Happy Summer to U.S. Family and Friends - Winter, Here I Come!

Can You Believe It?

I Have Actually Been Cold a Few Times This Week!  

Feels Good!

Hello Elementary Friends,

It was rather strange when we left the states in the winter to come into summer here, but I am actually finding the time and seasons in each place now even more confusing.  I continue to read postings from family and friends about the end of the school year and summer plans and activities back home. And, here we are just now going into winter!  It is taking some adjustment, I must admit.  And, for the first time since December (short of a couple times in New Zealand) I have actually been cold a this week!  It really feels good, though.  I may not say that in mid-July, so we will see! The forecast for the next week calls for highs in the mid to upper 60's and lows in the upper 40's.  Pretty nice, really!

Here is a photo of Bondi Beach yesterday (Wednesday 25 May) which is quite a bit different than on Mother's Day with Mary Beth and even more different than when Mitch and I went in January!

Bondi Yesterday

Bondi on May 8

Bondi in January!

 Mitch Attends Camp at Point Wolstoncroft with Years Five and Six Students

Mitch attended a day of camp last week at Point Wolstoncroft.  Here is his recount of his day:

I was invited by Mr. MacDonald, the principal at Beaumont Road, to accompany him this past Thursday as he visited the year 5 and year 6 classes that were attending camp for the week at Point Wolstoncroft on Lake Macquarie. It’s located about two hours north of Sydney. The camp is one of several owned and maintained by the State of New South Wales in various locations around the state. Originally developed to be “fitness camps” for urban youth to enjoy a rural (or bush) experience some 50 + years ago, the camps have now evolved into more recreational and sport camps. The kids leave on a Monday morning and stay at the camp until Friday afternoon.




In theory, it’s similar to the Outdoor Learning Labs that Karla’s school in Colorado enjoys. Both are weeklong camps where the kids are able to get away from school and enjoy experiencing a bit of freedom and learning in a different environment. Except there is no established academic curriculum at Point Wolsoncroft. It’s a week of dedicated play. 




The teachers from the involved classes go with the kids but the activities are led by professional staff employed by the state. The children were able to participate in swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, archery, bush walks, nature skill development (fire safety, plant and animal life, etc.), rock climbing, ropes courses and other such activities…much more dangerous activities than schools in the US would provide. I realized this as I went along on a kayaking/boating trip with 3 teachers and 31 kids out onto Lake Macquarie - a huge saltwater lake. The teachers were with one another. The 31 kids were in 9 other boats…alone. We made our trip without incident but not without my concern. It’s a totally different mindset in Australia than what we are accustomed to in the US. My thoughts were to liability and responsibility for drowning children. Their attitude was “these kids can all swim.” Which they can, but still.




We enjoyed lunch and dinner with the kids. The food was very good, much better than I recall camp food as being. We left as the kids were participating in a mock market where they peddled goods and wares in a manner similar to a county fair. I was impressed by the camp and the way the students were so well behaved and enjoying themselves at the same time. I was glad to have gone and even more glad that nobody drowned.

Yes - I am also glad that everyone came back safe and sound.  The children had a ball, and we are still hearing about all of their adventures this week at school!  Here are some more photos of the Beaumont Road students at camp last week.

Finally,  I wish all of my school friends and family back home a VERY HAPPY SUMMER - even though I am still here at the beginning of winter teaching students how to read, write, compute, get along, and how to keep the cockatoo from eating their lunch!