​Welcome everyone to my very first blog post.  I hope this can become a convenient and regular means of communication for me, particularly with OIS parents.  You will have noticed that the category is “Heads of School” rather than “Head of School”, and this perhaps needs some explanation.
Because learning happens best when it happens collaboratively, I think schools run best when they are run collaboratively.  The correct answer to the question “who is the head of OIS?” is “Neil ‘n Steve”.  This team approach to leadership runs throughout OIS, because this is the model we want to show our kids.
I notice that Steve has already been active on this blog, and that he has included a photo, so I guess I should as well.  There is a tendency, as we age, for us to dig out older and older photographs (because we have to go back further and further to find a time when we looked OK).  As you can see, I had to go back a very long time indeed!
I would like this team approach to extend to how we raise our children.  I would like the parents and the school to work together to do the best we can for our kids.  But, if my endeavour to get all our kids to school on time is any indication, this does not seem to be happening.
I have sent many e-mails.  I have spoken to over 1,000 parents at 15 coffee mornings.  Everyone I have communicated with is in agreement that this is a worthwhile pursuit.  Kids should not be allowed to wander in to school when they feel like it.  Parents should not be allowed to bring their kids when they feel like it.  It just reinforces the message that school is not important.
I stood at the front gate this morning as 100+ kids came in between 5 and 15 minutes late.  I explained to each and every one of them that they were late, and that this could be rectified by getting up a little bit earlier.  Everyone looked at the ground and said “sorry”, but I’m willing to bet the same 100 kids will be late tomorrow.
Because they just don’t care.  In classrooms throughout the school, teachers are trying to get their classes organized for the day’s learning, and they are continually disrupted by kids (in the lower grades accompanied by their parents) wandering in whenever they feel like it.  They don’t care.
I know this makes many of you angry, because you have made the effort to get your kids here on time, yet your kids still have to suffer the disruption caused by latecomers, and your kids are still exposed to this lack of respect for the school.
This makes you angry, and you look to me to do something about it.  And I won’t let you down.
Watch this space!
 
 

---