It was so much fun! Those little kids just keep you smiling.
The alarm was set for 6.45 for our 7.50 departure but I was awake and rearing to go at 5:10 am - no need for an alarm for me. I was dressed and ready to go so early because I just couldn't sleep - I was so excited.
The school is further south from @Mindy and @Ian's home but is on the bus run = so it works out perfectly. I hitch a ride in with @Mindy and then just get the bus home.
Handed in the "all clear" from my criminal check history, signed in and @Mindy introduced me to loads of staff members, checked out the classrooms (oh my what a view from some of them) and then found myself allocated to a combined 1/2 class. There were 13 children in total in attendance today - and for the majority of the session there were three adults in the room! Only a half day today because of #Student Lead Conferences (sounds familiar) but the classroom teacher @Ms_W did pack a bit of a punch into the classroom time available. Plenty to do - and very willing and smiling children to engage with. Got to help with goal setting and writing, supported the language rotations, did some one on one with their "Sight word lists" and even got to share some reading - complete with voices and actions!
The children finished the morning session and went outside to play so I toddled off to the library and offered to take care of some shelving. Definitely the hero there picking up that little job.
I am always amazed at how competent the children are in their routines. The children in the classroom had no trouble at all informing me I should be wearing my "inside shoes" - not wearing my "outside shoes" inside. Who even knew it was a thing - but I will fix that for tomorrow. Knew where all the materials were for each of the rotations, handled the packing up and putting away and effortlessly prepared the classroom for whatever the next activity that was scheduled. I guess three adults and 13 children isn't a bad ratio. However, the reality is that this the start of the new academic year here - so very impressive for just the start of week 4. Was a beautiful reintroduction to "class" though. I loved my morning and @Ms_W has already plans for my inclusion tomorrow. I'm hooked.
Have to mention that is a beautiful school. So bright, light, airy and filled with student displays. An upstairs - downstairs block. Everything enclosed. Wide hallways, tall ceilings. very bright internal lighting. But even in this totally enclosed shared space - you don't hear any noise - children are moving around outside the classrooms, going to specialist learning areas - but all very quiet and calm.
Absolutely no uniforms - everyone comfortably dressed (in their inside shoes - with their outside shoes lines up on a carpet outside the classroom), hanging space and storage for backpacks and layers of clothing. When it was time to go out and play at recess, everyone just went to their storage space, rugged up for the drizzle of rain for the cold, slipped off their inside shoes, put on their outside shoes and "boom" they were gone!
As a point of personal interest observation, I saw little "overt" evidence of technology. I did notice ceiling mounted overhead projectors, and a scattering of IWBs, about six iPads on charge in the classroom I was in, some trolleys of Chromebooks - but in my one little morning visit, I saw zero children using technology and only one teacher before school using a Chromebook. And I had to supress a giggle because there was a little backlog of print requests in the school. One larger production unit in the "print" room, one small unit for student access and one small one in the admin office. Total number for a school of 300+ students was three - total number working - just one - the one in admin. Imagine that ratio of printers bearing signs "Out of order, sorry for the inconvenience" in my old stomping ground.
Interestingly, this is the first time I have been solo "anywhere" since we left #Brisbane. So it was a big deal for me to do the bus run home on my own. I confess, I did stop and ask for directions from three separate people on the walk to the head of #The Valley Trail - not really because I was "lost" but more that I wanted the "conversation" along the way.
It was a 20-minute ride home and at about 10 minutes in I had to stop myself - I was designing and preparing mentally some games I could "whip up" overnight to help two of my new little friends with their sight words. Had to shake my head and remind myself "enough already." But I am still itching.
Rustled up @Mac at home and took off on our 6 km round trip to #Nesters Market for our shopping excursion in cold conditions under very light rain. Love this on foot adventure, because if you can't carry it you are not eating it. Certainly rules out that impulse buying urge. Funnily enough, we find ourselves with perhaps questionable priorities and start the selection process downstairs at the #Market in the #Liquor Store.
It was a little confronting today though because there was a GRIZZLY bear reported in the neighbourhood. The bear was sighted on the golf course - there were red signs declaring the course closed and then intermittent yellow signs on our #Alpine Meadows section of the trail advising us to "beware." We hatched a plan - if we saw the grizzly, we were going to leave the groceries on the path and sacrifice our stash. No way we're fighting a grizzly - even for a precious bottle of #Barefoot Pinot Grigio.
Happy to report that we made it home without incident.
Did find this pile of poop on trail - @Mac did not use the African smell and taste test. No idea if the grizzly left
Used the after-dinner time to start some important research on our #Halloween Project. The next #Whistler_Family Event is the "pumpkin picking" at a local farm, followed by an evening of "pumpkin carving." It is an "all in" thing and everyone is expected to participate. Not such a bad thing for me, but it does mean that @Mac has to be a pumpkin carver! This is serious business - there is a competition - you need tools - you need a design - and heaven forbid, you also no doubt need some "skill." We are in deep trouble.
And #Rule Number 1, I have found out, is, "don't share your ideas!" I've already broken that a dozen times sharing with @Mindy who immediately threatens to snaffles my great idea! Amazing how many YouTube clips there are on pumpkin carving for beginners though. Can you believe it, there are dozens of TYPES of pumpkins and you have to pick 🤔 a specific pumpkin variety to match your desired outcome. This is very technical.
I have seriously found the very best idea for @Mac - he even laughed with enthusiasm when he saw it - I think he is in. Can't wait for him to produce it. Me - hmmmm - a creative work in progress. Undecided. Still watching YouTube clips.
I wonder how blood thinners and pumpkin carving go together- we may not need the fake blood!
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