Wednesday 20th May
Happy Wednesday all. I hope you have had a lovely day in the sunshine.
As you can see from the blog picture, I did spend sometime outside today - Mr Weston was cutting the grass and I have always wanted to use our mower, so he allowed me to have a go - with my heals on! Miss Walters also went for a little drive on the mower. We both thought it was great fun and we thought we were supporting Mr Weston by helping him with one of his many jobs, but we actually weren’t. Although Mr Weston did allow us to drive the mower, he didn’t actually allow us to cut the grass with it.
I also spent sometime at the front of school with Miss Walters and Mr Holder, we were looking at how to create social distancing spaces for drop off and collection - a bit like you see outside of the supermarkets. Whilst we were outside we were lucky enough to see some of our families on their daily walk, it was the highlight of my day! What has been the highlight of you day? Remember, it is really important to reflect on your day and think about all the good things that have happened. We all need to be thinking positively to support our mental health during these uncertain circumstances.
I have asked the school staff about the highlight of their day, and my phone is busy pinging whilst I share their responses with you:
Mrs Dudley loved coming into school, even if it was only for a short period of time. She came in early this morning to help set the year one classrooms up for social distancing. Mr Weston is rather worried about where we are going to store all of the extra furniture. We’ll think of a solution Mr Weston, don’t worry.
Mrs Hamblett was really pleased that her car passed the MOT test. Phew! This is an annual test that checks your car is safe to be on the road. If it doesn’t pass, then it can cost a lot of money to get it fixed.
Miss Raphael has been in her garden and the highlight of her day was planting some flowers. It seems that many staff at Olive Hill have caught the flowering planting bug!
Miss Cooper has been sat in the sun, reading and listening to the birds. That sounds wonderful Miss Cooper - taking time out to relax is also a really important part of looking after our mental health.
Miss Best has also been in her garden - the highlight was watching a squirrel travel along her garden fence.
Mrs Waters has been in school, setting up her classroom for social distancing (more excess furniture, sorry Mr Weston). Whilst she was tidying her classroom she found an acrostic poem that one of the children in Pine Class had given to her - the memory made her smile.
Miss Richardson loves checking the children’s email account, and the highlight of her day was receiving an email from a child with a photograph attached - the child was in the photograph receiving their times table certificate.
Miss Homer (Y3) received some flowers from Mrs Stonehouse. They are beautiful and have brightened up her kitchen.
During their daily walk, Mrs Birch and her son, Hudson, saw his headteacher on the playground of his school. Hudson had the biggest smile. Hudson, your headteacher would have also had the biggest smile - we love seeing our children, because we miss you so much.
Mrs Fawke has enjoyed having an adult drink!
Miss Wajid has had a girly day with her little sisters. They have had face masks, painted their nails and put on henna. They are preparing for their Eid celebrations at the weekend.
Mrs Copson has been playing swing ball in the garden with her children whilst watching the blue tits flying in and out of their home with food for their chicks.
Mrs Thacker has also been enjoying the sunshine. She has been sat in the garden listening to the world go by, and she could hear some children playing in the garden pool. We do miss the sound of happy children.
Mr Priest’s highlight was listening to his daughter’s singing whilst she was playing. Ava had a very special delivery from her grandad this morning, some sand toys - lots of you will know Mr Priest’s dad, Ava’s grandad, he comes into school to listen to readers and is part of Open the Book on a Thursday.
Mrs Shinner finally finished painting her daughter’s playhouse. It looks fantastic, good choice of colour Mrs Shinner/Imogen.
Mrs Waldron’s highlight was being in school with the key worker children. She loved watching them play with huge smiles on their faces.
Mrs White has been busy planting her herbs, and is now enjoying cooking a lasagne for her family. I wish someone was cooking for me!
Mrs Grice saw one of families on her walk this morning. She was delighted to hear all about their adventures!
This could be the best highlight, Miss Jenkins heard her baby’s heart beat at her midwife appointment today. How special is that!
Miss Walters really enjoyed her time on the mower! Miss Walters, I am not sure that we will be allowed to try it again - once in a lifetime opportunity!
Miss Hackett is currently enjoying a barbeque with her family.
And, Mrs Higgins has been using FaceTime to catch up with her friend from University for the first time since we went into lockdown.
Children, as you can see, it is really important that we reflect on the positive moments in our day. There are so many things that have made me smile today - sharing ideas with Mrs Bennett (the headteacher at Northfield Road); my mum texting me to say she loved me; seeing my niece dressed in her new unicorn costume (Happy Birthday Saffy); chatting to my other niece on FaceTime; watching my nephew destroy my sister’s house with polystyrene balls he was calling snow; riding on the mower; seeing the lovely Olive Hill staff; seeing the lovely Olive Hill children; and, receiving a lovely note from one of our families with the most beautiful words. I am a very lucky headteacher, daughter, aunty, friend, niece, great-niece, girlfriend and step-mum, not forgetting godmother - I have two new godchildren (twins, Harry and Daisy) who are only a couple of weeks old.
Before you go to sleep tonight, think about all the wonderful moments you have had in your day and all the wonderful people in your life. Tomorrow, you could even drop us an email at: children@olive.dudley.sch.uk to share your thinking. We love to hear from you.
Stay safe all.