Day 2 Week 2- policy development, leading responsibly

I have been reflecting a lot on the advantages of rigorous policies to support school improvement and accountability.
Today I developed policies on Assessment, Curriculum and Homework. I researched over 20 schools & the DEECD website to locate some exemplars. I was not able to find any on Curiculum, but there were plenty on Assessment and Homework.
I did yard duty after school by the bus stop. The students were responsible and knew the process to board the bus safely. They respond politely to being reminded of the safe practices if they step out of line. One boy even thanked me from stopping him running across the pedestrian crossing diagonally before the lights had changed. The students are orderly and respectful. They wear their uniforms well.
I went to staff room 10 at lunch, following walk around the yard, and spent time getting to know the staff in there.

Starting Week 2

Last week the introduction session at the Staff Meeting helped me with staff whom I had not previously met. This is a large school, with staff distributed in offices around the buildings. This has made it difficult to meet all the staff. I noticed that more staff came up to me and introduced themselves following the staff meeting. I have been asked to attend a meeting with the VCE co ordinator later this week.
I have been provided with an office and a set of keys, and feel strongly included.
Today I began looking at school governance as part of the "Leading Responsibly" module we are studying. I then began updating some policies for my base school, which will also be of use to my host school.

My Introductory Speech to staff

I was introduced to staff officially at the first staff meeting of the term.

I mentioned 4 things

1. I have been an AP for 6 years, selected into the PIP, and a brief background on the PIP

2. I am looking forward to getting to know the staff, students and culture of the school.

3. I am looking forward to working with staff at Kew HS on a strategic goal of the school. It will take a couple of weeks to identify that goal, and in that time if any staff have any ideas i would welcome their input

4. Whilst i am here to develop my strategic planning and leadership, i am a hands on worker and staff should feel free to ask me for any help i may be able to provide them.

Settling in and beginning to identify the Leadership Challenge

3 days in and I am getting to know the place. The staff have been great. I have been working at developing a "leadership challenge" I am still handing over some work at my base school and will finish that tomorrow.

I have created a template to plan the "leadership challenge" and will show it to the Prin Team next week for their initial input. I have looked at linking e5, a statement in the strategic plan about transforming teaching and learning via ICT and their looming decision on how best to spend their NSSCF money.

My work at the moment is brainstorming the actions and staff to work through.

The first day @ Kew HS July 18

July 18 and the Internship begins in earnest. The staff were very welcoming. Many came to my office to introduce themselves. I spent a lot of the day reading their strategic plan and staff handbook. My aim was to understand their culture as effectively as I could. I wandered the school during class time and at breaks. I went out into the local streets before and after school to establish a feel for the way the students interacted and represented themselves away from the school.
I met with the Prin team to look at our goals for the term.through the next 2 weeks my leadership challenge should become apparent.

A very good day and a great feel to the school