It's a good job I am already bald!

So...yesterday was my second day at the local school.I went in quite apprehensive as the day before I had met with the Prep teacher who told me that they were expecting a SET the next day. I didn't know what it was and didn't ask what it stood for but it sounded like a kind of Health and Safety Inspection about school Lockdown and Fire procedures and Behaviour Management. She pumped me full of all the information I might be questioned about and sent me home to remember it and with my nerves jangling.When I arrived at school at 8.00 a.m the 'Inspector' was already there and questioning the Prep teacher and then interviewed me. I told him I was only at the start of my second day in the school and he said that he didn't need to interview me really but if I answered well he would mention it and if not would leave it out. I was able to answer all of the questions correctly except one but as it turned out that aspect was under review at the moment and needed updating so I didn't drop a clanger.It was a tense start to the day and then I had two hours doing a Science Assessment with the Year 2 and 3's. I was also worried about that because I was assessing a Science topic that had mostly been taught by someone else and I was assessing children I hardly know and also doing an assessment in an as yet unfamiliar curriculum.It was a hectic two hours but with the help of a T.A and a little help from the class teacher we got through every one before Morning Tea. I just have to go away and mark them now....but that is for another day.After Morning Tea I felt more comfortable in the relative 'calm' of the Prep class for an hour and a half of Spelling and Geography until the Lunch break at 1.15 pm.From that point the day went down hill.The afternoon was the school Cross Country day and I was responsible for keeping the Prep to Y 2's  occupied with games activities in the centre of the sports field after they had finished their race and while the others did their races. There were four activities; a soccer dribbling race, and egg and spoon race, a dressing up and running race and a water relay where they had to fill a cup from one bucket and run and empty it in another bucket.At 1.30 the Cross Country event began and the Preps and Year 1's did their race first which was just one and two laps of the pitch respectively then they came to me to keep them busy for the rest of the afternoon. Well, some of the Preppies couldn't even sit in a line, never mind take turns in order and I started with just two activities on the go but even that was chaos. I would go to one group and try and get them in to some kind of order and then turn round to find the other group rolling about and throwing grass at each other all under the watchful eye of a line of parents there to support the runners.Thankfully 'Mrs B', who introduced herself as the school's stand in T.A when one of the regulars was absent, came to help me and I left her to look after one group. Our groups got bigger as the afternoon went on but the new arrivals all appeared to be those children I had encountered with behaviour problems. Mrs B and I swapped the activities to keep things fresh but after nearly an hour it was all wearing a bit thin and there appeared to be no end in sight. I went to find out what was happening and found a teacher and T.A at the finish line recording the finishers."Help Me!" I wailed, "What is happening "How long do I have to keep these children busy?""I'm not sure" said the teacher, it was her first time too."We've nearly finished" said the T.A.I went back to find Mrs B had started a game of 'Duck, Duck, Goose!'.....we ended up playing this for at least another 20 minutes with more and more children joining in and even some pre school toddlers sent over by the flipping parents!I was absolutely exhausted by the time it came to the winners presentation just before 3 pm. I thanked Mrs B profusely for saving my life!I told the Prep teacher that next year she needed to say that you cannot expect one person to manage that activity alone. I told her. "It was hell!"The school day was over and there was a message on my phone from another school asking me to work today. I emailed back and said 'Sorry, it is my birthday and I have a special day planned.'Birthday or not, I couldn't face it. I just didn't have the strength!