Happy Holiday November 4, 2008

We had a quite long holiday. Yesterday no class because it’s Curriculum Day and now is Melbourne Cup Day.
At least kids had a long rest and tomorrow back to school again. Last Friday was their last day of Swimming lessons and they were really having fun on that day because there were some special games implemented by the staff of Harold Holts. My son had told me lots of stories about it and gosh can’t stop his mouth. The day before the last of of their swimming lesson I went with them and I recorded some videos. Do you want to see? Are you sure? Ok no problem lol

Swimming Lesson October 29, 2008

My kids are into swimming lesson which was offered by their school. It started two weeks ago. I shouldn’t  let them join the swimming class because they already knew how to swim although not that tough. I already taught them how to swim last year’s summer and they’re doing well. Oh well, it’s been a while since then so maybe need a follow up practice. The swimming lesson was  optional, but kids were very eager and determined to join so we just let them and paid two hundred bucks for the two of them. They really love to be in the water despite of the cold season. The water is warm so no worries. They payment we made already includes bus fair back and forth, rent of the place and for the swimming instructors. They already made six sessions and two more to go. It will be tomorrow and friday. The session start by eleven thirty in the morning for my prep until twelve-thirty and for my grade 2, it’s twelve-thirty to one-thirty in the afternoon. It’s just inserted with their class time schedule and kids seemed to be responsible in handling their valuables. The class adviser with student helper is there to guide plus some parents who offered to assist. Almost all of the students joined the swimming lesson and it’s fun and enjoyable for my kids to be in there since their friends are also there. Each group with ten kids has one instructor. Kids were so cute and happy in the water. I went with them one time. I saw the swimming place namely Harolds Holts. It’s a nice place particularly for learning how to swim. They also have hydrotherapy pool and many more facilities that has something to do with water therapy. It’s a place available for everyone willing to pay. Even holidays and weekends they’re open for customers. Tomorrow, I’ll go with them again and assist the kids.

One week down September 30, 2008

One week down for my kids school holidays and one week to go. I spent almost all my time with them playing at the park doing football, soccer, biking, scooting and let them play with other kids of course. If the weather is fine, there’s a lot of people at the park. Different races like Russians, Indians, Koreans, Chinese, Japanese but all are speaking English. It’s nice to mingle with different kinds of races. Talking about different cultures. Australia welcomes all races and that’s what I like it here. My kids loves this country now but of course I always remind them to love our Mother Country, the Philippines. I don’t want them to forget where we originally belong.

The weather forecast for the whole week seems not good because it stated as rainy week and only tomorrow will be sunny up to 24 degrees. But hey, as of this hour, the sun is shining brightly. We went out this morning until 11 am. I let them take a bath, eat lunch and then sleep. Now the two boys are  awake. They’re eating apples as snacks and after that, ready to go out again. Obviously, I will be going out too. I’m just finishing this post and wait for my youngest to wake up. I still let my children sleep in the afternoon if they’re on a holiday as we always did back at our own country. Most of the kids here in Aussie seem like not sleeping in the afternoon. Letting your children sleep in the afternoon for an hour is a secret of kids alertness. Are you aware of that? That’s what I observed and based on experienced.

I took pictures of all my activities with my kids and I uploaded them at in my flickr account. You can see some of them at my right sidebar widget. I also posted in my bravejournal account that I got a new tech toy. A DLSR camera Canon EOS 1000D and I enjoy playing with it. You will see, I mostly take pictures of my children while we’re at the park. Just take a look at my flickr. Here’s some sample…

The weekend visitors September 22, 2008

Last Saturday my older son got a visitor and take note it’s a girl. A very pretty Jewish girl who always beg my son to let him come to our house. Since it’s the first weekend holiday of their break from school, I said ok she can some to our house. As I mentioned before, children here used to visit each others houses. Anyway the parents are my friends so they just talked to me to drop their daughter in the morning by 10 am. So early for me but it doesn’t matter because they’ll just stay for one hour. Not bad to handle lot’s of kids in just short span of time . I prefer food but they didn’t ate because according to them they already had a big lunch. Lunch by 10 am? I’m not used to it. But I admire the kids because they don’t just accept foods being offered by not so known people to them. But before my kids visitors came, I give them one task. You know what’s the task is? Take a look at the picture below.

Cleaning our front yard.
After cleaning our front yard like picking all those dried leaves scattered all around the rain poured. I thought the visitor won’t come anymore but they arrived and very excited. What’s their activity for one hour? Take look at this pictures below again…

Yeah absolutely Wii play and computer games. I didn’t mention that the pretty little girl has a brother who is my second son’s classmate in Prep. So they’re pair with playmates. My little one just busy with his own world hehehe. I can say that they’re having fun because they don’t have idea about Wii and my son teach them to play sports especially the bowling game. After one hour their dad picked them up but before that we had a little talk for a while. Parents to parents you know.

End of Term 2 June 27, 2008

Today is the last day of school for the term 2 and wowowee vacation again for two weeks. It’s just the kids vacation but of course I can relax a bit with all the vacation days. Classess will resume on July 14. My children learned a lot  and I am proud of the enthusiasm and energy they have shown for the the entire 12 weeks. The effort of my children have put into their work and has been reflected in the standard of work that has been produced.

My grade 2 son have been very busy with their learning about what makes a good learning environment and researching habitats for mini beasts. In literacy, they have been looking at procedure texts and narratives and constructived marvelous shadowbox habitats.

My son in prep have learnt so much this term and the learning focus on the natural and living world has resulted in them being great environment detectives and really helping out at their school and at home. Sustainability and water and the important message how to conserve.

 

 

I have now the first Semester School Report of my kids. Some are pleasant and some are acceptable. There are little problems but easy to correct since they’re still coping with the new country and environment. I am happy and proud to tell that they’re doing well despite of all.

Pictures of Jarred my prep son during their trip to farm…

Milking Cow

Pampering chick

Easter Hat Parade March 20, 2008

Today my kids at school had their advance celebration for Easter. They parade on the main hall site of their school wearing their different style of easter hats while singing. They look so alive and lovely. Each of the level had their presentation. There was a raffle draw in every presentation done and luckily my son Jover got a prize not just once but twice. Lucky with raffle tickets lol! He got bunny shaped and egg shaped chocolates. Pretty a lot to eat ew!

The Easter hats we are working hard to create. We are helping each other. Does the baloon on the top looks like bunny?

a capture on them for this day.

THE VIDEO

Walkathon March 16, 2008

Last Tuesday morning March 4, the whole school assembled on Lord’s Park and performed the walkathon to raise a money for the school and to participate in some healthy activity. The children each had a card which was stamped as the lap was completed. Before that, the children were asked to get sponsorship or even given a set amount.

The Prep-2 had a smaller lap to walk than the 3-6 and thr parents, friends and even few pets enjoyed the activity. The effort by all participants was fantastic according to the newsletter I recieved from the school. They were amazed to see how much energy some of the walkers and joggers had. The whole session was also a lot of fun and a number of people commented that they looked forward to the next one.

These are my kids card stamped with the laps they had finished. We paid each lap $2 because we don’t get any sponsors as we are just new to the place. No close friends yet. We are glad to participate as a contribution to any movement will be made by the school.

Harmony Day March 14, 2008

Harmony Day is an important celebration because it represents World Peace. The Glen Huntly Primary School where our kids are studying celebrated it just this morning as they have many cultures represented within their community and they strive to work and play together in a harmonious way.

In some parts of the world, “Harmony” is merely a dream, where as for them it is a reality. I myself witnessed it. The people in their community including us now respect beliefs of others and are prepared to share their own customs and celebrations whenever possible. The thing promote learning, understanding and tolerance with our children.

The National date for Harmony Day Celebrations is the 21st March, however, as this is Good Friday, Glen Huntly Primary School just celebrate it just today after Curriculum Day which was yesterday.

The students are told to come to school dressed in their national costume of their choice or where if not possible, wear something orange. Since we don’t bring our national costume from the Philippines the “Barong Tagalog” we just let our kids wear orange shirt.