Friday

Today is Friday, that means coffee and tea day. The typical school day goes as follows: Period 1 - 8:50-10, Period 2 - 10-11 then Morning Break - 11-11:25, Period 3 - 11:25-12:30. Period 4 - 12:30-1:30pm then Afternoon Break (lunch) - 1:30-1:55, Period 5 1:55-3:00. So on Fridays, morning break is coffee and tea time, where pretty much everyone brings in a small snack or dish to pass. Everyone sits, eats drinks and gets the latest on school news. Then on Fridays, a small number of school staff go to the teacher's lounge for drinks. The faculty atmosphere is much different then in the states regarding their breaks. Both have their benefits.

Yesterday was our year 10 (sophomore) Lightening Carnival. This event is when all year tens sign up for a sport, (football, basketball, soccer, etc) pay $5 and then meet at a location to play other schools in the region. They do not have rewards or a "most athletic school award" which I thought was odd. I traveled with the boys soccer team where the head of the PE department and Gav were the coaches. There were not any formal referees, coaches didn't really coached just watched and it was set up as a bracket type event. It seemed as though it was more laid back and a type of recess activity. I decided to jump up and help judge the lines, which did help the game run more smoothly. The students played five 40 minute games with only one 40 minute break near the end. I am very proud of how well they acted. The level of the game was pretty poor but at this school and this level, just having good behavior all day is tremendous.

For tomorrow, Gav and I have organized a bus tour that will take us through the heart of the wine country. Almost everyone has decided to do it, so I am looking forward to it. I'll see if I can't get some good pictures of it. Sunday is Mother's Day, unfortunately I can't be there for my mum, so HAPPY MUM's DAY Mum!

There are more pictures located here

There are more information and pictures from our CMU coordinator here