School Presentation #4

The school only started having end of year presentations 6 years ago and I have been to 4 of them to see Bret receive an award.

Every year they seem to get more and more silly though. With all of Bret's academic achievements, his actual awards are just for his marketing and production skills in music.

The tickets said 6pm in the community room for food and drink beforehand but Bret said that we had to get there at 6.30pm.
When we got there we were expecting wine and a finger buffet but all we got were Jam tarts, tea & coffee. I was very disappointed as they have always done a buffet in previous years and we hadn't had any tea.

At 6.40pm we were allowed into the hall. I wanted to be close to the front but not in the middle of a row so we ended up at the end which wasn't all that close for photos but at least I had my zoom lens.



The way they do it is quite slick once they get started. They don't stop for applause they just run through the names and the kids go up and get their envelope. However before it even starts we have to endure a "short story" from the head which is never short and never seems to have a point.

When the presentations got into Bret's house, I panicked about taking the photo as I never get a good one so I videoed him instead.

At the beginning the dep head said they were expecting some cricketers from DCCC to come and present the Sports awards but they didn't turn up until it was all over so we had to endure all the Sports presentations again so they could at least make it worth their while coming. Some parents got their kids and left but Bret was right round the other side of the stage so I had to sit right to the end.

We managed to get out by about 8pm and got chips on the way home.

It's Greased Lightning!!!

Tonight was the School Christmas show. Yes I know every year I blog about it but this year was different. This year They put on a full on production of the musical GREASE.

Bret has been rehearsing solidly since September. Originally he was to play the part of Sonny but there was a shift in October and Bret got the part of Kenickey.

I was very nervous as we left home. I wanted Bret to do really well and I wanted it to all go smoothly. As you know the school shows that happened previously were always badly organised and went on and on for ages and ages.

We got there really and they hadn't even opened the doors yet. It was raining and I don't think Debz and Bill were happy with me for leaving so early.

Once we got in and found some good seats a few rows back, my stomach really started with the butterflies and I wasn't even going to be onstage. Ange and DN were arriving slightly later so I had to keep my phone at hand so that as soon as she arived I could go out and take her tickets to her. It was supposed to start at 7pm but the later it got it meant the less they would miss.

As it was I got a text from Ange just as it started so they only missed about 5 minutes of it.

You can always tell a good anything when it flies by so fast. I couldn't believe it when the end of the first half came already. I had thoroughly enjoyed it so far. The kids did amazingly well. Some of the singing wasn't quite there but the fact that they got up there on stage and put their full heart and soul into it.

The second half went just as quick as the first and at the end Bret got to sing Greased Lightning again as an encore. I managed to capture most of it on video but hopefully Bret will be able to get the recording of the whole show.



What really got me was how popular Bret is with his fellow students. He got cheers and whistles for his performance and this made me mighty proud and very teary. I tried to hold back my tears though the lump in my throat was threatening to burst out of my neck.

Everyone was buzzing at the end as the kids all took a bow and there were hugs all round.
We were all really proud of our boy. The show was brilliant and all the actors were stars. Bret was practically bouncing all the way home...Can't wait for the next show now!!

Gas engineers, Teachers and Hunky Firemen

The gas engineer arrived quite quickly so he was finished in good time for me to get some housework done and do my jobsearch. As I had phoned TBG to say I wasn't coming in I thought there was no point in going just for 2 hours. Jobsearch is pretty easy to get done at home on the Internet.

I made myself a home-made pizza for lunch then it was off to school to meet with the careers teacher. As you know I was very worked up about DS options fiasco and I was ready for a fight. Unfortunately nothing I could say would change the situation. The teacher wasn't particularly accommodating and he was one of those that talked down to me like I was one of his pupils. During the interview DS got very upset and started crying but the teacher didn't seem bothered - Then he announced that the children also have to make another choice. He shoved 5 pieces of paper in our faces and said DS has to choose another subject from the 5 and give a 2 and 3 as well. Poor DS was totally overwhelmed and although I protested that this wasn't fair, the teacher said that it has to be done now.

Finally he agreed that DS and I could have half an hour to discuss it and for him to choose. It wasn't easy, I wanted to just walk out of the building taking DS with me but finally he made a decision that may or may not have been the right one.
I am unsure now whether to let it lie or whether to write to the governors to express my disgust at how the whole situation has been handled.

In the evening we had a visit from the fire service. Nothing serious, just the regular fire safety checks. Now why is it that all the people I have told today have replied with "Were they hunky?"
Well I wouldn't say Hunky exactly but the one that did all the talking was quite nice.
He just went through the checklist with me which took about 15 minutes and they were gone. Our flat passed the examination and our next is due in 10 years.

Its options time

...And I am seething.
DS is in yr9 and finally it is time to decide his options choices for the next 2 years. There actually wasn't much choice this year as he only had to pick 2 subjects and a reserve. So automatically his choices picked themselves - IT, Media Studies and as a reserve History.

I was shocked when he came back from school today and said that he has been refused Media because only 10 people have picked it so that isn't enough. Added to that he can't do History either because not enough people have picked that either so he has a choice of French or Business studies.
Neither of these subjects interest him in the slightest. Although he is one of the best in the year in French he can't wait to get rid of it out of his timetable. He has no need of Business studies in his future either.

So incensed was I that I have written to the head of options, head of Careers and also have copied the letter to the Head herself to see what happens. I really don't think that he should have to miss out. What is wrong with doing a class for 10 pupils? And why would they leave History off of the timetable altogether???

School admin...

So after waving DS off at 2am I was lucky enough to get a lift back home and jumped straight into bed. I didn't really manage much sleep though so after DD left for school at 8 I went back to bed to catch a nap.

I was awoken about an hour later by the school on the phone asking why DS isn't in school!!!
When I explained he was on the France trip the woman knew nothing about it. After I told her there are about 50 children on that trip she just laughed and said "No wonder I have such a long list"

Bumper Tuesday Blogpost

Tuesday was the first Target setting day of the new term. As usual neither of my children managed to get appointments with any of their lesson teachers. You could understand it if they were underachieving but they are reaching all their targets well before time so I think it is just laziness that they never let me see any of their other teachers.

Our appointments were 1.30 and 1.40 but I had a busy morning before that as the men from the council were coming to repair my security features.

First of all at about 10am the man came to fix up the intruder alarm and finally show me how to use it. It feels so good to have it finally working. The control panel has been sat there staring at me the whole time and i got frustrated that I wasn't able to use it.

Next at about 11.30 the guy came to fix the video intercom system. It was so messed up that he put in a whole new unit. It is absolutely cool. I can now see who is at the door and I don't have to run down to let anyone in as I can just press the button and the door opens itself. It will be great for Jehovah's witnesses and the like as I can just tell them to go away without having to run up and down the stairs.
The best thing I like about it though is if we are out or indisposed and don't answer the door then it records a picture with the time and date so we will always know if we have missed visitors. I just can't wait now until we get some actual visitors...

My meetings at school ran as they usually do. DD is on course for great grades in her GCSEs. I am a little confused though as it seems that 3 of the exams she took at the end of last year have already given her 3 GCSE grade Cs. When I was at school we took our exams in the spring of the 5th year but It is all different now as they take them right from the fourth year(yr 10) all the way through at odd times.

I got to meet DS' new form tutor and although she did have more info for me about his grades than his old one, she didn't particularly have much to say other than how brilliant he is. Ok so I know that and I couldn't ask for much more but I would like to know exactly what he is so brilliant at in a bit more detail.

Next we had a special meeting with DS PE teacher - surprisingly for me as PE was always his weakest activity. He has been picked to take part in the gifted and talented program working towards the JSLA (junior sports leadership award). The (very easy on the eye) Sports teacher told me that DS has a talent for picking up strategies and routines and is often given the task of leading class warm ups. With this course he could go on to get refereeing qualifications which would be excellent for him. Of course the major good thing that I could see to come out if this is it will make great reading on his CV along with all his academic achievements. DS is all blase about it though and doesn't seem to see it for the big deal it is.

The great thing about living here now is it took 10 minutes to walk home and downhill all the way.

I spent the rest of Tuesday working on my website. http://jembie.co.nr The music page needed updating since the break up of Albion. I really want to put a music player on there though so that will be the next job to find a decent music player so I can add some music from the artists featured on my page. Next job is the TV page to add such shows as Eureka, The 4400 and Bones

End of term - End of an era

Tonight was the End of term / Summer concert at school.
As usual DS would be playing in the Steel band as well as playing a solo and a duet on the clarinet.

It was also a very special night as the music teacher would be leaving at the end of the term and everyone was very emotional about it. Mr Cheer has been at the school for 4 years and before he came along there wasn't very much of a music program let alone the Steel Band which has brought so much notoriety to the school.


The program of events for the evening was pretty much the same as always starting with the Steel band and then all the solo performances including Piano, Cornet, guitar,violin and this year a couple of solo vocal performances. and then the usual choir performance. Then at half time we had a 20 minute break where the pupils all got to take a drink and speak to their families.



In the second half we got another performance from the steel band as well as a great performance from the junior steel band and DS played a Clarinet solo - You are my Sunshine.



He also did a duet - Oh Suzanna - which I imagine was very hard as they were playing in Harmonies.



The show went overtime this year as there was a longer program than usual and because there was a presentation to the departing member of staff and the obligatory speeches that went with it.
It was way past 10pm when we got home but it was a very enjoyable evening and a great tribute to Mr Cheer who has done so much for the school!

Pride in my children

Tuesday night was the school presentation evening.
This year we were in for a treat as it was to be held at Pride Park stadium in the very illustrious Toyota suite.
As always DS was playing in the band so we had to get there a little earlier. I ordered a taxi for 5pm as I knew the traffic would be bad so the usual 10 mins journey could take anything up to half an hour. I wasn't far wrong. We zipped through town and got caught up on Bradshaw way and then Traffic st for what felt like hours. Then up Pride park way was easy until we got to Egg and then it took 10 minutes to travel about 100yds to the stadium.

We were the first to arrive but it wasn't long before the rest of the band started to arrive.
One of the girls came with her parents and as they didn't want to sit around, they asked me if I wanted to go for a drink with them. I jumped at the chance, not for the drink but for the chance to hang out with some other adults for a change and to get to know some other parents which I haven't had the chance to do since my 2 went to that school.
We couldn't go in the BBG as there was a kids party on so we walked round to the JJB complex which has a sports bar. I have never been there before so that was an experience. We sat down and chatted for about half an hour before we started walking back up to the stadium.

When we got inside, the band were playing and people were already queueing up the stairs. I found DD and we got ourselves a seat.

There was lots of speeches to start and the head told a story about Charles schultz who drew the Peanuts cartoons

Then it was onto the presentations. As always with these things it was just like a conveyer belt. Names were called pretty fast and the children would troop upto the stage, get their awards and sit down again. It was in in alphabetical order in order of year.
1 ludicrous thing they have done this year though is move all the children up a year in June. so although technically DS is still in yr 8, he was in the yr 9 list...very confusing - Especially for me!


Once the official proceedings were over, it was pretty casual and there was a chance for everyone to sit outside and take in the magnificence of the stadium. Everyone was taking pictures of their children in front of the pitch and it was a lovely informal end to the night.
I sat chatting to the couple from earlier and they were trying to work out where they sit and were telling me about their trip to Wembley for the play-off final (I wasn't jealous one bit...)

I called a taxi home and we arrived back about 8pm after getting ourselves some chips for a late tea.

1 more outing for the term will be the Summer concert next week, then we are all done for another year.

Setting targets and making plans

Thursday was Target setting day at school so that meant a lie-in and a long walk up to school.

I don't know why but I have always felt intimidated going along to teacher/parent meetings. I know it is only so that I can keep informed of my children's progress but I never know what to say to the teachers. I feel like it is me who should be responsible for everything that my child does in school and me that should be punished if the4y are not doing well.
OK it is me but I encourage my children as much as I can at home, Once they get to school it is down to them.

So because of my uneasiness with meeting the teachers I usually just make an appointment with the form tutors. DD's Form tutor is fantastic anyway. Having known him now for 4 years I feel comfortable and I know that he has all the information I need. He knows all of his pupils really well and even though he has had a bad couple of years in the way of illnesses and hasn't been there a lot, he still has a lot more to tell me than DS's form tutor who is absolutely useless. Luckily this time, she wasn't available to speak to so DD's form tutor even said he would find out for me what DS's progress is and send me the information. That is what I call a dedicated teacher.

So what did we learn?
DD still refuses to wear her shoes in school and forgets her tie once or twice but she is on course for good grades in all her subjects and provided she applies in good time should get on the courses she wants after Yr 11 with no problems!

Awards and Presentations

Tonight was the awards ceremony for the Aim Higher Program in Derby City. The event was taking place at a big place on Pride Park near the Rams stadium.

DS was also due to be playing in the Steel band at the event so we had to get there a little early at 6.30. It was a bit of a rush since I was out all day but we got there in good time and I found a seat right at the front while DS & DD hooked up with the rest of the band.

The presentation was for the Aim Higher program DS has only been part of the program for the past year and hasn't really had much chance to take part in many courses so I was really proud of him for getting an award. DD was part of the program for 3 years but unfortunately they only started giving out awards this year so she seems to have missed out again.
There were lots of children from schools all over Derby and there were up to 10 children from each school getting awards as well as other specialised awards and presentations.

At just after 7pm the band started to play. There was also a choir from the Children's university.
Instead of the band playing it's set and then the choir doing their set, to keep people interested they took it in turn to do a song each which was really good.




When the presentations finally started the co ordinator announced that they would do them in school order and that to save time we should only clap each school and not each child.

DS was the very first name to be read out and it was all a bit speedy for me to co ordinate clapping for him and taking pictures at the same time.


In hindsight I wish we could have sneaked out after that as we then had to sit through all the other hundreds of awards. I kept looking over at DS sat on his own and he was loosing the will to live.

We were shown a slideshow about the work of the program and introduces to lots of project leaders and there was a presentation by some pupils about what they have learned from the program.

I had been lead to believe that DS would be getting 2 awards but as we finally came to the last presentation of the evening it was clear there wasn't a second award for him.

It was about 8.45 when we came out so I called a taxi and waited as other people got in their taxis. Unfotunately we were waiting for almost an hour and by the time we got home it was nearly 10pm and I was absolutely freezing. A disappointing end to a good rewarding evening for DS (He also received a £10 gift voucher)