amazing students

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is the Culture of the school created by the students.
This week I saw a prime example when there was a full peer leaders day. The year 13 (upper sixth) worked all day with the year 7s (10 and11 year olds).
At the end of the day, the yr 13s had 50 minutes to teach the whole yr 7 (about 75 kids per group) to do a dance in synch.
The energy and determination was astonishing. Even more so was the involvement of the older boys, who chivvied along the yr 7s boys and got them taking part. The younger boys learnt a lot about expectations from those older boys - far more than I could ever expect to teach them.
Watching young men dancing along and encouraging house spirit was mind-blowing.
At the end of the hour each house had a group of 75, 10 and 11 year olds able to dance along to a song and every single child in the year group (275 in total) gave it a good go.

It was also fun to see some of the year 12s (lower sixth) hanging around to associate themselves. It really is cool to be an achiever here.

One more thing - out of the lads who were supporting the kids today, they weren't just the sporty ones. For example, one is on his way to 45 IB points (think 6 As at A level) in sciences and one was close to being expelled a few years ago.

T8 and went

Over night the T8 blew and blew. It was a noisy night as things bumped and clanged and sudden gusts would take off tree branches.

As always though the T8 came and it went.

Fortunately it didn't go too fast and the schools were closed next day.
The teachers were asked to go in if it was safe, but being so far out, we thought it best to work from home. I used the 1 1/2 hours I would have travelled that day on top of my normal work day to get a load of work done. Girls were also glad of a rest as they were a bit washed out.

T8

The No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal was issued at 6:00
p.m.
At 6 p.m., Typhoon Hagupit was centred about 210 kilometres
south-southeast of Hong Kong (near 20.5 degrees north 114.6
degrees east) and is forecast to move west or
west-northwest at about 28 kilometres per hour heading
towards the south China coast.

Hagupit's outer rainbands are already affecting Hong Kong.
Gale force winds are generally blowing over offshore waters
and on high grounds.

Well I never!!

6 weeks here and another T8 is expected within 2 hours. The pre-8 signal was hoisted a few minutes ago. The issue now is how long it takes to pass over head. Will it still be T8 in the morning? - we suspect it won't.
There will almost certainly be work tomorrow with gently steaming teenagers.
This is the typhoon path - it should miss HK in the main.

Our countryside

One of the first things our new school did was to take us all out for lunch in an isolated cove.
Some intrepid walkers did the 1.5 milk trek and boated back. The rest of us took the boat both ways.




The photos are a reflection of the coastal scenery in the area where we live.



Here is someone enjoying the sea air.

Also some candid shots of my new friends!!


Here we are eating and on the boat on the way back.

3 weeks? that long?

Has it really been 3 weeks since I last posted? Dearie me, I am bad.

Ok, well I'd better catch up with everything. I'll do separate people postings.

As a family, we are close to emptying all the boxes and are looking forward to welcoming our cats back in 3 weeks time.

Girls are doing exceedingly well at school and Ian has found work which fits around Heather's school.

It occurs to me that we've been here just 6 weeks, yet it seems much longer! I've taught a full 4 week cycle and the sun is still blazing. It is starting to feel homely.

There are things we miss about AD of course; our regular Monday Quiz and drama clubs, the great friends we left behind and constant blue skies.
There is lot we don't miss though!!