Guess what?

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:59 am

I has a new job! I starts in September when the new term begins. It is a huuuge primary school with lots and lots of resources. There is a huge playing field (something my current school doesn't have) and a huuuuge heated outdoor swimming pool! Wayhay! Raps has bought 2 new swimsuits and is ready to take the plunge (in every sense!) I is one very happy bunny! :-6

Barman · Post by **Barman** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:42 am

Well done you. Might have to wait an extra 4 weeks to start though, bloody swine flu.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:43 pm

Congratulations, Rapunzel! I am very happy for you.

:-6

Attached files

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:00 pm

Barman;1218029 wrote: Well done you. Might have to wait an extra 4 weeks to start though, bloody swine flu.

Thanks Barman.

There is actually swine flu on our doorstep at school. I think a couple of small pre-school children are infected and their older sibling goes to our school. So we're all going to be inoculated. :-3

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:04 pm

along-for-the-ride;1218046 wrote: Congratulations, Rapunzel! I am very happy for you.

:-6

Thankyou AFTR. I'm thrilled.

:-6

Barman · Post by **Barman** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:32 pm

Rapunzel;1218051 wrote: Thanks Barman.

There is actually swine flu on our doorstep at school. I think a couple of small pre-school children are infected and their older sibling goes to our school. So we're all going to be inoculated. :-3

My daughter is a Deputy Head of a comprehensive school, one of her pupils came down with it a day before they broke up.

Daughter gets married in two weeks so fingers crossed no illness hits anybody.

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:52 pm

They should all be inoculated then. They're doing the most susceptible here first e.g. young and asthmatics, etc. We've all been given school letters about it and in our town there are lots of signs showing you how to thoroughly wash your hands!

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:54 pm

Congrats on the new job and good luck hun :-4

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:01 pm

Well done and good luck Rap. :-4

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:56 pm

Thankyou Betty and Abbey, you're both very sweet and kind. :-4 :-4

I'm glad your course is going so well as well Betty. Keep up the good work. I know what a slog it is with kids, you get all the work the youngsters get but none of the fun! Just more work at home. Best of luck for next year, I know you'll do brilliantly.

:-6

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:01 pm

Rapunzel;1218016 wrote: I has a new job! I starts in September when the new term begins. It is a huuuge primary school with lots and lots of resources. There is a huge playing field (something my current school doesn't have) and a huuuuge heated outdoor swimming pool! Wayhay! Raps has bought 2 new swimsuits and is ready to take the plunge (in every sense!) I is one very happy bunny! :-6

Congrats!

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:15 pm

Peg;1218102 wrote: Congrats!

Many thanks.

:-6

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:20 pm

If your happy Im happy. Happy happy joy joy !

Good for you !

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:22 pm

well, congrats, that's just awesome!:guitarist:guitarist

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:27 pm

WOO HOO! :yh_party Way to go, Rap!

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:30 pm

Oh, thankyou so much Nomad and Odie and Ac. :-4 :-4 :-4

I was getting pretty worried because my contract was up where I was and I was dreading having no job and no money. I hate staying home because I get very depressed, very quickly. I absolutely love my job and was dreading the thought of not being able to do it any more. I applied for a couple of other (different) jobs in my town because I didn't really want to spend 2 hours travelling on the bus each day, so you can imagine my joy when this job opened up at the last minute in a wonderful school and close to where I live! My guardian angel (Auntie Betty) was watching over me that day! :-4:-4:-6

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:17 pm

WOOOOOHOOOOOO Rapunzel:-4

Fabulous news. I am so happy for you. Your new school sounds lovely. What age children will you be teaching? Wow, an outdoor pool..how lovely...

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:18 pm

Barman;1218058 wrote: My daughter is a Deputy Head of a comprehensive school, one of her pupils came down with it a day before they broke up.

Daughter gets married in two weeks so fingers crossed no illness hits anybody.

oy vey Barman.....so sorry to hear about the swine flu. Hope everyone will be ok....scary stuff:(

Congrats on daughter's wedding. You're taking some pics of course:-6:p

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:30 pm

Kathy Ellen;1218174 wrote: WOOOOOHOOOOOO Rapunzel:-4

Fabulous news. I am so happy for you. Your new school sounds lovely. What age children will you be teaching? Wow, an outdoor pool..how lovely...

The whole school is lovely Kathy, I can't believe my luck.

I'll be teaching a split year group, year 3/4. So they'll be 8 and 9 year olds. Years 3 and 4 are my favourite years. They do more work than the year 2's and they're not as bolshy as the year 5's and 6's! :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

Thankyou for the beautiful sparkly Congrats sign. :-4

It's in aqua too, my favourite colour. :-6

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:43 pm

Rapunzel;1218178 wrote: The whole school is lovely Kathy, I can't believe my luck.

I'll be teaching a split year group, year 3/4. So they'll be 8 and 9 year olds. Years 3 and 4 are my favourite years. They do more work than the year 2's and they're not as bolshy as the year 5's and 6's! :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

Thankyou for the beautiful sparkly Congrats sign. :-4

It's in aqua too, my favourite colour. :-6

Oh Rap,

I used to teach the 11-13 yr. olds and they became very difficult to handle.

I now teach the 8 to 9 yr. olds and they're a joy to spend time with. I lubs them. That is the best age to teach because they're so full of wonder and not jaded:-4

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:11 pm

Kathy Ellen;1218188 wrote: Oh Rap,

I used to teach the 11-13 yr. olds and they became very difficult to handle.

I now teach the 8 to 9 yr. olds and they're a joy to spend time with. I lubs them. That is the best age to teach because they're so full of wonder and not jaded:-4

I didn't realise you taught secondary school kids before. I lubs this age group too. :-4 In our school we teach year 4's about Tutankhamun and the Egyptians. I lubs this subject too. I hope we get to teach it next year. :-6

Although having said this, I've done some work with year 5's this year who are studying the Tudors. We've been making Tudor houses this week. The kids cut some balsa wood with hacksaws to frame their houses. Then they glued and stapled cereal boxes to their balsa wood frames. They mixed white paint, sand and glue to paint the walls, so that they have a rough, uneven texture. The roofs were painted red or black or yellow and some had straw glued to them to represent thatched roofs. We are now painting the black beams on the walls of the houses. It's been a lot of fun. One child was off sick and so waaay behind but I spent an hour with him Thursday and Friday and we whipped his house up together in no time. It's now painted and he's done a lovely pattern for his beams. I've really enjoyed making the houses too. (It's my inner child coming out to play!)

:wah:

One little girl, Ellie, came up to me and said 'You've got lovely hair Miss' and she ran her hands all down my hair. I quickly grabbed her hands and pulled them away and, yup, you've guessed it, they were covered in paint and glue! It wouldn't be so bad but I'd only washed my hair that morning! :-5:-5:wah:

On the plus side, my OH very sweetly cleaned the white paint and glue off my black shoes so they'd be nice and clean for my job interview! Wasn't that sweet? 20 years together and he still cares! Bless! (Well, actually he calls me a frikking jinx, but I'm sure that means that he cares. I think.

:-3 :rolleyes: )

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:36 pm

Rapunzel;1218129 wrote: Oh, thankyou so much Nomad and Odie and Ac. :-4 :-4 :-4

I was getting pretty worried because my contract was up where I was and I was dreading having no job and no money. I hate staying home because I get very depressed, very quickly. I absolutely love my job and was dreading the thought of not being able to do it any more. I applied for a couple of other (different) jobs in my town because I didn't really want to spend 2 hours travelling on the bus each day, so you can imagine my joy when this job opened up at the last minute in a wonderful school and close to where I live! My guardian angel (Auntie Betty) was watching over me that day! :-4:-4:-6

oh this is just fab babe.....and so close to home!:guitarist:guitarist

whoopee!

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:35 pm

Hey Rap,:-6

Your post #21 is hysterical. My wee ones will do that to me also. They just want to touch you in some way. Last year, I had a lot of needy girls. They all wanted to hold my hand all the time. So, on our bathroom break, while we were waiting for the boys

......tapping foot

...the girls would each take one of my fingers, since I only had 2 hands, to hold onto:yh_rotfl

I don't know if my kidlets get enough love at times...they seek so much at school ~~ mega sigh~~.

I get confused about the names you and the Aussies give to the different grade levels. So before I can comment on your post, I'll give you an idea of our school system.

We have about 17,000 children in our district. 12 schools are elementary grades K to 5 (ages 6 yrs. to 11 yrs.), 3 schools are intermediate (11 yrs. to 14 yrs.) and 3 schools are high school (14yrs. to 18 yrs.)

My home school has about 550 children. I have taught every age from the 1st grade (6-7yrs.) to the 6th grade 11-12 yrs.)

I've mostly taught the social sciences and language arts to the 6th graders (11-12 yr. olds). Last year they were moved over to the intermediate school, and I wanted to stay elementary.

I requested to say in my home school and was lucky enought that there was an opening in the 3rd grade (8-9 yr. olds). I love this grade and enjoy the spark that these children have. They are lovely although way too active and unsettled....that's another story.

I'm so happy that you have a wonderful position for next year and hope you find loads of happiness.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:39 pm

And Quin is about to enter 3rd grade

....yes, boys are more active...:rolleyes:

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:51 pm

Rapunzel;1218016 wrote: I has a new job! I starts in September when the new term begins. It is a huuuge primary school with lots and lots of resources. There is a huge playing field (something my current school doesn't have) and a huuuuge heated outdoor swimming pool! Wayhay! Raps has bought 2 new swimsuits and is ready to take the plunge (in every sense!) I is one very happy bunny! :-6
Congrats Rap, best of luck & good wishes as well!

And, watch out for "swimmer's ear"!

pinkchick · Post by **pinkchick** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:51 am

Rapunzel;1218016 wrote: I has a new job! I starts in September when the new term begins. It is a huuuge primary school with lots and lots of resources. There is a huge playing field (something my current school doesn't have) and a huuuuge heated outdoor swimming pool! Wayhay! Raps has bought 2 new swimsuits and is ready to take the plunge (in every sense!) I is one very happy bunny! :-6

That is such fantastic news Rapunzel :-6 I'm so pleased for you :-4:-4

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:31 am

Thankyou so much Cars and Pinkchick. :-4:-4

I do have 'swimmers ear' Cars. I always used to clean my ears with cotton buds, even though they always say 'never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.' I damaged my ear and now if I get water in it I'm deaf in that ear for months! I always have to keep it covered in the bath. Perhaps I should get some earplugs (then I could use them in class too!) heh heh! :wah:

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:13 am

Kathy Ellen;1218247 wrote: Hey Rap,:-6

Your post #21 is hysterical. My wee ones will do that to me also. They just want to touch you in some way. Last year, I had a lot of needy girls. They all wanted to hold my hand all the time. So, on our bathroom break, while we were waiting for the boys

......tapping foot

...the girls would each take one of my fingers, since I only had 2 hands, to hold onto:yh_rotfl

I don't know if my kidlets get enough love at times...they seek so much at school ~~ mega sigh~~.

I get confused about the names you and the Aussies give to the different grade levels. So before I can comment on your post, I'll give you an idea of our school system.

We have about 17,000 children in our district. 12 schools are elementary grades K to 5 (ages 6 yrs. to 11 yrs.), 3 schools are intermediate (11 yrs. to 14 yrs.) and 3 schools are high school (14yrs. to 18 yrs.)

My home school has about 550 children. I have taught every age from the 1st grade (6-7yrs.) to the 6th grade 11-12 yrs.)

I've mostly taught the social sciences and language arts to the 6th graders (11-12 yr. olds). Last year they were moved over to the intermediate school, and I wanted to stay elementary.

I requested to say in my home school and was lucky enought that there was an opening in the 3rd grade (8-9 yr. olds). I love this grade and enjoy the spark that these children have. They are lovely although way too active and unsettled....that's another story.

I'm so happy that you have a wonderful position for next year and hope you find loads of happiness.

Hiya Kathy Ellen, :-6

Yes we get that too. The needy ones are always desperate for a hug. So many of them have such crappy lives and are batted to and fro between mum and dad like tennis balls. Either they play mind games with them or don't want them and try to palm them off on each other and the kids aren't stupid! They know they're not wanted! There's the mum who leaves her kids alone all night to see her 19 year old boyfriend and the mum who climbs in through her daughters bedroom window at 7am, drunk as a skunk, and the dad who sits up all night playing computer games then screams at his son and says he's going to lose his job and it's all his young sons fault because he has to drop him off at school before he goes to work! Then there's the kids who come in unwashed and in dirty clothes and with no coat or jumper in the cold or rain or with summer sandals in the snow. (It's always the unkempt ones who always have nits too *sigh* scratch scratch) Of course most parents are on the dole and by the time they take their booze and fag money out of their dole money there's not much left for the kids! :-5

When I started working at my school I was very aware that you shouldn't touch kids as it might be deemed inappropriate, but they are desperate for hugs and cuddles and it's lovely that they love you enough to want to give you hugs and cuddles. Sometimes I think we are the only piece of security they have in their little worlds. :-1

We have a slightly different school system to yours. On the Isle of Wight (my island - well, y'know, not mine personally! :wah: ) there are 3 school types. Primary school (aged 4-8), Middle School (aged 9-11) and High School (aged 12-16). But the rest of the UK has just Primary School (aged 4-11) and Secondary Schools (aged 12-16). Kids are legally allowed to leave school at 16, but shouldn't imo as they have minimal qualifications and won't get a good job, if any.

The school I work in (and my new school) are both Primary (aged 4-11). Reception class is for 4-5 year olds; Year 1 is 5-6 year olds; Year 2 is 6-7 year olds; Year 3 is 7-8 year olds; Year 4 is 8-9 year olds; Year 5 is 9-10 year olds and Year 6 is 10-11 year olds. Years R,1 & 2 are called Key Stage 1; Years 2-6 are called Key Stage 2 and Secondary School is called Key Stage 3. I have always worked in Key Stage 2, which I love. Our kids are also hyperactive and noisy and you keep having to yell at them to lower the decibel level!

Apparently this new school has only five naughty kids! FIVE! I can't believe it. I just hope I don't start yelling at them to be quiet and shock the socks off them. And I hope to God I don't mess it up. I told the interviewers all my positive points and they seemed impressed, but I didn't tell them what a klutz I am or how forgetful I am or how I laugh at naughty kids instead of telling them off or that I've learned to shout (you have to in this school to be heard) or how I never seem to get things right first time and always have to be told twice! :-5:-5 I REALLY hope I don't er duck it up for myself! I don't want them thinking 'What an idiot. Why did we hire her?' It all seems too good to be true y'know and my luck just ISN'T that good. Something's BOUND to go wrong, I'm sure. :-5:-5

It IS a wonderful position KE and I'm sure I'll be very happy there. The staff were lovely, very warm and welcoming. I just hope that they're as happy with me. And STAY happy with me! :-3

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 10:56 am

Rapunzel;1218016 wrote: I has a new job! I starts in September when the new term begins. It is a huuuge primary school with lots and lots of resources. There is a huge playing field (something my current school doesn't have) and a huuuuge heated outdoor swimming pool! Wayhay! Raps has bought 2 new swimsuits and is ready to take the plunge (in every sense!) I is one very happy bunny! :-6
Congratulations your Rapness. Don't let Jimbo near that pool or you'll have a tsunami on your hands.