Interesting Times!

Thursday 2 September 2010

My colleague Andrew Hodkinson who is principal at the North East SILC West Oaks sent me this after reading the blog...

"Dear Chris, Welcome back and thanks for your focused message today which really struck a chord. You are right and as schools across Leeds start the new term we are all, I am sure focusing on the future and ensuring that our children make expected progress but also have fun doing so. Whilst reflection is good sometimes we certainly like to look forward at our School and we will embrace change. We will meet the challenges head on but we will continue to always put our children first. We do know what works at West Oaks and have been busy over the Summer; we have recently re-designated as a Specialist SEN School for Communication and Interaction to further our work in the NE locality and in our school community with our ASC pupils. Also through our Applied Learning specialism we have developed and acquired a local shop to ensure our community has an ICT hub and our 16+ students have a vocational centre for work related learning in the local village that complements our Outdoor Learning Zone. Through our Leading Edge specialism, partnership and AIP work we have developed a KS3 SWIFT programme which will support the 7 NE High Schools with a time limited intervention programme for a number of pupils. It would be good to catch up this term. Best wishes, Andrew."

We are blessed here in Leeds to have places like the North East SILC West Oaks which is a brilliant learning place which releases a very special magic on a daily basis. The great thing about Andrew and his talented colleagues is the focus they put on innovation, creativity and the journey they are constantly on to improve and develop what they do for some really special children.
Chris

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Brilliant Quotes!

“I must accept life unconditionally. Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don't set any condition.”
Margaret Lee Runbeck

“Happiness is not in our circumstances but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are.”
John B. Sheerin

“Most true happiness comes from one's inner life, from the disposition of the mind and soul. Admittedly, a good inner life is difficult to achieve, especially in these trying times. It takes reflection and contemplation and self-discipline.”
William L Shirer

“The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase: If you pursue happiness you'll never find it.”
C.P. Snow

“Doubly rich is the man still boyish enough to play, laugh and sing as he carries and emanates sunshine along a friendly road.”
Charles R. Wiers

"Faith is not a shelter against difficulties, but belief in the face of all contradictions."
Paul Tournier

"Convictions are the mainsprings of action, the driving powers of life. What a man lives are his convictions."
Francis C. Kelley

"To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger; but jump in, and scramble through as well as we can."
Sydney Smith

"It is often just as sacred to laugh as it is to pray"
Charles R. Swindoll

"Things never go so well that one should have no fear; and never so ill that one should have no hope"
Turkish proverb

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself"
Chinese proverb

"Don't bother to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
William Faulkner

"In times of change, learners will inherit the earth,while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists"
Eric Hoffer

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."
John Lennon

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."
Robert F. Kennedy

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."
Mahatma Gandhi

"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way."
Abraham Lincoln

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King Jr.

"There is nothing in life so difficult that it cannot be overcome. This faith can move mountains. It can change people. It can change the world."
Norman Vincent Peale

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
Albert Einstein

"Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take but the moments that take our breath away."
Anonymous

"Patience and perseverence have a magical affect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."
John Quincy Adams

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and woman to win them."
Ralph Waldo Emerson