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The School Log

Education these days is very much about record keeping. Any teacher will tell you that the amount of paper work expected of them has increased over the years. The up-keep of the school log is another form of recording that falls to the head teacher. This though is not a recent innovation but a continuation of a series of fascinating documents that were started when the school was new**

The School Log is the over view of the school, it gives us a glimpse of school life, of our visitors, the pupils who join us and those who leave, the courses that the staff attend and any other items of news that would be of interest. Last year was one of change and exciting prospects. It seems a remarkably short time ago that the first ideas for the ICT suite were mooted. Yet here we are with it all up and running and children enjoying the new opportunities on offer.

The log notes the work that was put in to appoint a new head teacher and also the concerns of the parents and staff that we would succeed in our search. One of the most inspirational groups of visitors to the school were the archaeologists who came last January. They brought with them large boxes of earth with real archaeological finds buried in them. The children were taught how to excavate and record their findings. Helmdon children were complimented on their doggedness and enthusiasm. Certainly it was a very practical demonstration of this fascinating subject.

In February the children all enjoyed ‘Hygiene Week’. Who can forget the lurid posters that decorated the school, warning all of us of what might come our way should we neglect to wash our hands or take other necessary measures to keep ourselves clean. In March we received the good news that we had been waiting for. A new head teacher had been appointed, Sue Blackburn being the successful candidate. From that day on, she managed somehow to become involved in all that Helmdon was doing as well as carry on with her old job. In May the year 3 children went to Grendon for three days with Mrs Darwin and Mrs Watson. Everyone had a wonderful time. For most of the children it was their first experience of a residential trip with the school.

The end of the summer term saw the whole production of the Tempest. Margaret Turnbull masterminded this theatrical treat. Everyone was delighted and astounded by the quality of the production and the children entered into it with gusto. This was followed a few days later by the Year 6 trip to London. This was a wonderful experience for them, two days spent around the city (and above it, on the London Eye) and most exciting of all for Mrs Smith, Mrs Turnbull and the children alike, a night spent sleeping on the gallery floor in the science museum.

After all this activity the last day of term arrived and Fiona Toman competed her very successful (and as she says herself, enjoyable) term as acting head teacher. The children all went home for a relaxing 6 weeks but so many people staff and parents were in school getting the computer suite ready. Having achieved so much in such a short time, everyone involved with the new suite and the reception classroom should be very proud of themselves.

** Extracts from the School Log by former Headmaster Geoffrey Ipgrave appear in Aspects of Helmdon No3 and can be obtained from the school, price £3 (half of this money for the school computer fund).

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