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A Whirlwind of a Couple Weeks - Perfect Ending to an Amazing Year! Hello Elementary Friends, This past week was a busy one with finishing up a school year, organizing a classroom to leave it for Helen, organizing and cleaning out our apartment for Helen's return, and lots of emotional good byes! It was, however, a perfect (albeit filled with messiness) ending to a truly amazing year.  It will take me a while to unwind, but I am now looking forward to some rest and reflection. Saying Goodbye to Bear, G.B., Paul, Alex, and Drew I think I have shared in a previous blog that Mitch has spent each Wednesday evening during 2016 at the Hunter's Hill Hotel Trivia Night Contest.  He has been the token American on a team and has thoroughly enjoyed it.  He is now committed to finding a team in Denver once we return.  So, if anyone knows of a team in need of a brain filled with superfluous facts, dates, details, pop culture, history, literature, and general information, then let ...

2016 Aussie Adventure is Coming to a Spectacular Conclusion! Attending the Cricket with Malcolm David (Science Teacher), Malcolm (Principal), and Mitch at The Cricket! Last Sunday we were privileged to attend our first Cricket Match ever!  Here is a commentary by Mitch of our experience at the Cricket! We've had to learn a whole new vocabulary since we arrived but given time and context it's not been too bad.  That is until cricket.  I knew it existed and I knew people played it but that was about all I knew.  I was about to get an immersion course. We went to the SCG and grabbed a bite to eat at a local pub before the match (new word) began.  Eating was the very last thing I understood.  We then went to the stadium to see the one day test (another new word) between Australia and New Zealand.  It is a big deal but I was immediately taken by the fact that the stadium was half empty. I asked about this and was told that people don't actually go to see th...

A Few Things Left to Tell You! Hello Elementary Friends, It is hard to believe that Mitch and I will leave our 2016 home in just a couple weeks.  We have such mixed feelings about it!  We are eager to get home to family and friends, but we will have some bittersweet good-byes to say before we get there.  We have made some Aussie friends for life, and we will miss them so much.  We have been telling folks that we now have an excuse to come back!   The past week has consisted of lots and lots of school work!  Any of my teacher friends know what life is like at an elementary school during the last three weeks of May.  Well, that is what I am experiencing now.  We are finishing up end of year assessments, reports to parents, preparing for our End of Year Presentations (awards assemblies), lots of special activities and programs, and trying to stay focused on a bit of remaining learning until the last bell rings!  Whew!  Mitch can tell you th...