It was after 3am that I stopped reading – that was only because I finished the book! I just can’t sleep, not sure why?
This morning a phone call to check for last minute things to bring – it will be a long time before I see them on Thursday afternoon – Friday about 3am for you guys!
It seems the last 3 days have gone incredibly slow - it is the waiting. I suppose shortly they will be heading to Queenstown and starting the long journey to here. I still have 2 nights! The day they arrive in Paris - Thursday here - I have to get up at 4:45 and leave to catch the train at 5:20 AM. It goes direct to airport and I get there at 8:30am. Their flight doesn't land until 1:30 so probably 2:00-2:15 before I see them. That will be a long wait - but hopefully there is a lot to explore at airport. I didn't see it when I came in, just out the exit.
Then unfortunately there is a wait at airport before I can get direct train back - 7:00! I thought it better to wait with all the gear and do a direct train than try and go into Paris, change Train stations and get an earlier train. It takes an hour by bus to get from airport to Gare de Lyon, train station we need as it goes our direction. In Paris there are 5 main stations, they are all HUGE, depending on where you are headed so you have to change between these. With all the luggage not so easy, and probably wouldn't save that much time anyway. Also a bit worried they might get delayed somewhere and then miss connections. We get back here at 10:20pm I think. So long day for me too!
Well went into town today to get the next months bus tickets – they are valid for a month from the 1st-end. So the lines were long. I also had to get 1 for each of the family – you need to take passport photos and they give you like a credit card with photo ID on it. I luckily also had copy of Nev’s passport and they accepted this as form of ID.
Home and started to dread the class this afternoon. I went over to the school to do photocopying and the Principal told me I had to ring the head honcho. My stomach started churning….. have not done this yet, as the Principal of the Primary tried to make time for me but the secretary wasn’t there. Everything is so formal, even the Secretary calls the Principal, Madam Javrin.
When I got there at 4:25 for my class, the principal took me upstairs – the corridors were lined with parents waiting outside class room doors. They don’t wait downstairs or just outside building and children do not leave classroom unless parent is there.
Anyway we had to go to classrooms and gather children for the English club – not easy, kept losing them as we went from 1 room to another. Of course I couldn’t understand what they were saying and asking either! It was horrible! I now know why I don’t teach juniors!
By the time we had gathered everybody it was 4:45, spent 45 minutes getting them to understand some commands - Stop –Look-Listen- Silence – Please –Thank you – I am …..
One boy in there is just horrible – he even kicked me! I didn’t know what to do – still don’t! I would like to refuse to have him – but again I don’t know if I can or what! After the class you have to then deliver the children to different places around the school where their parent will be. They were sort of like after school care rooms for different ages.
This is definitely a nightmare and oh boy I need help!
I have also got some times for the primary school to help in the English classes.
The most interesting things I have learned so far…. There is NO school on WEDNESDAY at all. Traditionally they had half day Wed and then school SAT morn, but hey got rid of Saturday morning and now here they don’t work WEDNESDAY. Sounds great to me - BOT chair – Are you listening?
At the college -11-14 year olds they still do Wednesday morning BUT each teacher is entitled to a half day off a week. If you have young children you get first choice and most take Wed am because of the above reason. This is another great initiative in education. I would like to propose a change in Alexandra Primary’s way of doing things….
Also NO teacher does duty – people are employed, NO staff meetings, NO HOD, everyone just gets on with it. No planning as such because everyone has a prescribed structured lesson plan so everyone is identical. Except you can make it interesting…
NO sports teams to coach, choirs to train, sports days to organise….. It really is TEACHING and that is it! Anything else… you pay for.
Definitely things to ponder…
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2 comments:
BOT Chair responds - only if all parents of APS students can also take the afternoon off and dring .89 cent wine!!!!!! Miss ya
I am sure I could arrange for that! Maybe we could do a survey!!
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