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How
we used Circletime to gear up for our move
Our
strong ethos and community spirit is generated, maintained
and enhanced using many and varied strategies. However,
without doubt our weekly Circletime and celebrations
of success (see picture 5) play a key part in maintaining
our positive community spirit. Circletime was the forum
where we began to prepare our pupils for our impending
move. At Circletime, we asked pupils to raise any worries
and ask any questions they had about the move. All concerns
and questions were recorded in our Circletime log book.
Writing children's comments down ensures that we don't
forget about it and also demonstrates respect. Here
are some of the points mentioned:
Will
I still have my own desk and the same teacher?
How
close are we to Drumpellier play park?
Will
the school dinners be as good? Will we still get Mrs
Brady's curry?
How
much bigger is it?
Will
we have a nice playground?
I
don't want to leave Pentland - it's nice and small.
I don't like big schools.
Will
we still do the same things together?
Staff
were able to reassure pupils that they would have the
same teacher, class mates, equipment and belongings.
All class and school routines and activities would continue.
The headteacher would even make sure that pupils' best
work was displayed on his new 'best work wall' in advance...ready
for them to see when they arrived at the new school!
Unfortunately
our school dinners would come from a new supplier and
many pupils and some hungry and appreciative members
of staff were upset at the prospect of not having Mrs
Brady's special curry!
Some
pupils asked if they could visit the new school and
it was agreed that this would be a positive venture,
enabling pupils and staff to explore the building and
check how near it was to Drumpellier park playground.
At the first Circletime after our visit to our new school,
pupils were asked what they thought of their new school:
It's
got two soft playgrounds! It's brilliant!
It's
all joined up! We won't get wet going to our class
now.
It's
not really that big. It's not wee and squashy like
here.
I
am glad it's got more space. We even have a toilet
off our classroom!
In
tandem with our pupil Circletime, we discussed aspects
of our move at our daily staff Circletimes. Nobody is
too old or too mature for Circletime! This was the locus
for involving all staff fully in planning our move,
thus helping to ensure there was total clarity and commitment
about our agreed plan.
As
our pupils began to feel less anxious, more reassured
and aware of the many benefits or our relocation, we
began to discuss and plan tangible tasks for each class
and its members. For example, it was agreed that all
pupils had responsibility for getting their own working
area set up and ready on arrival. The older pupils had
additional whole school responsibilities like setting
up the dining hall, sorting the PE equipment etc.
Immediately
after our move, we used our first weekly Circletime
to prepare pupils for the arrival of new pupils coming
to join the enlarged Pentland. In our log book, we have
recorded the following advice to those just joining
the Pentland family, as discussed and agreed by pupils
at Circletime:
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Do
listen - it's the only way to learn. |
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Do
behave. If you're cheeky, you miss golden time. |
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If
you feel nervous, don't worry. This is a friendly
and safe place. Everybody will look after you. |
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Also
recorded are our agreed responsibilities to our new
friends.
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Be
friendly and kind to new people. Make them feel
welcome. |
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Help
explain to new people the ways we look after each
other and how everybody respects one another at
Pentland. |
Our
new neighbours
We all miss our friends at Chryston High and Primary.
We miss Mrs Brady and our Janitor, Barry. But life moves
on and we have reached out to make new contacts and
already have some friends in our new community. Being
useful and appreciated in the community is good for
building children's self-esteem and it helped our pupils
feel established and safe in their new location.
Drumpellier
Park is nearby. Occasionally, some pupils will be taken
to the play park for a special treat. Recently, we made
five countryside murals and these are now on display
at the playground. We are truly making our mark in the
community - a positive mark (see picture 6).
Lochview
House is a home for senior citizens right next door.
We sang Christmas carols with them and provided home
baking made by our young performers. Some of Lochview's
residents have visited and enjoyed our Burns celebration
and Easter service. We will soon paint a mural for the
residents to enjoy.
The
community police in our new area have already visited
and talked to pupils about aspects of being safe. Pupils
have seen police cars and horses and visited Pitt Street
headquarters (see picture 7)
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Vision
& Action is edited by Alison Closs and produced by Gina
Reddie.
