| School Log Book Extracts - 1944 | ||
Main events:
I, Miss Rose Alice Robbins, appointed to be Head Mistress of this, Victoria Park J. M and Infts School, took up this position an Head Teacher of this school on January 5th 1944. Four Permanent teachers, Miss Annie Taylor, Miss S.E.M. Williams, Miss M. Murdoch and Miss Mary Heathcote; one Unestablished Full Time Teacher, Mrs W.E. Widocks; one L.F.A. Teacher, Miss Marion Mitchell, and two Supply Teachers, Miss I. Williams and Mrs K. Wills. All were appointed as assistant mistresses on the staff, taking up their duties on January 5th 1944. The number of children enrolled on January 5th 1944 was 328, accommodation being 400. January 5th, 1944 First day. Of the 328 children enrolled, 266 were present. An emergency meal was served to 35 children, who were expecting a hot meal. January 10th, 1944 Milk in Schools Scheme commenced. 21 children commenced having hot dinners at British Restaurant. January 17th, 1944 Hot meals brought by mobile van from Ruislip Central Kitchen. March 22nd, 1944 An Air Raid Shelter Drill was taken this morning. The whole school was in the shelters in 2 minutes. April 1st, 1944 Salute the Soldier Campaign, March 25th - April 1st. During this week, £262-6-0 was saved by the School's Saving Group. Empire Day, 1944 At 10 o'clock the Junior Classes assembled in the School Field, to celebrate Empire Day. Order of Service 1. Address by the Head Teacher 2. Prayers for the King, Country and Empire 3. The National Anthem 4. National Songs: a. Here's a Health unto His Majesty b. The Minstrel Boy c. Annie Laurie d. O' Land of my Fathers 5. Cheers for the King Cheers for the Empire 6. God Save the King The Infant Classes celebrated in their classrooms. Over the next 3 months there were many air raid alerts. Air raid shelters had been dug near the classrooms and children would spend long periods continuing lessons there during the alerts. June 16th, 1944 Air raid alert 9.45am All Clear 11.20am Alert 1.15pm All Clear 2.05pm Alert 2.25pm All Clear 2.45pm June 19th, 1944 Alert 12.50 All Clear 1.10 191 children present out of 355. 119 received dinners. June 20th, 1944 Alert 3.00pm, All Clear 3.35pm June 21st, 1944 Alert 11.05am, All Clear 1.10pm School dinners were served in Shelters. Alert 2.55pm, All Clear 3.10pm June 22nd, 1944 Alert 10.55am, All Clear 11.30am June 23rd, 1944 Alert 9.40am, All Clear 10.00am Alert 2.57pm, All Clear 3.16pm June 26th, 1944 Alert 12.26pm, All Clear 1.15pm Alert 1.25pm, All Clear 4.14pm June 27th, 1944 Alert 10.45am, All Clear 11.30am Alert 11.55am, All Clear 12.35pm Alert 12.45pm, All Clear 1.10pm Alert 2.09pm, All Clear 2.35pm Alert 3.20pm, All Clear 3.38pm June 28th, 1944 Alert 9.25am, All Clear 9.48am Alert 10.30am, All Clear 11.30am Alert 12.20pm, All Clear 3.10pm June 29th, 1944 Alert 9.32am, All Clear 9.47am Alert 10.35am, All Clear 11.30am Alert 12.00 noon, All Clear 12.20pm Alert 1.45pm, All Clear 2.07pm June 30th, 1944 Alert 9.15am, All Clear 11.30am Alert 11.55am, All Clear 5.30pm July 3rd, 1944 Alert 9.25am, All Clear 10.01am Alert 11.15am, All Clear 11.30am Alert 11.50am, All Clear 12.05pm Alert 12.09pm, All Clear 4.50pm July 4th, 1944 Alert 9.35am, All Clear 11.23am Alert 11.30am, All Clear 2.20pm Alert 2.35pm, All Clear 3.06pm Alert 3.30pm, All Clear 4.58pm July 5th, 1944 Alert 12.13pm, All Clear 1.45pm Alert 2.03pm, All Clear 2.47pm July 6th, 1944 Alert 9.20am, All Clear 10.08am Alert 1.15pm, All Clear 2.16pm Alert 2.31pm, All Clear 2.42pm July 7th, 1944 Alert 12.05pm, All Clear 2.10pm Alert 2.30pm, All Clear 4.30pm July 10th, 1944 Alert 9.10am, All Clear 9.25am Alert 10.45am, All Clear 11.00am Alert 2.23pm, All Clear 3.35pm July 11th, 1944 Alert 9.16am, All Clear 9.45am Alert 10.10am, All Clear 10.25pm Alert 12.35pm, All Clear 1.40pm Alert 2.35pm, All Clear 3.35pm Alert 4.03pm, All Clear 4.37pm July 12th, 1944 Alert 3.15pm, All Clear 3.47pm July 13th, 1944 Alert 9.33am, All Clear 11.10am Alert 2.10pm, All Clear 3.35pm July 14th, 1944 Alert 9.35am, All Clear 10.21am Alert 3.17pm, All Clear 3.46pm July 17th, 1944 Alert 10.42am, All Clear 10.53am July 18th, 1944 NO ALERTS during School hours July 19th, 1944 Alert 9.15am, All Clear 9.37am Alert 10.14am, All Clear 1.05pm Alert 1.23pm, All Clear 1.52pm July 20th, 1944 Alert 9.33am, All Clear 11.30am July 21st, 1944 Alert 9.15am, All Clear 10.00am Alert 10.20am, All Clear 10.45pm Alert 11.07am, All Clear 11.10am Alert 11.15am, All Clear 2.34pm Alert 3.06pm, All Clear 3.37pm July 24th, 1944 Alert 3.05pm, All Clear 3.24pm July 25th, 1944 NO ALERTS during School hours July 24th, 1944 Alert 2.16pm, All Clear 2.44pm School closed for Summer Holidays. 9 children will be attending the Holiday School at Lady Bankes School. 7 children will be attending the British Restaurant for dinners during the holiday. 44 children will be attending this school for Milk during the holidays. August 29th, 1944 School commenced this morning after Summer Holidays, 284 children being present. New classes were formed. Alert 11.22am, All Clear 11.40am Alert 1.03pm, All Clear 1.20pm Alert 1.55pm, All Clear 2.20pm Alert 2.36pm, All Clear 2.47pm August 30th, 1944 Alert 12.06pm, All Clear 12.21pm August 31st, 1944 Alert 8.54am, All Clear 9.03am Alert 9.20am, All Clear 9.37pm Alert 9.57am, All Clear 10.11am Alert 10.49am, All Clear 11.00am Alert 11.43pm, All Clear 12.05pm After this date there were only 3 more short air raid alerts reported during school hours in March 1945. September 7th, 1944 Dental inspection (continued weekly over the following 4 weeks) September 15th, 1944 Nurse inspected children with sores, and 2 children were excluded because of unclean heads. October 6th, 1944 First issue of library books from County Librarian, for children's use. October 10th, 1944 The P.T. Supervisor examined 4 classes in P.T. October 19th, 1944 Dinners were served in the Dining Hall for the first time today. November 3rd, 1944 Police Sergeant Spillen visited the school and gave the children a talk on 'Safety First'. November 13th, 1944 The School Canteen opened today. An excellent hot meal was served. It consisted of roast leg of lamb, roast potatoes, boiled carrots and steamed date pudding. December 13th, 1944 The parents were invited to view work throughout the school. There was a large attendance of parents, in spite of dense fog. Mr A.J. Smith visited the school to see the children's work, and stayed to lunch. He gave generously of his precious time, remaining with us for 2½ hours, and the interest he showed was much appreciated by pupils and staff. £3. 16. 2¼ was collected from the parents. This money will be devoted to the framing of art pictures, already bought by children. December 18th, 1944 The Infant Department entertained the Junior Department with a pleasing concert this afternoon. All the classes performed. December 19th, 1944 The Junior Department entertained the Infant Department to a delightful concert this afternoon. All the items were excellently performed, in particular the play called 'Santa Claus is Busy' by Class D. There is evidently some outstanding talent this year. December 20th, 1944 Christmas parties took place in the Infant Classes today. A very happy time was spent. The Junior pupils took home their school reports today. December 21st, 1944 School closes today for the Christmas Holidays. One child only is attending the Holiday Centre at Lady Bankes School. 18 children are attending this school for dinners and 30 for milk. The logbook also details the reasons for staff absences. For a school with a small staff, there seem to have been a lot of absences - perhaps due to the stressful conditions of the war and very large classes of 50+. Here are some of the reasons the staff had time off 1944-46, in addition to the usual colds, sickness, sore throats and taking time off to nurse sick children: ... husband home on leave from the Forces (1 week) ... to visit husband in hospital ... having two teeth extracted (2 weeks) ... Mrs F, landlady of our Miss A, reported to me that Miss A is suffering from Trench Mouth, a disease that her dentist says has been brought into the country by troops (1 week) ... in hospital, undergoing an operation ... away from school to remove furniture ... absent due to a stiff neck ... suffering from an internal chill ... absent in order to attend her sister's wedding ... absent suffering from a relaxed throat (2 days) ... absent to accompany her daughter to her new school ... contracted measles (3 weeks) ... suffering from boils ... suffering from a gastric ulcer ... suffering from nervous exhaustion (3 weeks) two terms later, another teacher was: ... absent suffering from nervous collapse! (1 term) | ||
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