Double 5 hrs later - silly phone!
Registered User
Double 5 hrs later - silly phone!
Registered User
lol say what now???
Registered User
The principal was nice.
Answered the questions I asked (thanks girls!) well.
Showed interest in us, as a family. Asked a few things about Miss H. All, I guess, the usual things a principal would do?
The school was small, which I LOVE!
But...
Am I a snob??
The classrooms were really messy. You cld barely see the desks for crap piled everywhere. The floors had stuff EVERYWHERE!
Now I understand that there would be some mess due to having class rooms full of kids! but, it just seem excessive..
The sick room (for want of a better description) had a bed in it, with the covers half hanging on the floor and half on the bed. There were boxes piled haphazardly in the corners and some had fallen across the floor.
The teachers, well, they seemed to be going through the motions. The prep teacher, again I could be expecting too much, But she looked like she had just rolled out of bed. Her hair looked as if it hadn't seen a brush in at least a week, and her clothes, well they were really *sloppy, daggy, creased* ?
I'm only going on what I remember from my teachers, and they were always dressed well. While not in designer gear, they were still dressed in things that were clean and ironed.
arghhhhhhhhhhhh I am coming across as a real snob! and yet, I'm really not....I don't think.
Gah, typing this out I know I am probably going to get people thinking I am...but I really just don't know what I should be expecting in the public school system in the year 2012!
Registered User
Double post haha my phone posted the same post again a few hours later - sort I wasn't very clear!!
As for the school hun - was it an open night or just a normal day?? I don't think any of the things you have mentioned are the norm? I mean, we can wear jeans for e.g. at our school but it would always be neat with a blazer, nice top, heeled boots or ballet flats etc? and our Prin talks from time to time about presentation even though most people dress really nicely all the time anyway. Blabbering on but as for the rooms, schools can be cluttered places with lots of resources but it sounds like they have no system for storing items. I would be put off as well hun and be looking at other options TBH but that's just me!! Could be a great school and how they dress and keep the rooms although not a true reflection, do show some sense of how much pride they have in the place and themselves itms = how small is small??
Registered User
It was a normal day in the afternoon. They had the an open night the night before, but we didn't make that (I had a molar pulled and was in no state to go make nice and attempt to smile at people! hehe)
I went in prepared for mess of sorts, being that it's KIDS! but, yep...it was more of a shock at how disorganised it was.
Really not sure how the kids could learn anything with everything all over the place!
I'm all for casual dress, jeans with a nice top etc, but this prep teacher, seriously Tanstar, she looked like she had had a hard night of non stop boozing and the clothes were the same clothes she has worn for a week!
There are about 220 kids in the school.
Will definitely be checking out other schools! but damn, it's hard trying not to be overly sensitive, or critical!
Moderator
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4462113&type=1
I think this album gives a good idea about acceptable levels of mess.
And the sick bay should be tidy. Boxes in corners are one thing but if a child comes in they should be able to lie/sit down immediately and any dressings etc that they need should be right on hand.
Registered User
Thanks for that link Onyx, can definitely say that the classrooms looked a WHOLE lot messier than those ones!
And the sick bay, good luck a child being able to lay down straight away without someone having to clean up a lil bit first!
Registered User
That sounds terrible hun, good luck looking elsewhere - if they had an open night the night before that was probably neatAs most schools clean and tidy up for the Open nights.... Hate to think what it was like a few weeks ago. If gut instinct isn't right keep hunting, and comparing with others. xoxo
Registered User
I don't think you are a snob at all (if you are then I am too because we dismissed a school for very similar reasons!)
A bit of mess/clutter is inevitable (sp?) and you wouldn't expect perfection (nor would you want it IYKWIM?). We saw a school that had so much clutter it was ridiculous and it is quite offputting (well to me anyway!)
Maybe the prep teacher was just having a bad day lol!
Registered User
My kids' kindy and pre-primary classes (not sure what the equivalent is for you over east - they're 4 and 5 yrs old) are always hectic with mobs of kids doing different things at different activity tables, but things are done in sessions and everything is put away neatly once that particular session is finished. It never looks worse than organised chaos ITMS, and I've never thought whoa, they've lost control.
The sick room is a room I would expect to always be tidy, unless a child has literally just left.
Like Tan said, the teachers are well dressed - I've seen them wearing jeans but always tidy with dressier tops etc. I think its setting a pretty bad example for the kids if they come in looking like they've just rolled out of bed after a heavy night!
And even if all of that is maybe a bit much to expect all the time, if your gut has you doubting its the place for your little girl I think that's probably a good enough reason to cross it off your list and keep looking.
Registered User
I'm all for a bit of chaotic mess, but this seemed to be a LOT more!
You girls are right, and I am listening to my gut, and will be checking out another school hopefully on Thursday when they have their tours.
BIG thanks to Ginger who has been awesome with her insight! and helpmuchly appreciated!
I shall be back on Thursday (hopefully) with a much better outcome!
Registered User
Totally agree with this. I helped out at my sister school in the Prep/1 composite class and they are expected to tidy their desks and the room/floor (if they cut up paper for example and it landed on the floor) after each ectivity as well as their desks after they eat their lunch from crumbs, rubbish etc...
Registered User
Fingers crossed I will find the school for Miss H tonight!
Hubby and I are going to a Prep Information Night at 7.30!
Then I have an interview/tour at the same school tomorrow...
Have a good feeling about this one
Fingers crossed ladies that we LOVE it!
Shall return with an update!
Registered User
2.30 Wed is ok for us too
The park near school?
Registered User
is frank an apple is thin?
Registered User
Okay....I'm totally lost
Bookmarks