Parents Evening

Parents afternoon went off without a hitch however again I was due to teach 4 classes, first period was lost completely to a practice fire drill and last period was lost as everything stopped early due to the Parents Afternoon ! since it finished at 5.00.

I just seem to be destined not to get things done or at least not the way I want them done. 3 of the Grade 6 classes are getting things on track but the other 2 are going to be tight for time. We are off tomorrow (Labour Day) working Friday (But the kids have been given the day off) then off Saturday, Sunday and Monday is also a holiday meaning time left is 4 days some classes will get 2 classes in that time some only 1, so can see a few break times and lunch times to try to get everything done in time.

Exams Start the 6th of June and run through to the 12th of June so all work has to be completed before that. Then the final 2 weeks are going to be a ease down to the summer break, final grading and the last parents evening. I shouldn't really feel frustrated but I am. However its another learning experience to take with me to Jordan (I have already asked for any "special dates" or events apart from holiday times that I should know about.)

I did have one set of parents whose son is in one of my grade 6 class stop me and thank me for the kind words that I had said about their son and that they thanked me for taking the time to help him. (In truth he is a nice young man who is still thinking play rather than effort ) but he has tried harder this term so got a comment that reflected that. Hope he keeps it up.

The school dont organise well or care particularly about their staff this is more and more obvious through the wee things, like we finished at 5.00 tonight but no thought had been given getting the teachers home that was up to them to do. Fortunately I had said to Steve the American Economics teacher about heading back as he lives close. However taxi's were the proverbial rarity to do with Rocking Horses and sh*t. So he suggested we catch a local bus, Local buses are scary they charge a flat fee of 1000 peso for any length of journey and they start and stop with not always the forward planning you would expect. I did comment to Steve how it was just part of the adventure as we careered at break neck speed along crowded roads. Getting off was a relief and I can see now why so many of the country are religeous as even I was tempted to say a quick hail mary to ensure we arrived safely.

Finally the centre area of Bogota was apparantly the scene of an incident this afternoon that closed off the centre, information at the moment is sketchy but the rumour said lots of people taken to hospital and the use of tear gas, I can't say any of it affected where I am but will need to try to find info on it just to find out what it was about.

Manayana mi amigos