MATHLETICS WORKSHOP

Our school has bought a math program called Mathletics.  What a fantastic program.  Yes, some South African schools are participating as well, and I know that because some of the South African students have been no.1 with participating amongst children from around the world.

Well I have taking a liking to the program and use it in our class math lessons and set work on it for children to do at home for homework.

I was asked to present a Mathletics workshop for the parents explaining the whats and hows about the program.  The parents are very excited and also very competitive.  They enjoy their children using the Live Mathletics section for their children to compete against other children from around the world.

I have also since the workshop completed my Level 1 and Level 2 certification in Mathletics.

Still waiting for my Level 2 Certificate to be emailed to me.

HARVEST DAY

Well our principal had to go to a principal meeting in another city this week and she asked me to be Acting Principal.  Which was a great privilege.   During this time some issues came up where I had to make decisions – like closing the school for the day because of a snow blizzard.  It felt good, and I think I would do well in a principal role.  I also had to organise our Thanksgiving assembly and function.

Every year at school we celebrate ‘Thanksgiving’.  Not only do we celebrate thankfulness for the food we have harvested but also for all we have.

This year our small school organised a food run for the local child welfare that caters for the elderly and the disabled children.  What a great team of children we have at the school.  And the Admin staff also stepped up in donating food.

 

Parents came in to help decorate the classroom. 

Some of the food brought in by the parents.

Then the food started coming in.  Each parent brought in a bring and share dish.  Yum Yum.

We also had an assembly where each class presented an item and the food hamper was presented to the Chairman of the Department of Rizhao Social Welfare who care for the elderly and disabled children.

Even the Newspaper Crew were at the assembly.

I presented the assembly and my Co-Teacher translated for me.

Even the parents were included in the assembly items.

The food hamper that was presented to the Child Welfare

The children also presented some artwork.

Receiving an plaque of Thanks form the Social Welfare.

Giving Thanks for the meal

Teachers and parents enjoyed themselves.

It was a great success.

DINNER WITH VIVIAN AND HER HUSBAND

Well its been a long long time that I wrote last.  So much has happened and so much to tell.  Well be ready to have a feast of news being sent your way.

Vivian and her husband invited Paul, the girls and myself out for a meal.  They treated us to the traditional hotpot meal.  It is at this really Chinese authentic restaurant, and they booked a room for some privacy.  I really enjoy the sting from the Sichuan chilies.  It can get really intense though.  So it is great that there is a division in the pot to separate the spiced stock from the chili stock.

All the food is brought in raw, meat and vegetables, and then is placed into the pot one at a time and basically boiled in the stock.  But before all this happens, you go through to the main hall and there are bowls of sauces which your dish up from into your own small bowls.  This is to dip the vegetables and meat into once it is cooked.  Well there are names of the sauces written in Chinese characters.  So to choose one is really potluck.  There is the traditional sesame paste sauce, which is very yummy, and then I usually choose the chopped coriander and chives to add in to it.

They use very long chopsticks, as you have to be able to take out the meat and vegetables from the hot pot. 

We really enjoyed our evening.  And even though Vivian's husband does not speak English he did understand what we were saying.

Thank you Mr and Mrs Zhou.