacher for every class. Do you know how many classes we have in the school? Have a go at working it out!
Both Miss Best and Miss Jenkins will be on maternity leave at the start of next academic year. Maternity leave is when someone has a baby and they spend some time at home building a special bond with their baby, before returning to work. The length of the maternity leave depends on the individual person. Anyway, we are currently in the process of recruiting a new teacher and this made me think about my first job in a school.
As you all know, I am from Wales. I stayed in Wales whilst I trained to be a teacher and then decided to move away to start my career. My first teaching job was in a junior school in Birmingham (it only had years 3 - 6) and my first class was a year 6 class. I can remember being both excited and nervous about my first day. I had a super class of 30 unique individuals and I wanted to be the best teacher I could be for them. I now have a school of 450 unique individuals and l want to be the best head teacher I can be for all of you. I have always valued the support of my colleagues in supporting me to grow as a professional, as a young teacher and now as a (much older) head teacher. At Olive Hill I get to learn alongside lots of very talented school staff; they all have memories of their first class as well and were very keen to share them with you. I hope you enjoy reading their memories, I know that I did.
Apologies that the blog is really late today - I had to log off, come home and log back in again! It is just so busy all of the time.
We miss you all. Stay safe.
“My first class was reception at Rufford primary school in Stourbridge. I was so excited to get my first classroom ready in the summer holidays but they had to do some building work so I had to wait till the last week to do it. I was worried that I wouldn’t get it done but it did (with lots of help). I loved my first class and I can’t believe they will be going into year 8 in September. ”
“My first class was a year 3/4 class here at Olive Hill and I was in Birch classroom! I was very excited to set up my new classroom and meet all the children in my class. I was also bit nervous as well because I wanted to do a really good job!”
“My first class was in Reception With Mrs Waters, Mrs Aziz and Mrs Fawke. I was in Beech class and now those children will soon be starting year 5! I had the most amazing year full of nerves, laughter and learning for both me and the children.
I still smile when I see them, or hear any news about them :). ”
“My first class was a Year 3 class of 33 children at a much smaller school than Olive Hill. It was in a 1-form-entry catholic school in Wolverhampton where we had to go to church every other Friday and on celebration days. I was so nervous yet excited to have my own class and spent so much time over the summer getting my classroom looking just right for September. I loved every second of my first day getting to know a class of smiling children and have never looked back since. ”
“My first class was at a different school, it was very small and the children went to a different school when they were in year four. It was called a first school. I taught a mixed year one and two class and we were called Blue Class. I was very scared and excited because I wanted all of my class to like me. I spent all summer making sure my classroom was ready for the children. ”
“My first class was a year 1 class here at Olive Hill. I was Holly class and I even named my dog Holly after this! I was very excited to have my own class but also very nervous. I had lots of support from other teachers including Mrs Higgins, Miss Saleh and Mrs Dudley. Mrs Hamblett was also my school mommy that year (but don’t tell her I told you, she’s far too young to be my real mom!!) I loved my first year as a class teacher here at Olive Hill and I will treasure the memories I made with my amazing first class forever. ”
“My first class was Year 2 in Hawthorn class at Olive Hill. I was so excited to have my own classroom it took me days to set it up with a little help from my family. I felt a mixture of emotions when I first met my class I just wanted to make sure I did a good job! They all made my first year of teaching an absolute pleasure”
“My first class was in Year 5 with Miss Richardson, Miss Raphael and Mrs Stonehouse. I enjoyed making relationships with all of the children and getting to know them. They used to tease me because I had more stationary than WH Smith. It did not take me long to realise that I wanted to work with children till I am really old!!! ”
“My first class was year 1 (Hazel Class) here at Olive Hill. They are the cohort that left last year and will have just finished their first year at Secondary School. I was very nervous to teach my first class of children and when I walked into school on my first day, the thing that made me most excited was seeing my name on the classroom door! That meant I was officially a real teacher!”
“I originally started as a Lunchtime Supervisor but once I qualified as a Teaching Assistant my first class was Reception with Mrs Birch, Mrs Azis and Miss Saleh.
I was excited but nervous at my new role, although knowing some of the children made it easier. ”
“My first class as an NQT was in Year 2 at Lightwoods Primary School in Oldbury. I was excited to have a class and a classroom of my own for the first time; I spent a long time during the summer with some help from my cousin, who is a TA, arranging my classroom and putting up displays. I also remember feeling nervous on the first very first day with them. I will always remember the children and families from that class. I bumped into one of them a few months ago and they are now leaving secondary school!
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“I taught my first very own class here at Olive Hill. I still remember when Miss Grasby phoned me to say that I had got the job! I was so excited and didn’t quite believe her! On the first day back in September, I couldn’t wait to greet all of the children and to start my teaching journey. I had spent lots of time in the Summer preparing year four resources and things for Magnolia class. I couldn’t wait for them to be used. I even asked my family to come in and help me set up the classroom. ”
“My first class as a TA was at Springfield Primary school and I was in a Year 5 class. I spent the whole of the summer buying a variety of stationery and folders! The classroom was based downstairs on the lower ground floor and the stairs were so steep- I used to worry about falling down them! I was really nervous as this was first proper job, I’d only ever worked in a shop before!
My first class a teacher was at Brook Primary school when I was an NQT. I remember driving down the street and into the car park feeling nervous but also so so excited to meet my new colleagues and meet my first class for the very first time. I was in Year 2 and we learnt about The Jolly Postman- during my first ever class assembly some children dressed up as Post boys and girls and we sung ‘Please Mr Postman’.”
“My first class was year 5 with Mrs Stonehouse and Miss Raphael. I was very excited but nervous as me and Miss Raphael were both new! Mrs Stonehouse had to help us set up our classroom because we didn’t know where to start 😅”
“My first class were a year 5 class at Olive Hill. I had Cherry classroom and worked with the wonderful Mrs Brady! I spent lots of time making my classroom look beautiful but I was very nervous when it was time for the children to arrive as I wanted to do a good job. When the children arrived, they were a lovely, friendly group who made me feel very welcome.”
“My first class was a year 5 class and I was in Pear classroom. Miss Richardson was my year group partner and we were both new teachers. During the summer holidays, we came into school to get our classrooms ready for September but we didn’t know what to do first. Luckily, Mrs Stonehouse was our teaching assistant and she gave us loads of advice and really reassured us. ”
“My first class was a Year 2 class at Belle Vue Primary School in Wordsley. I only had 21 children - how lucky I was! I remember feeling really proud and excited that I had qualified as a teacher and had my own class for the first time. I also remember feeling a little bit nervous as it seemed like such a huge responsibility (it is a huge responsibility) but also having great support and guidance from the teachers that I worked with. The class were really lovely and I learnt a lot about teaching that year; I’d like to think they learned a lot from me too! The children in that class are now all aged around 20 - 21 so whenever I occasionally bump into any of them or their families, it makes me feel old! However, I really enjoy hearing about what they are now doing with their lives. ”