Weekly Update

Since last weeks posts were taken up with my journey back in time. here is a quick Update to the week just passed.

Tuesday... Back into school. I had already put up signs saying I would be doing Grade 6 revision at Break time and Grade 8 revision at lunch time. This had been up highlighted for over 2 weeks and I had stressed it a lot in each class. So out of the 160 odd Grade 6 pupils I saw 5 boys and 4 girls out of Grade 8 5 boys and 5 girls. And as is always the way the ones who came are not the ones who would benefit most from the opportunity.

Wednesday... Grade 6 kids working on their acrylic clock and we get a drop in visit from a VIP the British Embassy ambassador now if I was to select a class for them to drop in on it would be one of my Grade 8 classes sadly things don't always work out the way I want... and he appeared with the Head of Middle School, Administrative Director, Sub Director, and Internal and External Co Ordinator (This last post is a bit of a novelty as I haven't yet found out what he does but he was there too.), totally unannounced they walked in to one of my Grade 6 classes ina state of chaos (Albeit controlled chaos) Fortunately the kids were in various stages of completion of their clocks, with a few actually finished. Everyone seemed really impressed with the work the kids had been doing.. I will be honest so am I. I kept the shaping of the acrylic to a minimum concentrating on letting them design on the acrylic with the dremmel tools while work on the acrylic was based on ensuring the edges were smooth and that they could heat it and bend it. It was quite interesting to see the kids faces when the acrylic became flexible simple things leave a lasting impression.

Thursday... The Grade 8 kids are now casting I haven't really pushed them hard for work this last term, its a short term and they are about to start exams at the end of next week so I figured they deserved the opportunity to just experiment and explore some technology without too much paperwork. There are some really interesting efforts taking place and the kids seem to love it. One boy who is not the most academic student has achieved a nice item and he just seemed so proud of it.

Friday... Last week I attended a meeting with the Head of Middle School, Grade 8 Advisor and the Parents of one of my pupils who has effectively done nothing in any project from the start of the year. each term the kids must get a grade point average of at least 4 to ensure they pass the year. So at this stage the pupil needs 12 points 4 in each term so far. This particular boy only has 11 points meaning to pass the year he would need a minimum grade of 5. Sadlyhe hasn't been performing well and is on track to fail the term and therefore the year. Its not because he can't do the work its down to the fact he chooses not to, being far to interested in Rock Music. I sympathise but at the end of the day if he doesn't hand work in for marking I cannot grade it. After the meeting he promised an improvement (It hasn't been obvious to me). As mentioned above I have been running exam help workshops he attended the first one 5 minutes from the end and didn't come to any other. Then out of the blue this week at my school email I received an email from his parents that could only be seen as a begging letter asking me not to fail their son as that would mean he would have to go to another school, loss of friends etc etc etc... I wasn't sure when reading it whether I should be angry or sympathetic. In the end I replied as honestly as I could saying I had no wish to fail their son and that if he achieved a grade of 6 or better on the final exam he would pass the year anything less and he would fail. I sent them a copy of the same info sheets I had prepared for all students one of which had already been given to their son, which laid out what needed to be studied. It is my opinion that he will be unlikely to achieve a grade 6 pass.. in some respects I hope he proves me wrong.

Saturday... Short walks to buy needed essentials.. tomorrow I have the little cleaner from the school coming to spend the first of 2 Sundays cleaning my flat.. I doubt it will need two Sundays then again !!! Tomorrow I will be hoping to go for a longish walk and have breakfast in the Unicentro... I also want to stop into the Hotel across the road from the shopping centre and look into booking a room for 2 nights at the end of June prior to flying out. I figure I deserve a bit of personal pampering after roughing it this year in my Bachelor style pad... OK OK I just want to lie in a BATH !! Its true and I admit it... I WANT A ROOM WITH A BATH.. to hell with the view !!!.

Manyana