Will starts Kindy

Our friends who lived here before us recommended Reynella Kindy to us and told us that there was occasional care there as well. I was quick to look into it and Will started going in May last year for 1 morning a week. He and I loved it! By the end of last year I was really struggling at home with 2 kids. I just felt guilty all the time as I couldn't give Will all the stimulation he was craving and I wasn't organised enough to do so many of the ideas in the Pinterest world that looked amazing and educational. I was also realising that I was well and truly to start working again and started getting the ball rolling to do some Relief Teaching. 

Although I have reservations about children starting kindy and school so early, I felt so confident sending Will off to Kindy this year for 2 full days and almost felt guilty that I was not sad! 

In term 3 and 4 it is hoped he will do 3 full days. (The Kindy has to wait to see if there is enough Government funding before this goes ahead) Will turned 4 on the 26th January and the very next day started Kindy. He was so excited on his first day but got all coy as soon as I brought the camera out. I was feeling really unwell so mum took him off to Kindy. It was a little disappointing that I couldn't drop him off on his first day but I was at least able to take the photos and make his lunch. 

 Will wasn't as eager the next day as he was so tired. He was excited to wear his new Kindy T-Shirt though. I would love to have a uniform for him but most of the kindergarten's here in SA are stand alone and not associated with a particular school. This does have it's good points though and Will's classmates will be going to heaps of different schools. He has at least one little boy going to the same Primary School next year. 

He looks so much like his daddy in these photos!

WE WON!

As many of you Facebook followers would know, we ended up winning the Ultimate School Excursion Competition. It was crazy! We were so excited to find out and I could not hear a word the radio announcers were saying because my class was going crazy, the class across the hall were trying to come into my room and it was just insane! Funny thing was (I didn't hear this til I listened to the playback later) was that the radio announcers were joking that I shouldn't take my class coz it didn't seem like I could control them. He he.

Have a listen to the craziness here:



The excursion went off so smoothly. I got another staff member to come along, as well as 5 awesome parents. We walked to the show since it was so close to school. I just love being right on the edge of the Adelaide CBD. The walk was a bit more taxing than I thought though, and I noticed my usually quick power walk, had become a waddle! I felt so heavy that day. I was determined to be on my feet all day, walk around with the different groups we'd arranged etc so I could give myself a test run for what it'll be like in Japan. I was exhausted at the end of the day, but wasn't overly sore the next day. My hormones however, went crazy the following day. I had so many different emotions I was feeling and was a bit of a mess really! More on that will come.
For now, I'll just post a couple of photos from our day at the show...

some of 8MW with one of the strange 'flowerpot' people

the famous show ducks. They change outfits regularly throughout the day and
are guided by the dogs. I'm still not sure whether I thought this was cute or just plain cruel...

The first photo of the day. Just before I let the kids loose...

Pig Diving. Zoom in to see it better...I wasn't sure what Pig diving was until Pete showed me a clip on Youtube. It actually made me cry because the pig on the clip got to the edge of the platform and was baulking but had no where to turn back. I was really upset as the pig was scared. I was crying watching the clip. Thinking it was a bit of the pregnancy hormones kicking in, but I'm still not sure whether I like the concept. Though, this particular Pig Diving event was good because the pig just went right to the edge, had a sniff, then jumped into the pool. Pigs are so cute!

Trying the scones from the CWA stall at the show. The
scones were delish, especially with the home-made plum jam.
These women sure know how to make people happy.
Look how big I am in this pic. It just looks fat though from this angle!

Competition - please vote

I love listening to the radio on the way to work. My favourite show features 3 lovely people who have actually had a fair bit to do with Pulteney (the school where I work). Monday morning they announced a competition where teachers register and if voted for the most, win an 'Ultimate excursion' to the Royal Adelaide Show. When i mentioned this to my class they were pumped and I registered the same morning. Anyway, funny thing was, that evening I got a text message from a guy from the station asking if he could me and my class the next morning. I was getting all excited until my practical husband pointed out ' Ah, Mel. You surely have to get permission to get your kids a day off school.' Smart boy that one! I then rang my boss at home and he cracked up when I told him that Pete had to remind me not to get too excited and forget basic protocol.
Permission was granted and I arranged for an interview.
Click on the link below to have a listen to me and my gorgeous class of year 8's.



Also, I'm pretty sure that voting for this competition is open to ANYONE. You can vote for me (on behalf of my class) as many times as you like. I'm thinking that after all the voting I do for my lovely friends in various competitions, they wont mind returning the love (hint hint).

Go to this link and enter #1 where it asks for who you're voting for!

VOTE FOR MEL!

Guess what I set for homework for the next week.... :-)

Funny things kids say

It's been a funny couple of weeks at work. My students are classic and always saying the funniest things - especially since I've been pregnant.
When I told my gorgeous class of year 8's that I was pregnant they all broke out in applause and were very excited. When they left class I could see them outside the window in the yard and it was like Chinese whispers in action as my news spread throughout the Middle School. 45 kids left that day on a Zoo camp and when they returned 3 days later the teacher who'd been on camp with them was telling me how they told her my news. The kids exclaimed "Ms J, did you hear what happened to Mrs Watt. " Ms J said it was so funny. They were telling her like it was some big accident and what had I let happen to me. So funny!
The other day I had another teacher tell me that one of my students told her "Mrs Watt has been SOOO nice since she's been pregnant." When she told me who it was I realised it was a boy in my class who I had complimented that morning on his new hair cut. I told him he looked handsome and when I asked the girls they agreed. No wonder I was in his good books!
It will be interesting to hear what other things they have to say over the next few months.

The Coorong

I was fortunate recently to visit the Coorong with my year 8 class for our camp. We spent 5 days between the Coorong and Hindmarsh Island in South Australia. I had a great time this year on camp, which was nice. For one thing, I didn't break down on the last day when I met up with the other teachers (Last year was emotionally tough with some very negative and spiteful kids in my class). I was excited to tell the other year 8 teachers how much fun I'd had with my class. Furthermore, I actually got to have showers on this camp!!

This camp was a real treat. Between kayaking, sailing, surfing and windsurfing we experienced the magic that the Coorong environment had to offer. It was very moving to be in such a gorgeous place, and one so fundamental to Australia. The Coorong is a system of lakes, rivers and wetlands that connect to the Great Southern Ocean from the Murray River (Australia's most important river). Due to the blatant overuse of Murray water in other states, combined with drought, the situation in South Australia is heartbreaking. Whilst I've been aware of the issue, it wasn't until I spent time at the heart of this amazing ecosystem that I felt so connected to it.

We spend time with the students educating them about the Coorong and its functions, and encourage them to be mindful of the environment. The students were so respectful and often moved by what they experienced. One thing that saddened myself and many students were the hundreds of dead crabs floating in the Coorong. Barnacles form on their shells due to the salinity levels and they die slowly and painfully! Despite some of the obvious problems with the environment we were blessed to witness a seal eating his dinner right along the bank of the Coorong where we camped. The seal popped up and started whacking a fish about, then gulped it down. The following day as we sailed along the river in perfect conditions we were followed by 2 dolphins who put on a bit of a jumping and chasing show for us. The joy of sailing combined with witnessing these gorgeous creatures in their natural environement was exhilarating.
I've told Peter that I want to take up sailing (when we someday can afford a sailboat :-)

If you ever come to South Australia I would highly recommend a visit to the Coorong! I definitely want to get back there soon.

He's a bit hard to see, but that's the visiting seal!

my class rafted up.

One of the students in action

Looking fat, dorky but happy on the sailboat

The spare sailor got to sit on the bow. It was great fun!

I thought this was supposed to be a silly photo girls!

I let the students take the camera up to the sand dunes and they took some awesome pictures

My fav shot of camp. The students were proud they took these shots.

Beach at Goolwa for swimming and cockling.

Getting ready to eat them. Didn't like them raw, but cooked with a bit
of garlic and parsley they were delish!

Class 8MW - Last day of camp

Stacks on!!

Back to School

The students start back at Pulteney on Tues. I've been back at work since last Wed.
I have lots to blog about but have been run off my feet getting organised for school, and had an awesome time with Collette and Jess from last Wed - Sat when they stayed with us. It sucked that I had to go to work during the day, but was so nice coming home, entering the door to see Collette layed out on the couch. She greeted me with an enthusiastic "Hi Honey!" LOL. Love that girl ;-)
Will fill you in about their stay and some other stuff later.

Just saying Hello

Hello friends in the blogging world!

When Pete told me yesterday that I really needed to update 'our' blog, I just about died in shock. I then asked him if he wanted to do an update for us. Yeah - no luck there. I really wish I was more motivated but I always think it's too much effort, and I just don't take pictures of much these days. Doesn't help that our Camera has gone walkabout.

Anyway, I'm just posting a bunch of pics that sum up the last couple of months.
Love reading all your blogs!

Saying goodbye to my awesome cousin Pat. He is in
the States on a Baseball Scholarship.

My awesome group of students I directed in our school production.
We did the argument sketch from Monty Python. It was the favourite
performance of the night. Look at all us dags!

The awesome models of tectonic landforms that my year 9 SOSE
students created. Yeah I know - this is a 'highlight' of my last 2 months.
I'm afraid us teachers get a bit excited about these things.

Though....

Did I mention that a lot of the models were edible!!

Til next time. xxx

Year 9 Camp

I was finally able to upload photos from the year 9 camp to my laptop. I have some gorgeous shots from Mount Crawford. Although Adelaide scenery pales in comparison to Tassie, I have gained a lot of respect for the land here, and do love being in the Riverland especially. There are so many learning opportunities on the land. Opportunities that students will never get in the classroom. I guess that's why we do such intense camps at Pulteney. Despite having a very tough time this year, I am grateful that reflecting on the experience has made me want to embrace it all again next year. I just wish I could do this camp without 23 teenagers!!! :-)

We kayak along the Murray River for 2 days covering about 18 kms. I love the scenery, but am not so keen on kayaking all day.

Our camping spot at Ngaut Ngaut

Me and the boys - the intense riding group. Mountain biking is my personal highlight at camp.

Getting our bearings

A curious visitor

Taking a break

inJurEd

Stupid me thought it would be fun to join in the scratch match with my Year 8 Netball team. Course I ended up rolling my ankle - BAD. First day off work this year for a stupid sprained ankle. I need to remember that I'm getting too old to muck around with teenagers without getting hurt!
:-(

Gone camping

Hi all.

Tomorrow morning I head off to the Mount Crawford area with my Year 9 class. Each year Year 9 Home Group teachers go camping with their classes for 5 days. When I say camping, I mean REAL camping. It's 5 days expedition style, with kids packing and carrying everything in rucksacks, cooking food on a Trangia, and all that goes with it. Last year I was really apprehensive about camp but ended up having a fantastic time. 5 days is a long time to spend purely with 23 year 9's and 1 or 2 instructors (a company called Wilderness Escape run our camps for us) but the experience is pretty awesome. I fell in love with Mountain biking and loved all the down hill trails. I was right into it. We do 3 activities; Bushwalking, Mountain biking and Kayaking. We Kayak along the Murray, visit a very old Aboriginal sight called ngaut ngaut (pronounced naught naught) and end up in Mannum I think.
I've included a pretty awful photo. It's about 10pm here and Pete took this photo of me trying out my rucksack.
I'm praying the weather is good for us! Please spare me a thought when you wake up in the morning and have a lovely hot shower, and when you snuggle up in your beds at night!
xo

Movember

I realise Movember was obviously last month, but I wanted to share this funny pic with you all. Our school got behind the cause (to raise awareness/money for prostate cancer). Our Middle School teaching staff (the males only of course) grew mo's.
Pete did "attempt" to grow one, but it was nothing other than pathetic, and so he ended up shaving off his blonde try hard mo after 3 weeks. Man, that sounded harsh. Sorry honey!!
Anyway we sold stick-on mustaches at school a couple of weeks back, and to keep with the spirit of things, I got in on the act and bought one, and promptly put it on and had my class in stitches. Many of you will know I have very thin lips, and an absolutely non existent top lip. With a mo, it looks like I barely had a mouth. Of course it was a regular school day, and whilst the lessons weren't overly teacher directed that day, I did have to give instructions etc. After I'd outlined some expectations for the lesson, one of my especially conscientious students raised her hand, started giggling, and said "Mrs Watt, I'm really sorry, but I just can't take you seriously today."
In spite of typical rules, I asked one of the other students with a mo to open up 'Photobooth' on his computer so we could get a photo of our mo's. This student is a legend, and he actually looks like the Monopoly man! What do you think???

Pulteney Grammar School- 190 South Terrace

Another beautiful day today in Adelaide. I work in such a wonderful place. Right on the edge of the CBD bordering on to the parklands. The school is one of the oldest in Australia. It was founded in 1848. Pulteney has a rich history. We even have our own school Archivist. I love the old buildings and courtyard area. Several of the buildings are heritage listed, and there is simply a beautiful atmosphere at the school. Its definitely not the most grand and exquisite school (check out St Peters Boys) but it has a wonderful community feel. It does not feel like a stuffy private school that's for sure.

I took some photos today because the roses are all in bloom and it looks great!

The Main Entrance from South Terrace

The Front office/Reception

Student walkway over busy South Terrace

First day of Term 4

Hi guys,

Twas the first day back with the students today. I had really missed them. I run the Middle School SRC and had to round them all up as it was our turn to run the chapel service for this week. I told them on the last day of term 3 but of course they'd all forgotten. I went for the locker area and soon gathered them up. Lots of my home group class were about and I got lots of nice compliments about my new hair cut. It's amazing that the students pay that much attention. The boys often say "Nice matching braclet and earrings Mrs Watt, where'd you get them from?" Or last week of term I got "You're looking very floral today Mrs Watt." I gotta admit, I love it. I love that my students are cheeky, it reminds me of me!
I have lots of stories already, but I'll save them for another day.

What I wanted to blog was actually just that I am losing my voice. Its been 1 day and I'm losing my voice...HELP! I'm praying its not the nasty laryngitis virus mum got a few weeks back...

I'm famous...sorta

On Tuesday Peter got an out of the blue message from a mate saying "your wife is on news.com.au." I immediately remembered back to 2 weeks prior when I was asked to pose for some photos for the Paper in my classroom. A week after that I had a phone interview with a journo but didn't think anything would end up in the paper. Because my school is right in the city of Adelaide and is pretty much the only co-ed private school in that vicinity, the Advertiser Newspaper and TV channels often come to our school for photo ops etc. We must have good looking students and teachers I reckon!
Anyway Pete and I were out grocery shopping and couldn't check the internet at that stage. When I got home I got a call from my Grandma exclaiming "why didn't you tell me you were going to be in the paper today." Anyway she was WAY TOO excited. The article as you can see is about literacy levels in SA students.

For a better look at the article click on the link:

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,24457931-2682,00.html

Tell me if I sound like I know what I'm talking about!