Health Promoting Schools
Angus MacRury
Monday 13 November 2006
Friday 3rd November
It has been a busy time at Innerewick lately. We are soon due another Inspection this time of the Nursery by the Care Commission. We have recently started to compile Learning stories for the Nursery children. The response from parents has been very positive. We are currently piloting using I-photo to collate the story and initially we are coming across problems of usability and flexibility which we are endeavouring to overcome. A parental comment yesterday was “magnificent” after taking the Learning Story of his child home. He praise the staff at Innerwick for capturing through the 4 capacities the development and potential of his child. It is good to get this type of feedback as it serves to remind me and the staff at Innerwick that the work we do is greatly appreciated by the majority of parents.
This week we have have had a Health Promoting week for parents staff and pupils. We combined this with walk to school week and every child in the school has enjoyed a 40 minute walk every morning. The walks have been not only physically rewarding but a great deal of Environmental awareness raisng has come from these walks. Yesterday we walked through Innerwick Farm and loked over the gazing cattle at Torness, Barn Ness and Skateraw. Further South we enjoyed the view towards
St Abbs. Walked up the hill to the first valley and looked over the bubbling river below. Today we walked from The school to the New Cemetry at Innerwick where the children stopped for private reflection and rest whilst reading the gravestones of the people of the past.
All week we have been promoting Health and a healthy lifestyle.
On Monday and Tuesday the children after their walk enjoyed an Aerobics session with Katie Forsyth. After that it was smoothie and healthy snack time, which the staff organised all week. All fruit and vegetables for the week were kindly donated by Thurston Manor Holiday Park. Club golf was on offer to the P4-7 after the Aerobics. IN the Afternoon the children were coached in badminton and the p1-3 pupils made flapjacks for the snack on Tuesday. On Tuesday we had a walk, Aerobics, Masic Moves, 110% Creative Dance with Dawn Hartley in the afternoon the P4-7 made soup. On Wednesday after the walk the P1-3 went on public transport to visit the Local Co-op. While they were away P5-7 had a drugs and Alcohol awareness session with PC Hughes. In the afternoon Marjorie Shepherd had exotic Fruit tasting and nutritional guidance for the whole school.
On Thursday after the walk up the Lammermuir the whole school including the Nursery had a Yoga Session with Annie Beattie. While this was on the Enjoy-a-ball with Gordon Stables was taking place in the hall. While the children were occupied the staff and parents benefited from a Health Check with Alision Fielding. The staff also had a Reflexology and Indian Head Massage session with Susan Mothersole. This was organised through SHAW. At Lunchtime we had 18 parents join us for lunch and we gathered in very positive feedback on the quality and meal experience. After lunch we offered parents a Pilates Class taken by Morag MacClure. IN the afternoon the classes had PE and Active Play. On Friday after our walk to the Cemetery the classes had health discussions with the School Nurse about Soapy Stars and Headlice. At the same time Maggie Johnston delivered a road safety presentation with the focus on Cycle Safe. Assembly focussed on the 400th anniversary of the first firework night and Fireworks Safety. This was delivered by a very noisy Powerpoint Presentation. We will be collating feedback from the parents and pupils next week and some of the activities will be repeated through after school activities in January to April where we hope to run a block of Yoga, Enjoy-a-ball as well as our normal Clubs.
In terms of myself I have been attending the Management Development Programme over the past few weeks. The group was a cohesive opinionated bunch and we all really enjoyed the whole four day course. The course run by Clearwater Brookes Ltd is a must for anyone who has a desire to go into School Management. Using the Strength Deployment Inventory by Elias H Porter I am a Altruistic and Nurturing (Blue) person. This means that I am Trusting and if overdone Gullible. Loyal and if overdone Blind. Helpful and if overdone Smothering. Modest and if overdone Self-effacing. Devoted and if overdone Subservient. Caring and if overdone Submissive. Supportive and if overdone Self-Sacrificing. Even I don’t recognise me!!
I have been reviewing the way I prioritise my tasks as a result of this course and I have signed up to participate in the Telephone coaching programme which starts for me next week. I have always found that that I am not confident on the phone and this method of coaching will be interesting for me.
Today I have reorganised my office to start a new chapter in my management career. My inbox is manageable and I am becoming more disciplined with my time.