Hilary In London

Open Evening

I think I had too much fun last night - or at least too much of something. The ladies came over and had some wine and bonding conversation before heading out to meet up with the PE and dance teachers. A word to the wise - it is hard to prove your own dance skills when there are dance teachers standing next to you! It was very entertaining watching them though - and nice to see people outside of school. I still haven't decided if I like cueing up for cabs or trying to hail one - the benches in line do help when you are having problems standing up! So today was a quiet day - it had to be anyway because I had to wait for the internet guy to come and fix whatever was wrong with our connection. He was very fast and efficient! Hopefully now there will be no more signal
problems and I'll be on-line when I want to.
You know something is wrong with your head when the X-factor is moving you to tears. The x-factor is the British, original version, of American Idol - not sure if the X-factor is a spin-off of the idol shows or if it has just morphed into something else. The three judges (the famous Simon, Sharon Osbourne and this Louie guy) each take a category after the auditions - Under 25s, Over 25s or Groups. I'm cheering for 16 year old Sean - the most nervous looking candidate, who even has completely won over Simon.

This week I got to learn the wonder of Open Evening. Every year the schools put on an open house for parents of year 6s in hopes that they will choose their school. It is not much of a competition in Borehamwood, for it is the closest school for most. In some places, such as St. Albins, open evenings are a huge deal. Students then apply to the school, there are even interviews - quite the process. The number of students in the school translates into the amount of money the school receives. All faculties set up rooms in the Upper Campus (which meant that the English department, who is only stationed in the lower campus, had to transport everything to the upper site). It was a crazy couple of hours. The students were let out of school after 3rd period and then the teachers spent from after a staff lunch (about 2pm) until 5:30 transforming the school and the rooms to impress potential students. Parents and children would wander into the room - the walls were covered with posters, students work, anything that would give them an idea of what we achieve. All the books we read and any anthologies were also available for them to browse through. Katie supplied us with chocolate, skittles, jelly kids and juice to keep us going. The most memorable part of the evening was actually when we got to go around the school looking at what we actually offer. There is a huge difference between the two sites. We mostly house the core subjects. The upper site has all the cool rooms! Did you know that we have a course on small animal care? Or a complete dt section, which graphics has been placed into. We also have a complete music studio - with mini sound studios. Katie was telling me about how many of the schools have become specialty schools - we are an arts school. Where you get millions of pounds to use in your field. This is why they are building a whole new dance studio. There is also a media studies room, and a photography course and black room. Who knew! Gives the school a whole new light. It really is an up and coming school - quickly improving (and even quicker when considering that some are being expelled. Side note, I heard on Friday that two of the three boys are being expelled.) Friday was a write off -- the kids were way too wound up, and those who had been helping with open evening were obviously very tired - along with all the teachers!

Miss you all so very much!
I have started a web album - picasaweb.google.com/hchaiton I'll put more pictures on soon!

posted by Hilary @ 8:41 PM