What to tackle first?

At last, I was given a prized possession - a meeting with our headteacher to discuss ICT issues! This may not sound revolutionary to most, but in our school it's like being granted an audience with the queen. She's allergic to most technology, so I had quite a task on my hands to bring her round to my way of thinking and I'm still not quite there. Plus I need alot more money! However, I'm not letting that get me down.

I'm acutely aware of the need for the school to become more technologically advanced and this year I've managed to wangle money out for a new wireless system that previous ICT co-ordinators had been sitting on for at least 2 years. This means that the laptops are much more flexible in their use. Oh and we've got a new trolley with 16 laptops. Personally I'd have preferred netbooks, but hey, it's a major step forward for us.

Now I'm tasked with finding out about the possibility of a text messaging service to increase communications to and from parents. There's a high level of unauthorised absence in the school (infants), so I would hope that this might work a little. It would also ensure that those parents whose English isn't good could send a message as opposed to just not phoning, as happens at the moment. It would also free up our receptionist no end.

There's also the issue of Esafety. I held a staff meeting talking about what people thought was acceptable use of the school computers and memory sticks. It's eye-opening what some people think of as acceptable - having a Year 3 child as a friend on Facebook who you taught last year? No, I don't think so. On the back of this, I've been told that there is money in the budget (not that the finance manager agrees, mind) for 10 brand new digital cameras! Cheers!

Now all I need is a never ending pot of money! I'm still working on the Wii and relevant software for the system and not just what is cheap!!

That was the night

Well, it looks like I'm rubbish at keeping a blog. I apologise. There has been so much going on that I don't know whether I'm coming or going. We're moving into our new house this weekend, after my husband decided that living with his mother was going to send him over the edge if he stayed there one more night.

In addition, I've been adding things to my list of "items I'd like to cook when we move in". It's so exciting, that I may well pass out with excitement! Oh and the ICT in school is coming on a treat. I'm slowly getting there and I have a meeting on Monday with the head about where I would like to take it. Or that's what I'm seeing it as, anyway!

Last night, however, was brilliant. I went to a dinner for Ben Kay's testimonial year. It was mainly a corporate do, but thanks to a friend who is getting married this year I went along too. I'm normally star struck and last night was no different. To be surrounded by rugby players, who I normally worship anyway, in dinner jackets was as close to heaven as you can get! The MC for the evening was Tim Stimpson, who has the dubious pleasure of being the name that I called my first car. Lote Tuquiri was there too, as was Craig Newby. Lote was highly amusing, especially when asked what he did to celebrate after the 2003 World Cup final in which he was playing in. "Nothing!" was his reply. Ben Kay, on the otherhand replied, "Got drunk because we were celebrating".