School Logbook Panels

Scenes from the School Logbook

One of last year's art and craft projects was to replace the "Millennium" Panels in the Hall with scenes depicting events from the school logbook. These have been completed and were included in a school calendar produced by the Friends of School. The school's first logbook has been digitized and is used by the children when they study the Victorians. You can find extracts from the logbook here
	On January 11th, 1875 Mary Ellenor Fairbanks commenced duties as head teacher of Handley (Clay Cross) St Mark's National School with 24 children. She found them very obedient but very backward.
	September 3rd, 1887. The school was closed in the afternoon as most of the children had gone to Sangers Circus in Clay Cross.
	July 28th,1916. Attendance not good owing to some of the older children helping to bring in hay.
	March 10th, 1939. A garden was formed opposite the school, with a screen for the manure heap. The border was dug by teachers and planted with herbaceous plants as the work was too heavy for children. The head teacher later introduced beehives into the garden and spent a great amount of time caring for them!
	During May the school celebrated the old custom of Maypole Dancing.
	On January 6th, 1970, Stretton Handley School re-opened in a new building on Beresford Lane, Woolley Moor. There were 78 children on roll. It was officially opened on April 18th at a service led by the Bishop of Derby. The cost was Ł30,000.

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