First Day of School!
It was a great day for the girls as they went off to their new school. We all walked to the train station from our apartment. The train ride was only 5 stops away, brief yet enjoyable. We arrived in plenty of time for a short walk to the school. Emily and Mark went to meet with her year coordinator to find out who her Form teacher was (similar to a homeroom teacher), get this his name is Mr. Rushmore. Mark and Emily had a little giggle and had to explain the inside joke. (For Aussie readers, this is the name of the Elementary School that both girls attended in the states) Shortly, thereafter, Emily was on her way and Mark joined me at Audrey's class. They were putting together an improptu welcoming party! Cookies, err um, bikkies were served as well as a cordial (basically KoolAid). Audrey was encircled by her new classmates and was made to feel very welcome! Mark and I met her teacher briefly, before the class had to retreat into their classroom for the day's activities! No tears at all! Ok,.....I did get misty eyed at the thoughtfulness of her new classmembers, but I was "mature" and didn't go into an ugly cry!
As we had purchased a car the day before at Beecham Motors (a Holden Commodore Acclaim VZ---GREAT CAR---Thanks Chris B.!!), I drove Mark to work and dropped him off for the day. I had a plan for my free time! I stopped at the Indro mall for a massage! It was not a spa-type massage, but rather a trigger point relief massage (probably a more accurate name for it in the business, but that's how I've named it). After relieving several trigger points in my shoulders and lower back, I received some acupuncture for some (hopefully) relief of sinus pressure headaches. Maybe I can add this into my sinus infection regimine!
Time to pick up a few groceries (they have a full grocery store in most of the malls here!, convenient!) Not really enough time to go back to the apartment, only an hour until the girls get out of class, so I drove the short distance from the mall to their school and parked for a few minutes.
Met up with the girls. They both had a really nice first day. Emily had a couple of girls who showed her to her first class, then directed her towards her next class. She had good feedback about most of her day. There's got to be some teenage complaints along the way, though! Wouldn't be a normal kid if there wasn't, right? She wasn't too thrilled with a lecture on self-esteem, not to worry though every week the topic changes---so will the grumblings, I bet!
Audrey had a good day as well. Her class is in between normalcy at the moment. At the same time they are preparing for the Australian version of Achievement testing (YIKES, can't get away from it!---hmmmm, maybe I can volunteer my help with interventional tutoring and data base management---sound familiar?). Audrey will not be required to take these tests, so she used the time that they were reviewing to begin to read the book that the class is reading. She polished off 6 chapters today (then read another 6 later that evening) and will be able to participate in discussions tomorrow.
They both told stories of how the students had questions about the U.S. and where intrigued by their accents! Lots of fun around the dinner table listening to their tales of the day. Can't wait for tonight's installments.
More very soon!!
Hugs and kisses to everyone back in the states!! Have fun in AL Mom, Ron, Marj & Ryley!
Hugs and kisses also to our great extended family in the South!!
If anybody has any particular questions about life here in Brisbane, don't hesitate to post a comment! I'll do my darndest to find the answer, if not I know the Brisbanite readers of this blog will be ready with an answer if I don't know it!
XOXOXOXOX
As we had purchased a car the day before at Beecham Motors (a Holden Commodore Acclaim VZ---GREAT CAR---Thanks Chris B.!!), I drove Mark to work and dropped him off for the day. I had a plan for my free time! I stopped at the Indro mall for a massage! It was not a spa-type massage, but rather a trigger point relief massage (probably a more accurate name for it in the business, but that's how I've named it). After relieving several trigger points in my shoulders and lower back, I received some acupuncture for some (hopefully) relief of sinus pressure headaches. Maybe I can add this into my sinus infection regimine!
Time to pick up a few groceries (they have a full grocery store in most of the malls here!, convenient!) Not really enough time to go back to the apartment, only an hour until the girls get out of class, so I drove the short distance from the mall to their school and parked for a few minutes.
Met up with the girls. They both had a really nice first day. Emily had a couple of girls who showed her to her first class, then directed her towards her next class. She had good feedback about most of her day. There's got to be some teenage complaints along the way, though! Wouldn't be a normal kid if there wasn't, right? She wasn't too thrilled with a lecture on self-esteem, not to worry though every week the topic changes---so will the grumblings, I bet!
Audrey had a good day as well. Her class is in between normalcy at the moment. At the same time they are preparing for the Australian version of Achievement testing (YIKES, can't get away from it!---hmmmm, maybe I can volunteer my help with interventional tutoring and data base management---sound familiar?). Audrey will not be required to take these tests, so she used the time that they were reviewing to begin to read the book that the class is reading. She polished off 6 chapters today (then read another 6 later that evening) and will be able to participate in discussions tomorrow.
They both told stories of how the students had questions about the U.S. and where intrigued by their accents! Lots of fun around the dinner table listening to their tales of the day. Can't wait for tonight's installments.
More very soon!!
Hugs and kisses to everyone back in the states!! Have fun in AL Mom, Ron, Marj & Ryley!
Hugs and kisses also to our great extended family in the South!!
If anybody has any particular questions about life here in Brisbane, don't hesitate to post a comment! I'll do my darndest to find the answer, if not I know the Brisbanite readers of this blog will be ready with an answer if I don't know it!
XOXOXOXOX
posted by LHagen at
4:48 AM
2 Comments:
Are the girls going to a public school or private? Both in the same building? Will this be their permanent school for the duration? Kaela had orientation Thursday...her homeroom teacher is Mrs. Burnette. I will post her schedule later. Still no teacher contract. They will meet again on Monday.:( More later.
By
ChrisL, at Friday, August 18, 2006
Hey Lori - glad to hear the first day went semi-smooth :) for the girls! I can't wait for our year to begin - if this whole contract thing is ever settled!! I highly recommend you volunteer your time at the school when you are settled(better yet find a paid position) -you are a pro after your experiences with this at Rushmore! It is interesting to hear that they have something similar to the Achievement Tests. Take Care.
Shannon Lawson
By
Anonymous, at Friday, August 18, 2006
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