So, summer is ending and we are heading back to school - in January! Our In-Service day was Wednesday. Students were to arrive Thursday! One day to prepare the classroom, meet as a staff, discuss class lists, review yearly progress, finalize class lists, and locate materials. I had to smile and take deep breaths! We are given almost an entire week in Oregon, and most of us are there for days in advance.
At Macksville, we began with a staff meeting to quickly introduce new staff and view a powerpoint on current funding, socio-economic status, school improvement plan, and the vision for 2010. So far, just like in the states. Then came Morning Tea with lots of goodies and coffees/teas for socializing, then team meetings for class list preparation, then lunch together, then a health and child safety training, and my car pool left 35 minutes later at 4:00. I walked away from school without a class list, without a finalized schedule, without a journal or text book, but with a delight in the contrast and "no worries" attitude here!
Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. The school community is strong and supportive, and the grade level team has been very helpful.
Thank goodness for Kim Sutton double dice! I purchased a set of dice and books to use while I'm here and then leave for my partner, and with that "tool" in my teacher kit for the otherwise-unprepared day, I knew I was set! I still didn't get much sleep Wednesday night. But really, what teacher does sleep the night before school starts??
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Exploring the Australian State of Tasmania
My family and I traveled to Tasmania for 7 days on a road trip all the way around the island. It was a wonderful trip with gorgeous, varied scenery, wild animal encounters, scenic hikes, and friendly people. Every 20 - 30 minutes the landscape would change from forest to vineyards to river to ocean to rolling hills to small towns to white sandy beaches to farm land. Parts of the state reminded us of Oregon, Napa Valley, Modesto, Heppner, the Loire Valley, and the East Bay, whereas other parts were like nothing we've ever seen!
We visited the Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary at Cradle Mountain, and we actually got to pet a Devil! They are really shy, timid little things that make a scary face and squeal to scare their enemy (or their sibling who has more meat than he/she), but who really don't want to fuss with anyone. We met one who loved getting her back scratched and would begin to lovingly nibble on the keeper's knee as he knelt to pet her. They are about the size of a large cat and trot with a lopsided wiggle. They are darling! They are also endangered and suffer from a contagious form of cancer. The sanctuary is a place where they are protected from the disease and they are successfully bred.
Tasmania is untouched, unspoiled, and unbelieveably beautiful. It is also filled with history of the first settlers to Australia, the second-offender conficts from England. Prison ruins were ominous on the hillsides and small islands of the state.
We had Wallabies wandering all through the campground where we stayed one night. The road signs warn drivers of Kangaroos, Wombats, and Devils that might be crossing the road!
We returned "home" in time for Back to School!
We visited the Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary at Cradle Mountain, and we actually got to pet a Devil! They are really shy, timid little things that make a scary face and squeal to scare their enemy (or their sibling who has more meat than he/she), but who really don't want to fuss with anyone. We met one who loved getting her back scratched and would begin to lovingly nibble on the keeper's knee as he knelt to pet her. They are about the size of a large cat and trot with a lopsided wiggle. They are darling! They are also endangered and suffer from a contagious form of cancer. The sanctuary is a place where they are protected from the disease and they are successfully bred.
Tasmania is untouched, unspoiled, and unbelieveably beautiful. It is also filled with history of the first settlers to Australia, the second-offender conficts from England. Prison ruins were ominous on the hillsides and small islands of the state.
We had Wallabies wandering all through the campground where we stayed one night. The road signs warn drivers of Kangaroos, Wombats, and Devils that might be crossing the road!
We returned "home" in time for Back to School!
Monday, January 11, 2010
I had to
go back! You can't tempt me with a beautiful classroom and not have me thinking about it for the rest of the night! So today my daughter Lydia, who is here for the month on her "Uni" holiday (Winter break from USF), came with me and lugged the very very heavy suitcase full of the books and fun things I brought with me from the states. I mean lugged. I mentioned the school is built on a hillside, so parking the car at the bottom and walking up the many steps is the easiest way to go. That is, if you're not lugging Mom's teacher stuff!
Then I just sat and looked. It was about 120 degrees inside (but I learned it's air conditioned later), so we sat, looked, and sweated. It felt marvelous. There is an easle. Yes! A rug area. Yes! Sharpened pencils and a desk for everyone with actual matching chairs! Wow. Three tall windows look out to the flora on the hillside. The front door is a screen, really, that opens to a shared hallway. There is a money poster with, of course, Australian money pictures. The mapping page asks students to identify the 6 states and 2 territories. Of course. There is a student dictionary booklet with the first page being for A. Among the words listed underneath, apple, Aboriginal, accident, Australian, automobile . . . Awwww. I'm not in Kansas anymore.
So we spent some time looking through the resources, the materials and the books, taking photos, sharing these precious moments, and sweating. When we left I set out Shel, Petite Rouge, The BFG, SkippyJon, American Cowboys, my songbooks, and my Bill Nye jacket. I'll wait till next time to really move in!
p.s. They sell disco balls at the discount store here!! What do you think, Karen?
Then I just sat and looked. It was about 120 degrees inside (but I learned it's air conditioned later), so we sat, looked, and sweated. It felt marvelous. There is an easle. Yes! A rug area. Yes! Sharpened pencils and a desk for everyone with actual matching chairs! Wow. Three tall windows look out to the flora on the hillside. The front door is a screen, really, that opens to a shared hallway. There is a money poster with, of course, Australian money pictures. The mapping page asks students to identify the 6 states and 2 territories. Of course. There is a student dictionary booklet with the first page being for A. Among the words listed underneath, apple, Aboriginal, accident, Australian, automobile . . . Awwww. I'm not in Kansas anymore.
So we spent some time looking through the resources, the materials and the books, taking photos, sharing these precious moments, and sweating. When we left I set out Shel, Petite Rouge, The BFG, SkippyJon, American Cowboys, my songbooks, and my Bill Nye jacket. I'll wait till next time to really move in!
p.s. They sell disco balls at the discount store here!! What do you think, Karen?
Macksville Public School
Today I got a tour of my new school! After a social gathering at a friend's house last night to meet some of the teachers I'll be working with, it was decided that they would pick me up in the morning and take me to go inside my new classroom. But first, they would deliver an extra surf board for Pat to borrow. He placed it right into the pool, jumped in, and began playing with it!
Once at school it was love at first sight! It has a fresh coat of playful blue and new walkway "roofs" for when it rains as hard as it does from time to time (six floods last year alone). It is built on a hillside, so the groups of classrooms are situated up and down different outdoor stairways. There are grass and trees along the hillside, and at the lowest level, a large play area perhaps 80 yards long includes a track field, play structure and cricket batting cage!
Maureen left me a note with the classroom key taped to it that read, "This is the key to our classroom." I took a picture of it. And I blinked back tears as I entered the hall. It's a dream come true, and that's not the last time I'll say it!
The room is smaller than Liberty's, but let's face it, Room 5 is HUMONGOUS! It has anything you might need, and an entire bin of musical rhythm instruments right outside the room. Class size, I'm told, never exceeds 24. It will be a straight 2nd Grade, which is called Year Two. Primary is called Infants. Intermediate is called Primary. A plan book is called a program. Cafeteria is Cantine. And you know I'll pronouce it all, if I remember the right term, with my crazy accent.
So together with two teachers, one new hire, and my principal, we spent two hours walking the school and discussing where it's been, where it's going, and how the school will get there. We ended with coffee at a nearby cafe, by the river, of course! (The fifth grade teacher (who reminds me of Donna Pensinger in every way) said she brought her class fishing as P.E. last year!!)
Most importantly, and wonderfully so, their philosophy at Macksville matches with everything I believe in for children and education and what I have always loved about Liberty. Not only does that make me feel so pleased and relieved for my year ahead, it also helps me know that Maureen is in a school where she will find so many similar systems in place. We both will glean from each school new ways to tweak what our original schools are working towards. I don't know if these typed words can convey my thrill of beginning in two weeks!
Once at school it was love at first sight! It has a fresh coat of playful blue and new walkway "roofs" for when it rains as hard as it does from time to time (six floods last year alone). It is built on a hillside, so the groups of classrooms are situated up and down different outdoor stairways. There are grass and trees along the hillside, and at the lowest level, a large play area perhaps 80 yards long includes a track field, play structure and cricket batting cage!
Maureen left me a note with the classroom key taped to it that read, "This is the key to our classroom." I took a picture of it. And I blinked back tears as I entered the hall. It's a dream come true, and that's not the last time I'll say it!
The room is smaller than Liberty's, but let's face it, Room 5 is HUMONGOUS! It has anything you might need, and an entire bin of musical rhythm instruments right outside the room. Class size, I'm told, never exceeds 24. It will be a straight 2nd Grade, which is called Year Two. Primary is called Infants. Intermediate is called Primary. A plan book is called a program. Cafeteria is Cantine. And you know I'll pronouce it all, if I remember the right term, with my crazy accent.
So together with two teachers, one new hire, and my principal, we spent two hours walking the school and discussing where it's been, where it's going, and how the school will get there. We ended with coffee at a nearby cafe, by the river, of course! (The fifth grade teacher (who reminds me of Donna Pensinger in every way) said she brought her class fishing as P.E. last year!!)
Most importantly, and wonderfully so, their philosophy at Macksville matches with everything I believe in for children and education and what I have always loved about Liberty. Not only does that make me feel so pleased and relieved for my year ahead, it also helps me know that Maureen is in a school where she will find so many similar systems in place. We both will glean from each school new ways to tweak what our original schools are working towards. I don't know if these typed words can convey my thrill of beginning in two weeks!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
We're here!
We arrived Christmas Eve after a 32 hour jaunt across the Pacific. At the airport to greet us at 8:30 p.m. was our "Community Sponsor" family and my new principal! It was a balmy evening (it's summer here), and it, too, was absolutely surreal. Everyone is extremely welcoming and friendly.
Our "new" house, Mrs. Bird's beautiful home is not only lovely, it's more than we ever expected. It has all the modern ammenities we have at home, but as Shel Silverstein says, "Not in all the same places." For example, they have a clothes washer and dryer, but the washer is on the ground, and the dryer is up high, over to the right, over the sink. As we spoke with our exchange program leaders they told us not to expect sink disposals, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and other things we Americans live with. Here we have it all and more.
The house looks out to the Kalang River right at the end of the back yard. We're told there may be sharks in it from time to time swimming back from up river, so we won't be swimming in it any time soon! Water dragons play around the river shore in the back yard (as well as in the car dealership parking lots, we've discovered!). There is also a nice swimming pool, so we are very spoiled. There are Blue Tongue Lizards that wander up and down, as well.
The bird life is incredible here, and I think of the students' bird reports coming in the spring! You could study them right here in the back yard! Lorikeets, Curlews, Ibis, pigeons I've never heard of; it's fantastic! Right now as I type this a symphony of bird calls is coming from the eucalyptus trees.
We have been meeting our neighbors and community friends at many social gatherings over these past two weeks. I mentioned it's summer here, and school does not start for another two weeks, so our time has been free to explore and discover what the area has to offer.
We spent New Year's Eve in Sydney! It is the second place in the world to turn 2010, and the fireworks display in the harbour was spectacular! We watched from the ferry landing downtown and were impressed with the city's security systems in place. It felt safe, sane, and celebratory! The city's streets were closed to vehicles, and the roads were a sea of people, like a Where's Waldo page. As we all left at 12:20 a.m., the roads became a river of moving heads! Again, surreal.
Our "new" house, Mrs. Bird's beautiful home is not only lovely, it's more than we ever expected. It has all the modern ammenities we have at home, but as Shel Silverstein says, "Not in all the same places." For example, they have a clothes washer and dryer, but the washer is on the ground, and the dryer is up high, over to the right, over the sink. As we spoke with our exchange program leaders they told us not to expect sink disposals, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and other things we Americans live with. Here we have it all and more.
The house looks out to the Kalang River right at the end of the back yard. We're told there may be sharks in it from time to time swimming back from up river, so we won't be swimming in it any time soon! Water dragons play around the river shore in the back yard (as well as in the car dealership parking lots, we've discovered!). There is also a nice swimming pool, so we are very spoiled. There are Blue Tongue Lizards that wander up and down, as well.
The bird life is incredible here, and I think of the students' bird reports coming in the spring! You could study them right here in the back yard! Lorikeets, Curlews, Ibis, pigeons I've never heard of; it's fantastic! Right now as I type this a symphony of bird calls is coming from the eucalyptus trees.
We have been meeting our neighbors and community friends at many social gatherings over these past two weeks. I mentioned it's summer here, and school does not start for another two weeks, so our time has been free to explore and discover what the area has to offer.
We spent New Year's Eve in Sydney! It is the second place in the world to turn 2010, and the fireworks display in the harbour was spectacular! We watched from the ferry landing downtown and were impressed with the city's security systems in place. It felt safe, sane, and celebratory! The city's streets were closed to vehicles, and the roads were a sea of people, like a Where's Waldo page. As we all left at 12:20 a.m., the roads became a river of moving heads! Again, surreal.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
We Meet!
It was a surreal feeling to see Maureen coming up my front walkway Thursday night! We hugged for a very long time, so glad to finally be at this moment!
Friday with the children was lovely! They were so excited to meet their new teacher and to "hear what she sounds like." One child whispered to another during a quiet work time, "Her accent is really good. She must have been practicing for a LONG time!" She fit right into Liberty, and they children were enamored by her.
The parents welcomed her with juice and cookies at the end of the day, and presented us both with gifts, including a classroom wide-angle webcam. We will begin communicating back and forth between our distant classrooms by next month.
Once the welcome/goodbye festivities were over (not until the wee hours!), we spent the weekend learning more about each other, our schools, our homes, and our local communities. After hearing the programs and plans in Macksville, I can't wait to get started! I suppose I could be persuaded to spend a few days basking in the summer sun before I roll up my sleeves and start in, but the idea is exciting and not too daunting.
Now on Tuesday, we have loaded our MANY bags to the front door and wait for our generous friends and family who will caravan us up to the airport.
It will be a tearful goodbye to the Australian family, too! We have had such a great time getting to know them. Oddly enough, it feels very natural to just leave our entire house to them and know we're going to stay in theirs! Last night we said, "When will we see each other again?" On the computers, of course, but sharing a meal and laughing at the dining room table? Hmmm. Maybe next year this time?!
How lucky for everyone involved!
Friday with the children was lovely! They were so excited to meet their new teacher and to "hear what she sounds like." One child whispered to another during a quiet work time, "Her accent is really good. She must have been practicing for a LONG time!" She fit right into Liberty, and they children were enamored by her.
The parents welcomed her with juice and cookies at the end of the day, and presented us both with gifts, including a classroom wide-angle webcam. We will begin communicating back and forth between our distant classrooms by next month.
Once the welcome/goodbye festivities were over (not until the wee hours!), we spent the weekend learning more about each other, our schools, our homes, and our local communities. After hearing the programs and plans in Macksville, I can't wait to get started! I suppose I could be persuaded to spend a few days basking in the summer sun before I roll up my sleeves and start in, but the idea is exciting and not too daunting.
Now on Tuesday, we have loaded our MANY bags to the front door and wait for our generous friends and family who will caravan us up to the airport.
It will be a tearful goodbye to the Australian family, too! We have had such a great time getting to know them. Oddly enough, it feels very natural to just leave our entire house to them and know we're going to stay in theirs! Last night we said, "When will we see each other again?" On the computers, of course, but sharing a meal and laughing at the dining room table? Hmmm. Maybe next year this time?!
How lucky for everyone involved!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Preparing the Kids - Preparing Myself
Well, we've had our meeting at the rug to talk about the big change and adventure coming to all of us! First I announced it at Back to School night in September to all the parents. Some knew already, others were surprised, but everyone was very supportive. The next day the kids and I met to talk about it together. There was one teary-eyed child. Mostly they wanted to know would their new teacher bring a live kangaroo? In October they wrote letters to Mrs. Bird, welcoming her to the states, telling her something about themselves, suggesting a place she should visit, etc. Chuck E. Cheese's was a favorite, as was the local community swimming pool!
Now as the time to leave grows near (20 days), and we've gotten to know each other, it will be very hard to say goodbye to "my kids." What about the new I.E.P. being prepared for one student? Will another finally get the idea of a concluding sentence? I know with another month I could see one boy get elapsed time! They'll be fine. They'll be more than fine. They have a true gift in the form of a caring, experienced, professional, and talented teacher coming in January for them. They'd better behave!
Now as the time to leave grows near (20 days), and we've gotten to know each other, it will be very hard to say goodbye to "my kids." What about the new I.E.P. being prepared for one student? Will another finally get the idea of a concluding sentence? I know with another month I could see one boy get elapsed time! They'll be fine. They'll be more than fine. They have a true gift in the form of a caring, experienced, professional, and talented teacher coming in January for them. They'd better behave!
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