Busy Week - School Has Started in New South Wales!

Busy Week - School Has Started in New South Wales!


Hello Elementary Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!  Quite a bit has happened since my last blog that I want to be sure to tell you about.  First of all, I have had a couple of instances of vernacular English that would be very clear in the United States (especially the south) and also to Aussies in Australia, but make it seem like we are speaking two different languages.  The first happened when Helen (my exchange partner) expressed to some of my Mortensen colleagues that she was unsure about how to take care of the pot plant (at my house). Now - of course, she meant my potted plant, but you can see how that would elicit some comments, especially in Colorado.  Then, my Australian principal was in Melbourne this past weekend watching the Australian Open Tennis Tournament.  He texted me a photo of Serena Williams on the court.  Being quite impressed that he was getting to have that experience, I almost texted - "it looks like you are in hog heaven."  Hesitating for a moment, I was afraid that he might think that I was calling Serena a hog,  So, I changed the text to "it looks like you are in high cotton!".  Well, he texted back and said, "that is worse that pot plant!"  Anyway - we are having fun with our slang and the different meanings!

Going along with misunderstandings, Malcolm texted me last week and asked if Mitch and I would like to go on a "beach run" of the northern beaches.  Mitch, being concerned, was unsure if we should say yes, thinking it would be an actual "run" along the beaches.  When I found out that it was, indeed, a drive to the northern beaches, we said, "YES!"  Here are some photos of our trip from Mona Vale to Palm Beach north of Sydney:




I continue to be amazed at the beautiful beaches all around us!

Not Quite Felix - but he will "do in a pinch!"


Some of you know that one of the hurdles that we has to cross prior to making this journey was what to do with our dog (Leo) and our cat (Felix).  We are very appreciative that Leo has become a mountain dog and is living with Mary Beth and Kevin in Alma, CO.  Helen agreed to have Felix stay at our house, and after some getting used to each other, they seem to have developed a good working relationship!

Well, if you know Felix - you know that he is a 24 pound orange tabby cat.  This past week Mitch became friends with an orange tabby (not as big as Felix) here in our complex!  Here is a photo.  Not quite Felix, but he will "do in a pinch!"



Beautiful Australia Day Weekend and Opera in the Domain

We were so excited to be invited to a beautiful evening this past Saturday.  We went to Opera in the Domain with a few of the staff members from Beaumont Road,  It was amazing.  There were approximately 25,000 people gathered on the large park area just east of Sydney Central Business District (CBD) for this annual event.  Here is a short video of what we experienced:

Opera in the Domain - January 23, 2016 


School Begins at Beaumont Road Public School

Wednesday morning (27th) I joined with the other 28 teachers and support staff of Beaumont Road for staff development and preparations for the new school year!  I continue to be amazed at the level of professionalism and intentional desire for the benefit of our students.  We spent Wednesday setting time tables and determining class placements for students.  In my role as Assistant Principal, I have been involved with some of the meetings to discuss parent concerns and curriculum issues.  It has been so enlightening to see the differences and similarities in how we educate children in both countries.  I have already gained some ideas to take back home, and I have shared some insights and ideas with my new colleagues.  Basically, however, it is generally the same - we need to ensure that children are appropriately placed with the proper teacher, that they are with other children who will be supports for them, and that their parents are going to be comfortable with their child's placement.  

Today - the children arrived.  It was all very positive and (actually) relaxed.  The students went to last year's class first.  Then, we did a few more adjustments to the class lists, and after lunch we announced the new classes.  I have a few photos of my specific students, but I need to ensure that their parents will be "keen on the idea" of their child being spotlighted in my blog.  So, no specific photos, yet.  Maybe - next week!





Here are some cute things that children did/said today:

Malcolm asked me to address the student body and tell a little about myself.  Of course, I asked the students if they could tell that I have "an accent."  Later in the day, a year four student approached me on the grounds and told me that she was born in the USA and she "sort of learned to talk there."  So - if I needed anyone to talk to who could understand me, I could just come to her!

This afternoon, as I was reading the students a book about Colorado, I had a student who was sitting close who started rubbing my leg.  It has been a long while since that has happened, but it made me know that children are the same the world over.  They need that contact with those closest to them,

Finally - after school today, I had several parents who came in to introduce themselves to me and to welcome me to Beaumont Road.  I have a wonderful group of students and families.  One parent lagged behind and told me that she is new here (within the past year) from Thailand.  She continued to express how grateful she is that her child will be in my class and that she attends Beaumont Road.  Finally, at the end of our conversation, she asked me if she could come in another day to speak with me about educational matters because she could understand what I was saying much more clearly than she has been able to understand anyone in the past year.  That made me feel very good - someone understands me!

So Friends - everything is off to a great start!  More to come, so keep following!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mortensen Elementary School Welcomes Helen Nemeth on January 4th!

Happy December to All! I am pleased to share some news with you.  As you know, I will be away for 2016 on an International Educator Exchange.  I will be working at an elementary school in New South Wales, Australia.  My exchange partner is a marvelous professional educator! Here is a bit about Ms. Nemeth and her background: Helen has a wealth of experience (taught for 29 years) at the primary school level in New South Wales, Australia.  She has taught all subjects to students from Kindergarten – Sixth Grade.  Most recently, she is serving as the Kindergarten-Year Two Assistant Principal at Beaumont Road Public School in Killara, NSW. Here is what Helen says about her teaching skills:  “ My teaching skills have been developed through a broad range of teaching positions.  I enjoy the challenge of creating positive, innovative, fun and meaningful learning environments through teaching the Six Key Learning Areas:         ...
Read more

Vietnam - A Different Orient

Image
In a Land that is Not Like Lubbock! Hello Elementary Friends, Before I begin my discussions about my attendance at the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) in Melbourne, Victoria and about Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where we are spending one week of the third school holidays, I would like to tell you a story about why our family seems to have the "wanderlust" for travel and learning about other parts of the world.   First of all, I am the daughter of George and Beverly Babcock from Lubbock, Texas.  As I was growing up, I recall so many instances of my parents (especially my dad) encouraging us to plan trips and to see the world.  We traveled all over the United States and Mexico (even driving all the way to Mexico City!).  My father sold various types of seeds all over the world - primarily in Mexico and Spain.  This is why it is so heartwarming to me to see my brother, Glen in the international trade business with his ExHale Homegrown C02 Products (...
Read more

Performing at the Sydney Opera House

Image
Am I Really Performing at the Opera House? Pinch Me Please! Dear Elementary Friends, I am writing the majority of this blog post on Wednesday Evening (26 October) .  Tomorrow evening (27th) I will be accompanying the Beaumont Road Public School Honor Choir to the Sydney Opera House to perform in the 25th Annual Ryde Schools Spectacular.  My plan is to complete this blog upon my return home tomorrow night so that I can include photos and perhaps a video of portions of our performance! The "Ryde" area of Sydney consists of about 22 primary and high schools located in various suburbs northwest of the city center.  Each of these primary schools is sending 20-30 students to make up the Ryde Schools Spectacular Choir - around 600 students!  The theme this year is "From Broadway to Hollywood."  So, the songs are near and dear to my heart.  We will also have dance troupes, individual dancers, and instrumental music presentations.  An extravaganza would be an...
Read more