It’s very unusual that anyone says their holidays seemed much longer than they actually were. More likely, complaining voices claiming that the holidays just “flew by”, or that they “just weren’t long enough” can usually be heard echoing around the staff rooms of most schools. However, my recent 6 week long service leave (explaining my absence from this blog) seemed, happily, to linger far longer than the number of weeks stated. The Covid related restrictions forced us to remain in WA so we took an opportunity to truly relax. While we did manage a few “mini breaks” in the capital city and along the southern coast, watching the days slide lazily by at home left the impression that time had really slowed down. It was bliss! However, all good things come to an end (so they say) and I’m back in class, working with a wonderful group of young people. Check out tree of my holiday photos, including one of a full size replica of Stonehenge.

Blogging isn’t easy, especially when the blogger wants to make it interesting. Anyone can tap out a few lines on a blank screen, but to make a blog so interesting that you want to keep going back to read more… Well, that takes talent. Hang on, though, that’s probably getting ahead of myself a little. I’ll rewind a tad and start at the beginning.

Why do I blog? At its basic level a blog is a replacement for the good old trust exercise book. No longer does the optimistic student sit quietly, pouring their thoughts, ideas and creations onto a waiting blank page only to have them received by just one, slightly critical reader – the teacher. Blogs allow the budding author to reach a much wider audience, the whole world (well, those with technology). Blogs can be read by parents, grandparents, distant relatives, other students and yes, the teacher. They allow creativity to flourish and ideas to be set free. Blogs allow the student who truly wants to write (yes, we still have them) the chance to be creative whenever they want. I could genuinely go on, but you get the idea.

However, to be creative a blog has to be varied, not just the same style of post each week, and wow, do we have great blogs. I don’t find blogging easy but these two students have made it seem simple, effortless. If you want a good read check out Grace’s and Elaine’s blogs and you’ll understand why I use blogs. These two girls are spot on when it comes to blogging!

I don’t always like to repeat an activity year after year, indeed, some of the activities I do repeat get changed and updated on a regular and often substantial basis. However, this is one activity I am repeating – again. This year I have the siblings of students I’ve previously taught and, while I was ready for a change, I thought it would be nice for some of the mums to have a matching set. I can’t say what it is (I’ve already said too much) as I don’t want to give the surprise away, but you can check out the photos to see how busy and productive the students have been. By the way, if you do guess what it is, don’t tell anyone!

The things which make us different are the things which make us great! We’re a mish-mash, a hotchpotch, a ragbag, a patchwork, a veritable quilt of colours and cultures combining to fashion the beautiful community we call Australia. This year, LA14 seems more diverse than ever and it’s so encouraging, when working with kids, that none of this matters in their eyes. There’s a genuine feeling (at least from myself) that not only are we richer in spirit for our differences, but our miniature model of multiculturalism is an optimistic example for all to enjoy. Kids may come to school to learn, but they have so much to teach the adults of the world through their tolerant and inclusive natures. Check out the image below of four of the students in their cultural dress.

It isn’t for everyone but I love it! Poetry, one of the greatest forms of literature and one that can bring both pleasure and change to the world. My personal favourites would have to be Pope, Shakespeare and Hughes, a result of my literature degree. Oddly enough, it also seems to be ones of the forms that the students really enjoy too. This term we looked at personification and the students produced some wonderful examples, they also read them in very expressive voices. Have a listen to the one below from Jasmine and prepare to be awed!

This is such an unusual situation, but it’s one we just can’t do anything about just yet. The brakes have been well and truly slammed onto our technology. The Education Department is still undertaking its huge security review and we’ve lost access to all the applications and tools we usually integrate into our learning. Edublogs is one of my personal faves, but as yet I can’t enroll the students or publish any images of them slogging away learning all their cool new stuff. We’ve studied the Stolen Generation, the Vietnam War, personification, character analyses, decimals, digital art, played a cricket tournament… We’ve done so much but sadly there’s so little to show you.

2021 may have started with a splutter and a misfire but we’re now off and running smoothly with all cylinders firing. The new students have settled in and a great bunch they seem, too, full of enthusiasm, positivity, beaming smiles and a real desire to learn. I’m not one to tempt fate (I know better that) but I think this year is going to be awesome. All our subjects are accelerating steadily and we’ve looked at character studies, place values, decimal addition, The Stolen Generation and we’re even squeezing in an assembly. I think my favourite, though, has been our iPad art, two examples of which you’ll find below. The momentum is gathering as we put the pedal to the metal so if you hear any screeching sounds don’t worry, it’s just us spinning our wheels as we “vroom, vroom’ along!

We were so close! Last Sunday all the government schools in WA were giddy in anticipation of what the next day might bring, the first day of a new school year. I have to admit that I was more excited than usual at the prospect of welcoming my new students to my class; it felt like a whole new journey was beginning and 2020 had finally been dismissed. Sadly, midway through that fateful day, Covid reared its ugly mush and put paid to all our fun. Another week of lockdown and another reminder of the times in which we live and that 2020 was, after all, just the start. However, fingers crossed, Monday the 8th of February will be our new start date and LA14 will hopefully be back in business. As there are no class photos I’ll leave a few images of some upgrades I did to my MG over the holidays – I know how much everyone enjoys them. I hope you all managed to enjoy your own hobbies during the summer break – comment if you did.

We are so lucky! I don’t mean to sound flippant about or dismissive of the turmoil which continues to envelop the world, but it happens to be true. Where do I start? Lockdowns of entire nations with populations existing in small social bubbles; businesses failing and families in such financial pain; countries reeling from inept and criminal leadership which threatens their very existence; droughts, conflicts and floods leaving humanitarian crises in their wakes. Yet, here we are. We sit here in beautiful Western Australia having had no community covid infection for 9 months, being allowed to travel within the state, socialise, shop and attend school with little or no hindrance. We are in our own massive bubble – and we are so, so lucky! The year ahead promises much but remains uncertain; I personally hope for great changes for LA14 and a year full of learning, joy and progress. Futures are, by definition, uncertain, but the present for us here in this stunning state is good and we must take a moment to think of others while we remember to count our numerous blessings. Here are a few photos of my own home town.

 

2020 was some year! On a world scale it was one we all shared together and saw us come together to find solutions to a problem which proved we are all basically the same, wherever we come from. Personally, well, I’m sure we all had our moments, good and bad, that will live with us, that added to our experiences, that lifted us up or helped us learn. However, time flies and we’re already ticking away the days of 2021. In Australia, we’re still on our summer break and won’t be back ’til February and even then it’ll be a few weeks before my new students get access to their blogs (more on that in a later post). Until then this blog is just biding it’s time, ticking over, awaiting the big day when the kids arrive with beaming smiles, energy and enthusiasm for the year that lies ahead. 2021 promises to be another notable year in history, hopefully one which bears the fruits of our collected efforts and sees us learn greater lessons about who we are as a world community, after all, that’s what history is for.