On the job again....I can't wait to get on the job again...

I'm a working woman once again, and have survived one almost full week with grade 5's! They're smart, keen, full of energy, clever, crafty, chaotic, coniving, funny, earnest, fragile and more! They seem like a cast of thousands, but I've only got 22...I think I know them all by first name now and have even met some of the parents (a much more hands-on bunch than my high school near gradutes' parents EVER were!)

Here at St. John's International School, the kids graduate from elementary school at the end of grade 5 and are responsible for an elaborate and very lengthy project at the end of their year. This is the culmination of all their international baccalaureate skill building for the last 5+ years and requires research, oral, visual and performance presentations as well as organized group work, independent work and parent involvement. It's a big deal and the entire school community takes it very seriously. One of my tasks will be to facilitate this and provide students with the fine tuned skills of organization, inquiry and rigor that the international educational system demands. We'll definitely be learning together!

Here's a picture from last year's exhibition to give you an idea how detailed some can make it...the topics this year have to do with international things kids can relate to, such as the diversity of access to healthcare or safety, discrimination based on things they've already experienced, and what peace and conflict really means in their lives. Think of a science fair but for social/world studies/social sciences and you'll be close...

So now this is the last hour before the christmas (and since this is a christian school, we have just finished the decorate-the-tree-baby jesus-star-nativity scene-pagent type of festivity--parents sign consent to the christian mission and values so these assemblies are expected) and the kids are all gone. The teacher I'm replacing is up at the staff meeting being rejoiced by her colleagues, and I'm staying out of the fray to let her have all that limelight...there'll be time enough for me to get to know the rest of the staff when we come back in the new year. I'll be reading furiously to get up to speed with the students' work to date and to what the exhibition is all about. I've met the other team members and it looks like I'll enjoy working here--provided that I can pace myself and transition well in the parents' eyes, the admin's eyes and most importantly, in the children's eyes.

As a last word, my son said this morning, "Mommy, where are you going?" I said, "to work". Malcolm thought about this for a second, then said, "Ooh! Now you can pay all of those bills daddy's been collecting!" I hope it will be much more than a paycheque, but that I'll be feeling capable and competent once again, as a (start the music) "hard workin' gal"!