Dress Rehearsals

I was asked to take on this role by an old friend, who popped into the school this morning and on his way out, gave me a slap on the shoulder & told me I was doing a grand old job. I hope he's right. I also hope he's on the board of governors! The teachers were jittery with today's dress rehearsal; the very small audience appeared to be rather important - have not seen them before, but you kind of know when powerful hitters are on the bench!

The running order seems to be:

1. Ikuko's tiddlers did their hungry caterpillar routine. Lovely. The slightly odd girl in her class went postal, as usual; seems to be Kozue's full-time job just corralling her!
2. Miwa & Ayako's mini Vegetable Patch & Viking Man ensemble
3. Kimiko's play which escapes me
4. Alysa's pirate ship - The Big Show & Yukina look very good
5. Chisato's group were flagging before lunch in togas, with a baffling number stage entries & exits
6. Satsuki's climax of boy scouts & wellington boots, I am still none the wiser.

And about that lunch. Nobody had thought to tell me today was BYO day. Well, that's actually OK with me - I just wish lawsons was further away so I could stretch the walk out & listen to Test Match Special over my sandwiches. As it was, just had time to hear King Geoffrey of Boycott taking chunks out of Matt Prior for wafting his wicket away in Perth. Meanwhile, some bloodnut called Stokes piles past a debut ton & belts the new ball out of shape in the process.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the late lunch has put everyone off their usual game. With my wandering remit, observed that Chisato was debriefing her class very nicely indeed and giving them a lovely "genki up" - whole class listening intently. She is really growing in my esteem; massively under-estimated her early on. Satsuki's class apparently not up to muster & having to have another practice, the world on her shoulders again. Guess who AWOL on her class while Kimiko corner a quiet place. Think she has been remarkable, given her father passed away last week. Wish I could communicate with this team better.

A rainy Friday in November

One of the kids taught me a new paper aeroplane design in Satsuki's divided room, which was nice (and since forgotten) but my main memory of today was...aggro. Boys constantly mock fighting, girls in fantasy coloring land & the misfits amusing themselves. 

Yamaga footy and lunch in hall (a first) and remarkably undramatic - would expect 120 odd children eating in the same place with only a few adults around to end in tears, but remarkably few mishaps.

There was a fabulous Mantis in S-sensei's room, displaying remarkable climbing skills, but the girls climbing me elsewhere just a pain. Likewise, all the pushing & shoving, lacking any nice requests...

Mantis 1 - 0 France

Days like this (no structure) try my patience severely. Ratty ones really wind me up, & I end up disliking most of the cling ons. Whose fault? Me for being 'too nice'? Think not.

Shin pads please

Can we finish this?

 For some reason the increasingly chilly mornings affect my memory; totally forgot to bring a Hallowe'en mask I made last year :(

I also forgot my chopsticks, and was worried I'd not get any lunch - now I know how the tiddlers feel when mummy forgets something important!

Today was another round of giant robot painting in the big hall, with every class having a turn to do a bit - but not finish anything. Large bits & pieces everywhere, with vivid colours being slapped on as well as a fair amount going astray.

Do as I say!

Although I did get lunch, I also got fed up with the violent & unconstructed after-lunch melee. Had enough of being hit, stabbed, poked and shouted at. Some amused themselves with felt-tips & nendo (plasticine) but it's the odd behaviour of a fair number of the boys in S-sensei's class which worries me. This afternoon, one lad again trying to kiss his friends, aggressively, before progressing into a general attempt to do K1 on anyone within reach - regardless of chairs etc in the way. Some of the boys actually barricaded the day with them. A few girls colouring in the corner & the teacher painting hands with blinkers on.

Recycled robots

As for hand-eye practice with soft balls in the hall, after some bouncing & catching it developed into another free for all, again with kicks aimed at my shins. Not happy with this at all, and to top it off it rained all the cycle-ride home and my raincoat was with my chopsticks on the stairs at home :(