I know I say this every time I post on a Friday, but seriously, where did the week go?! One minute it was Monday and then I swear I just blinked and now we’re at the end of Term 3, Week 2. I suppose the sheer amount of stuff that was crammed into the past five days has attributed to such a speedy passing and I am really tempted to just fall asleep tonight and not wake up until Monday morning. But there is work to be done over the weekend so I suppose I’ll just have to accept it as my initiation into ‘real’ adulthood where the luxuries of a teenager such as sleeping in until 12pm on a Saturday and spending all day in my PJ’s are a thing of the past. Hello full time life!
No matter how busy things have been, I appreciate having something to constantly do. I was warned many times about the boredom that could drive one crazy up here in Balgo but have not yet found time to have absolutely zero to do. So many people have presented me with countless opportunities and responsibilities that I can undertake and with me being a ‘Yes’ person whilst knowing how little time I have here, I really relish a full day. It makes the times I have to relax and unwind that little bit sweeter and instead of this free time being tediousness and awful, I enjoy having nothing to do! I think I have discovered the secret to life; KEEP BUSY!
I think this is the part where I begin to actually talk a little bit about what has happened in Balgo this week. As most of you have probably personally experienced over the past few days, Australia underwent a Census and on Wednesday afternoon Brother Lou presented Henry with the lovely humongous stack of paper that needed to be filled out. I was instantly jealous, me being OCD and kind of weird enjoying filling things out. I used to fill out my brother and sisters school permission slips when we were kids and just leave the signature for Mum and Dad to do later; such a thrill! Yes I know. Small things and small minds, whatever. Anyway I had accepted that as the oldest, Henry assumed position as head of the house and chief poncho of forms. However he took it one step further, Googling his name to discover that it meant ‘home ruler!’ No joke. While we were on the topic, we discovered that Alejandro meant ‘savior of men’ and my own name simply meant ‘a crown’. In comparison, rather disappointing. I did enjoy a rather leisurely Wednesday afternoon while Henry poured over random questions that dove way into our personal lives so I suppose I did kind of come out on top with that little disagreement.
Brother Rick has devised a new program where us Share the Mission volunteers are to spend four hours every week cleaning a classroom or room within the school. Last week we cleaned the Secondary class which put my organizing talents to the test when Mindy showed me the storeroom which really did live up to its name. It took me a while, most of which was spent with a very high heart rate as I kept expecting cockroaches and mice to jump out at me every time I moved something. Fortunately only one dead mouse and zero insects. It was a good feeling finally getting the job done and allowing the students to take a little bit more pride in their surroundings. This week it’s Primary D and Steve has a rather short list for us to complete. However with Primary B next week and Maggie already planning, I have a feeling we’ll have a lot more to do come Monday. As long as there is nothing alive with more than two legs coming for me, I’m fine!
We’ve had a good few days in Primary C. Our Healthy Learning Program is going exceptionally as is our Human Body theme. The students completed a few art activities this week and they look absolutely fabulous hanging around the room amongst some of our old space craft. Jenny and I organized a really funny one on Thursday. We gave each student an outline of a person divided into quarters. They then decorated the person and cut it up and we switched the pieces until they only had one of their original quarters and three of someone else’s. The result was brilliant and all the work looked very funky, some funnier than others.
Our Healthy Learning Lesson Poster
Some artwork describing differing things in the body
Some meshed up people. So cool!
The Skeletons
Running a Math’s group in the mornings is very rewarding however even though I’m working with Grade Fours, I still manage to be challenged. With a different game each day, Wednesday presented us with a funny looking puzzle and a few numbers. Essentially, it was a hundred little cubes combined into one big one, cut up in odd pieces with only a few numbers to act as clues. We had to put the puzzle back together with a lot of counting and deciphering. This really brought out my stubborn side and working with Quornetta, I kept her past the time we had so we could finish it. I admit, I may have done most of the work because I was just so eager to figure it out but we were both equally excited when the big cube became apparent. I’m tempted to bring the other ones Jenny has made home to try myself before next Wednesday. I love how easy and simple the games we have are, but yet so great!! Jenny does an excellent job with her resources and certainly caters for the kids interests and needs.
We did it!
This morning was one to remember, for many reasons. Firstly, I got up early because not only was it my turn to serve breakfast to the kids but being Friday, it was spaghetti and juice day! I was expecting a thousand kids lining up at the Mangarri room when I arrived this morning but ended up only giving out five breakfasts. Which was fine, however Julian happened to be one of the kids I served. I was sick yesterday and asked Julian if he had missed me in the classroom. He just kind of stared at me with a blank expression that essentially told me he hadn’t even realized. Lovely. As if you can’t miss the fact that the random ranga that gives our stickers and lollies isn’t around! It was kind of cute, but in a sad, depressing way that erases most of the cuteness. It reminded me of the other day, when one of the Primary A kids that I know quite well asked what my name was. Very smooth Amalisha!
The second event this morning involved Antonio, a broken computer and Naughts and Crosses. I was teaching him how to play while we got the Maths games loading on his PC and being super competitive it took me a lot of effort to stop trying so hard and let him win a few games. But then he got the hang of it, and I kept losing because he was just so good at it! And I tried SO hard, but nothing worked. My whole ‘be nice to little kids’ plan backfired big time and I was left holding a tattered ego and an even larger competitive streak. I never knew why my parents never went easy on me when we played games; now I know! It hurts when a nine year old beats you at O’s and X’s!! And I was always so good at it too. Oh well, I’ll survive.
Playing Naughts and Crosses
Lucky last. In my family, my mere 166cm sees me as the shortest sibling, despite being the eldest. Therefore I’m a wee bit sensitive about my height. Working with Danielle in Maths today, we had to measure each other using only 10cm rods and to do this, I lay down and she laid the rods against my body. I was hoping she’d go a bit over and I’d finally have something to brag about. But only 14 rods into the measuring she stopped and concluded that I was only 140cm tall. And that’s when I lost the rest of my self esteem. Somehow despite this mental anguish, I don’t think a ten year old will be paying for my therapy.
This afternoon saw the Semester One reports handed out to parents and guardians. Being on the other side of reports was kind of cool; no nerves about grades or which teachers liked me and which ones didn’t. It was kind of cool not having to worry! School ended at 1pm and the students went home and brought back their families where they received their reports and had a chat to the classroom teacher. For me, this was a really great way for me to meet some of the parents of Primary C students and it was an enjoyable afternoon. It also involved the signing of the school and community partnership agreement which every school in Australia is suggested they partake in. Essentially, it’s a contract between parents and friends ensuring the maintenance of school support and assistance and we had a lot of people signing. Once interviews were completed, we had a small school presentation to give out awards to the best students in Term One and Two. I gave mine to Julian Patrick for excellent improvement across all learning areas whilst maintaining an outstanding attendance. I love giving out awards but it’s so hard to choose!! The three Mandigalli children, Joan, Chris and Antonio were all awarded for their efforts while Shonielle and Thommysina Sturt were both acknowledged for their excellent commitment to their learning. And there were many more very well deserving Luurnpa students that were singled out for doing something above and beyond over the past few terms.
All the good Lurnpa children that stayed past 3pm
Shonielle getting her award
Antonio and Shonielle picking out their prizes
(Just love the dog in this photo)
Joan getting her award
All the award winners!
Ok, so what I’m about to tell you should be taken up by a few schools. At Luurnpa, we don’t just give out reports, but we give out food as well! That’s right, we had a sausage sizzle once the assembly concluded. I really think that this could solve a lot of problems. Food alleviates stress, so if a student gets a bad report and their parents are a bit miffed about their grades, a few snags later and voila! Stress gone, happy parent and happy kids. Probably more popular amongst students than parents and teachers but I strongly believe it has potential!
I suppose I better wind up before I present any more controversial methods of improving Australian education. Sorry, but it runs in the current redhead demographic; strong-willed and competitive ranga’s are vying for change. Actually this is awkward because I don’t know what Julia Gillard is doing as PM at the moment so I may just conclude…NOW!
(I miss the news). Is it true a girl in Sydney had a fake bomb strapped to her? This is AUSTRALIA!!
Welcome to the adult world of “Oh my goodness, where has the week gone?” Or “August already? It will soon be Christmas!” or “my baby girl is 18, where have the years gone!” Stephanie as you have realised , more so this year, time passes us by far too quickly so, as I always say, enjoy every single moment and make the most of every opportunity. It is great to keep busy and as you say “relish a full day” but it is so nice sometimes to stop and stay in bed till late or even sloth around the house in PJ’s especially when it is cold and raining outside.
ReplyDeleteConsidering you are wonderfully adept at cleaning and organizing storerooms When you get home I think I will entrust you to sorting through my cupboards and trying to organize them better than I have attempted so many times and I can guarantee there will be no dead mice and hopefully no dead or even live cockroaches. No change of plans, you can do dad’s shed. Do you remember all the bags of beautiful dresses I had in the shed that belonged to you and Cassandra? . Well, I had a garage sale, with no sales at all of any clothing, they were all sized and on hangers so I went to Vinnies in Midland and asked if they wanted them. This gave dad more room in the shed to organize it better but low and behold it is still disorganized. The ladies at Vinnies were overjoyed and we kept walking back and forth from the car and it was a bit like watching fireworks with all the Ohhs and Ahhs from the ladies commenting on all the lovely dresses I was bringing in. When I handed over the last dress I cried. I was remembering every time you both wore the clothes and in especially if they were special dresses you either wore when having photos with Santa or when we had “special moments.” I have been keeping them for so many years Dad is pleased to have room in the shed but it is still as messy as normal.
I do love the artwork hanging in the classroom. It makes for a fun but busy feel in the room and everyone can look at their achievements. As for puzzle time, I do not think I would do well at that at all. Good luck.
You are making Dad & I sound like horribly mean and competitive parents when it comes to playing games and while Dad was a little kinder, I do admit it was hard to lose.
As the shortest in the family at a mere 164cm, I am so glad my title has been upgraded to second shortest in the family with you shrinking a whole 26cm in such a “short” time. Hehe!!!
Sausage sizzle with reports and teacher interviews? Now that would make for a much more relaxed atmosphere when reading the report. I bet you would have loved that instead of the tension while opening the envelope.
Seeya shorty.