Welcome Home!

So, being a sucker for punishment, fighting the jet lag, I arrived at Northbridge High School bright and early for the 7:25 a.m. bell on Tuesday morning! I just couldn't stay away. Anxious to see my friends and students I was excited to walk through the doors, with Little Coffee Bean brownie toffee jumbo java in hand! (Really, I just did not feel like tackling the four month pile of mail that was awaiting me on the kitchen table! LOL!)

I was overwhelmed with welcome home hugs, cards and goodies from the students and my colleagues. My Alpaca snowman joined a snowman made by Micaela when she was young, on the shelf in my classroom. Photos and memorabilia all were unpacked and reset on my classroom desk. The Holes banner made it to the bulletin board and it felt as if I had never left.

It is good to be home!

Our tree was minimalist this year, as was the pile of gifts from Santa, as the energy to unpack all the Christmas decorations just was not in me. Micaela did a good job with some ribbon, bows and candy canes! Christmas shopping got completed on Christmas Eve, and Mike and I wrapped presents while enjoying some Chinese food.

The Journey Home

The journey home was relatively uneventful, despite snow in both Amsterdam and Boston, and numerous gate changes and delays, but we did arrive home on December 20th as arranged...our baggage, five out of six pieces, was another story; those did not arrive until Wednesday. Everything arrived in one piece - except my antique spode teacup and saucer - only the teacup survived; even the Christmas pudding and mistletoe, complete with berries, arrived safely.

The trees in the airport were a wonderful reminder that the Christmas season was in full swing and I treated myself to a delft ornament as featured on these trees.

The Christmas pudding was indeed delicious, accompanied by brandy butter of course; however, I don't think I boiled it long enough.

I was lucky enough to see Santa in the airport, and while he was too busy to give me a ride home, he did see to it that we arrived safely. Something I should be grateful for - since, as of the writing of this entry, the "underwear bomber" has been apprehended and thwarted in his attemtps to bring down a Northwest airlines jet after boarding in Amsterdam. We did indeed fly on a Northwest/Delta jet on our return journey.

We arrived home to snow covered runways, bitter biting wind, a fresh, white blanket of snow, very happy puppies, a clean and warm house, and of course to my favorite guy, Michael.

New England at Christmas ...it's nice to be home for the holidays.

Ta My lovelies....

Saturday, December 18th dawned with sunshine and crisp cold air in Peterchurch, England. Making my way from Jan and Ian's, parting with tearful goodbyes, I went to collect Micaela who had also celebrated her last evening with a group of friends. Her parting from Alex was especially poignant and found us both driving through Peterchurch, past Fairfield High School for the last time, and returning to Gilwern for final packing and cleaning, with tears rolling down our cheeks.

Our departure from England being emotional for many reasons. While anxious to return home for the holidays, the friends we have made here on this exchange will be especially missed; and, while leaving home in August was sad we always knew we would return and see our family and friends again - the guarantee to see all our new friends is not as firmly etched. While intentions to visit again, and invitations are open for all to come to America, the reality is most likely not probable that we will see everyone again...and that is especially sad.



On Friday evening the Fairfield High School teaching staff celebrated Christmas again, with a second party in the school dining hall. I was graciously given a coveted Alpaca scarf as a keepsake of my time in the school and was thanked by Mr. Barker for bringing a piece of American culture to the school. Knowing that I will be missed is treasured.



Earlier in the day, at the full school assembly I had been thanked again and received a Fairfield sweatshirt with my initials as a "thank you" for assisting the PE dept. during my stay, and a school calendar - featuring the many animals, insects and reptiles that grace the school grounds. The faculty also gave me a beautiful pendant of blue aqua glass from the city of Bath. I will truly treasure all these sentimental keepsakes, along with the many gifts I received from my colleagues in the English department and my students. These are items which will remain close to my heart as I reflect on all the happy moments of my time at Fairfield.



Goodbye's are never easy - and while my board was covered in well wishes and thank you's from my students - I was especially touched by the lingering Year 7 boy who was the last to leave the classroom on Friday afternoon and parted with a big hug and a Merry Christmas. As teachers, we never know when we have touched the lives of a child, influenced them for the positive or left a lasting impression - sometimes we don't find out for years, sometimes we never find out - but in the case of Fairfield High School students I think I have been privileged to have been as touched by them as they have been by me and it is a rare gift to know it in the moment.



I stood at the window of the classroom for one last time on Friday afternoon, watching the myriad of busses depart from the gate for the Christmas holiday and Micaela departing from her friends with tearful hugs and goodbyes, and I did indeed use a few tissues in the process.

One last cider at the pub with Jo & Ruth, and then off to get ready for the final evening of festivities with the Christmas party kept me busy and my mind off the final departure. With promises to continue long distance friendships and make use of modern technology like facebook and emails there really are no goodbye's .....just....

Ta my lovelies ...until we meet again. Thank you for your kindnesses and your friendship. I shall miss you all very much!

Beauty & the Beast

Main Entry: 1pan·to·mime
Pronunciation: \ˈpan-tə-ˌmīm\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin pantomimus, from pant- + mimus mime
Date: 1589
1 : pantomimist
2 a : an ancient Roman dramatic performance featuring a solo dancer and a narrative chorus b : any of various dramatic or dancing performances in which a story is told by expressive bodily or facial movements of the performers c : a British theatrical entertainment of the Christmas season based on a nursery tale and featuring topical songs, tableaux, and dances
3 a : conveyance of a story by bodily or facial movements especially in drama or dance b : the art or genre of conveying a story by bodily movements only

— pan·to·mim·ic \ˌpan-tə-ˈmi-mik\ adjective

Yes...that is what the dictionary definition says about Pantomime. However, it is the third part of the second definition which one must pay close attention to when experiencing the Christmas tradition of British pantomime - as I was lucky enough to do on my last evening with Mel,Micaela and Mel's little godchild, who, like Micaela and I, was about to have his first experience with pantomime.

Our Christmas surprise from Mel was to head to the local Hereford production of the pantomime, Beauty & the Beast. It was far from a silent story conveyed with bodily movements only. It truly was one of the most hilarious theater experiences I have ever had. I had thought earlier in the day that we had hissed at the "baddie", but I was yet to find out what hissing at the baddie truly was all about; and truly on this day we experienced the worst and the best of British human nature.

The origins of British Pantomime date back to the Middle Ages. Traditionally they are based on fairy tales and follow a variety of "rules". This peculiar form of entertainment is as much a part of Britain’s heritage as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, Buckingham palace and the tower of London, warm beer and cricket. Most towns and cities throughout the UK play host to a production of pantomime around the Christmas period. And they are performed in venues, ranging from the top theatres in the land, to local village halls and community centres. And whether it is a lavish professional performance, or a local amateur dramatic production, all are well attended. Modern pantomimes are predominantly aimed at children, and are nearly always based on well-known children's stories, such as popular fairy tales or folk legends. The most popular subjects are "Cinderella", "Aladdin", "Dick Whittington" and "Snow White". Other popular titles include "Jack & the Beanstalk", "Sleeping Beauty", "Babes in the Wood" [usually combining the legend of Robin Hood] and "Peter Pan". Pantomime is a thriving business in the UK. And large theatres vie with each other for "star" names that will attract full houses, providing much needed revenue for box offices throughout the country.

THE PLOT

The plot is very simple: The girl dressed as a boy who is the son of a man dressed as a woman, will win the other girl (surprisingly dressed as a girl), with the assistance of a person(s) dressed in an animal skin. Try explaining that to an American, German or someone from the Far East. Whether the show is set in China, the Never-Never-Land or the City of London it will contain all the aspects regarded as necessary to a pantomime.

'GOODIES' AND 'BADDIES'

The fairy Queen and the Demon King appear in all pantos, although their exact guise and title may differ. From Old King Rat to modern Fairy Liquid, Peter Pan and Hook, names vary according to the location and topicality of shows, but certain stage directions nearly always hold strong. Good enters from stage right and Evil from stage left. This tradition of Evil entering from the sinister side goes back to the mystery plays and the few working star traps [through which the demon used to be projected in a puff of smoke] can always be found in the down stage left position. This tradition seems to echo medieval times, when the entrances to heaven and hell were placed on these sides. Tradition also dictates that the villain should be the first to enter, followed by his adversary the good fairy. The story nearly always revolves around the tried and tested formula of good conquering evil. And requires the principal baddie to make all the innocent characters lives a misery, from the beginning. But by the end of the show, all the baddies and their henchmen will have either been destroyed, or be made to see they error of their ways and turn into reformed characters.

THE 'PRINCIPAL BOY'

The other element of "Traditional" pantomime is the "Principal boy" role [played by a female] although the role is that of a boy hero. The female playing the principal boy usually dresses in short, tight fitting skirts [the shorter and tighter the better] accompanied by knee-high leather boots and fishnet stockings. This provided a marvellous opportunity, in ages past when female attire went down to the ankles, to display a shapely pair of limbs and to increase the male audience. It was very common in both Regency and Victorian extravaganzas, both of which played a part in the shaping of pantomime, for women to play, more or less, any male role that they fancied. The Hamlets and the Romeo’s have been well documented, but it is not so commonly known that in the 19th century women appeared as Falstaff, Richard III, Protruchio, Shylock, and Don Giovanni. The musical male impersonator, so dear to the heart of all Victorian men who love to see a strapping girl in a pair of trousers, was a totally separate phenomenon and enjoyed a brief vogue. This has since lost all popular appeal to a modern day audience. The principal boy lives on as the sole survivor of the male impersonator in the theatre and even beat off the challenge of the swinging sixties. Norman Wisdom took the name part in "Aladdin" at The London Palladium in 1946/7 and was followed in the next decade or so by a wave of popstars. It was left to Cilla Black to reclaim the tights and boots in 1971, since which time the principal boy role has generally remained in the hands [or legs] of the ladies.

THE 'PRINCIPAL GIRL'

Nearly always played by the prettiest female in the cast, and is traditionally portrayed as the epitome of youth and innocence. Although in more modern times has begun to be portrayed as a more feisty character, and less as the pathetic and helpless female of yesteryear. She will usually be called upon to sing a solo. And always ends up "living happily ever after" with the Principal Boy.

THE 'DAME'

The principal boy part was one well-established theatrical convention; an even older one was that of men playing female roles. After women moved onto the stage at the time of the Restoration, a tradition still remained of men playing some comic female roles. A million miles away from the drag act, the Dame is a study in female eccentricity. George Lacy is said to have started the tradition in 1923 of the Dame changing her costume constantly and indeed, prior to that time, costume changes were rare. The Dame's entrances are also more extravagant and exaggerated than any other character. Always played by a male member of the cast, dressed in drag; this character is usually portrayed as oldish, unattractive and fairly common, all qualities which she believes she is the exact opposite of! She befriends the two principals early in the story and is usually instrumental in all the good acts they perform in the course of the story; and quite often ends up "living happily ever after" either with the Principal Girl's kindly old widowed Father/Uncle/Guardian or with the ultimately-reformed Principal Baddie. The pantomime dame character emerged from out of the Victorian Music Halls. And was usually cast as the hero’s mother. Widow Twankey in "Aladdin" or "Dame Trott" in Jack and the Beanstalk. The public loved to see well-known comedians playing the role of Jack’s mother, or Sarah the cook in Dick Whittington. [back then, women comedians were practically unheard of] and the traditional has stuck ever since. The Dame is also known for wearing outrageous costumes, and these are often be used to good comic effect, by parodying the fashions of the day. The Panto Dame should exude warmth and comedy, even pathos, but is never required to do any "dirty Deeds". The only exception being the role in "Mother Goose". I cannot begin to describe the Dame in this production, she was Mrs. Potts the housekeeper of the castle and "she" was nothing short of brilliant.

THE 'UGLY SISTERS'

Unlike the dame, the Ugly Sisters always have to tread a thin line between comic characters, and out and out villains. The ugly sisters are of course an intrinsic part of the Cinderella story. But versions of them can be found woven into in other pantomimes. The first portrayal of the ugly sisters was done by women, but they were soon superseded by men. And like the dame, this has become a tradition that never changes. In this performance, Belle had two selfish sisters.

THE CHORUS AND JUVENILES

The element of song and dance in Pantomime is extremely important. And Pantomime wouldn’t be the same without its chorus of singers and dancers, and troupes of juveniles. Today the average chorus in a small provincial pantomime can number as little as eight. Some shows manage to get by with as little as two professional dancers, supplemented by adult juveniles. Conversely, the chorus/juveniles in amateur productions can vary enormously depending on the enthusiasm and support in any given community. Some amateur groups can have upwards of thirty juveniles in the chorus.

ANIMALS

Every memorable pantomime contains them - and not always the type we have come to expect. The animals in pantomime are usually depicted by speciality turns in "skins". It is true to say that some of the greats started their careers by literally playing the back legs of the pantomime horse. Many years ago at the Hippodrome Theatre, Stockport, the front end of the horse was a young man named Charlie Chaplin. Animals have always enlisted the audience's sympathy and support. In the case of this production, the animals were the "bad guys" in the form of the wolves who attack Belle and her father in the forest outside the Beast's castle.

SLAPSTICK

"Slapstick" takes its name from a device used in these early entertainment's, especially in "Harlequinades" Harlequin was considered to have magical powers. The pantomime traditions of slapstick [meaning a certain type of clownish physical comedy] chases, speed and transformations were developed from Rich's Harlequinades. Slapstick eventually developed into modern form involving the throwing of custard pies, and squirting of water.

TAB SCENES

Tabs scenes, or ‘transformation scenes’ are played out in front of the middle curtains or ‘tabs’. And started as a way of moving between the different sections of the pantomime. Rather than just stopping one section and starting another, actors found ever more creative and imaginative ways to continue the story until the necessary scenery changes had been made. During these scenes, the actors would take off the giant head masks that they had worn for the story and remove their costumes to reveal themselves as the Commedia dell’art characters. As pantomime developed and stage technology became more advanced the transformations became events in themselves. Stage designer, William Beverley, first used the transformation scenes to alter stage sets. Scenery was flown in from above on wires or changed by a series of hinged flaps. Trick objects turned around to become another object. Beverley introduced a 'fan effect' where the scenery collapsed sideways and inwards, like a folding fan, to reveal a view from behind.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

I have left this section to last. As it probably sums up what pantomime means to most people in the UK. Audience participation is as an important part of English pantomime tradition, as anything I have previously mentioned. And even the most staid members of the audience, suddenly become unrestrained in their enthusiasm to take part. The audience are actively encouraged to boo the villain whenever he enters, argue with the Dame, and warn the Principal Boy when the villain is behind them, by shouting out "He's behind you!" Below is a typical example of this in action. Ugly sister. "I’m much prettier than Cinderella" Audience - "Oh no you're not!" Ugly sister - "Oh yes I am!" Audience - "Oh no you're not!" This back and forth verbal jousting between the actors and the audience is an integral part of ‘panto’, and can happen several times throughout the show. Sometimes the actors will even leave the stage and move amongst the audience to continue this repartee. Our performance also included a dance routine set to the tune of the "Time Warp" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show movie. It was truly quite fun!

THE FUTURE

Pantomime has survived, by adapting many elements of theatre. The element of "novelty" has always been an important factor in achieving this, as has its ability to incorporate modern trends and topicality within its structured framework. And by successfully weaving these into its format, it remains one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the UK. There are probably as many different explanations of pantomime and its history, as there are changes of the dame’s costumes. Pantomime is a living, growing art form. The Commedia Dell'art from which it is derived has all but died as, eventually, does all theatre which becomes fossilised. Pantomime has survived by taking and expanding from the new ideas that each age has given, and we hope this gloriously eccentric British institution continues to do so. "Oh yes we do!

Info from the "History of British Pantomime" website.

Hallelujah!

Tonight I attended the Fairfield Carol Service, and while Northbridge High School students are presenting their Holiday Concert, and I have often enjoyed some wonderful harmonious melodies at home to celebrate the holiday season- the Carol Service was an experience unlike anything I have ever experienced in a school setting.

There is something to be said for the intertwining of school and church - unlike the U.S. where the pride very much lies in separation of church and state, which prevents public schools from using terms like "Merry Christmas" and instead resort to using "Happy Holidays"; the secularism in our U.S. schools prevents us from having something as wonderful as this Carol Service.

The performance of Silent Night was especially poignant and brought tears to many eyes in the hall. A combination of readings from the Bible, Christmas carols, blessing and prayer honors the true meaning of Christmas; something that is all too often lacking in our society and our schools. Micaela and I truly enjoyed the student choir, orchestra and singalong's by the congregation.

It has also been nice to see the school decorated for Christmas; complete with trees, candles, wreaths and mistletoe.

It should not go unnoticed that once again Kath and Josie prepared a delicious meal of roast turkey and all the fixings- along with some Christmas pudding and brandy sauce. Thank you again for feeding us before this wonderful service.

Below is a performance by the Fairfield High School choir and orchestra of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus which was performed during the Christmas Carol Concert held the next day in school.

Wild Mistletoe, Holly and Ivy..Tis the Season!

The beauty of the season is marked in Europe by the growth of wild mistletoe, holly and ivy everywhere. I have been amazed by how mistletoe grows, and even more amazed by how lovely it really is. In America, when you buy mistletoe, you purchase this tiny sprig of leaves with plastic white berries attached. I have appreciated the true beauty of the plant in its natural surroundings - and as a decoration in the front foyer of Fiarfield High. If I thought I could get through customs with some, I would attempt to bring it home.

The growth of this plant is rampant in the area of Hereford, as there are a lot of apple trees and orchards, and mistletoe likes these trees. Mistletoe, while beautiful and poisonous at the same time, is a parasite spread by birds from tree to tree. It grows in circular balls and hangs from the trees.

Additionally, holly grows just as wild, with all kinds of shapes and sizes to its leaves, and is usually intertwined with ivy vines. It truly is reminiscent of the song "The Holly and the Ivy."

I have unearthed an interesting National Geographic feature story on the growth of mistletoe as it relates to global warming...relevant as the final days of the climate change summit takes place. The article explained how the growth of mistletoe can be indicative of a warmer and milder climate. In recent years, the growth of mistletoe is taking hold in higher mountain altitudes, which would lead to a conclusion that the climate is warming.

Holly and mistletoe have long been used to celebrate winter festivals in countries, such as Great Britain, where pre-Christian Druids considered both plants to be sacred.

Under Christian rule, holly's blood-red berries and spiked leaves came to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ. Mistletoe kept its association as a fertility symbol, with couples kissing under a hanging sprig.

The Choir of King's College- The Holly & the Ivy



Merry Christmas....

Boston Baked Beans & Brown Bread

It seems my last post has caused controversy in the main office with the ladies. My dislike of baked beans in tomato sauce vs Boston baked beans in molasses has surprised many of them...they have never heard of baked beans in molasses, and generally molasses itself seems to be reserved as something to be used to mix with animal feed! To my surprise, I have learned that "cooking" molasses generally is not a staple in the local grocery stores.

Additonally, while Boston Baked Beans are usually made with navy beans, the local fare are haricot beans. Just one more example of how one learns something new every day.

In this conversation with Margaret Anne, who made a special trip to my classroom just to have this discussion, we talked about the tradition of Saturday night supper, which, when I was young, and especially if I was having supper with my Pepe, included hot dogs and beans and maybe even some brown bread - traditionally cooked in cleaned, recycled tin cans.

I have also determined that hot dogs here are not exactly what I deem to be a Kayem, Fenway Frank or the gold standard of all dogs - the Deutshmacher! Hot dogs here are barely edible, in my opinion, as my sole experience with the local product, after one bite, found the entire package discarded in the rubbish bin.

I have promised that cans of these delectable New England delights will find their way to Fairfield after the holiday season; along with a myriad of other products that have been requested from across the pond.

The history of the Boston Baked Bean is actually an interesting one. "Beantown" is the city of Boston's famous nickname,dating to colonial times, when the city was awash in molassess due to its rum-producing role in the triangular trade. Sugar cane harvested by slaves in the West Indies was shipped to Boston to be made into rum, which was then sent to West Africa to buy more slaves to send to the West Indies.

Even after slavery's end, Boston continued to be a big rum-producing city. The Great Molasses Flood of 1919, which killed 21 and injured 150, occurred when a tank holding molasses for rum production exploded. (About.com)

Below are recipes for both Boston Baked Beans and Brown Bread. I have found these on the web - but you will be able to make them for yourselves if you want.


Boston Baked Beans

Ingredients:

16 ounces (2 cups) dry navy beans
2 quarts cold water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup molasses
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
4 ounces salt pork
1 medium onion, chopped

Rinse beans; add to water in saucepan. Bring to boiling and simmer 2 minutes; remove from heat. Cover; let stand 1 hour. (Or add beans to cold water; soak overnight.) Add salt to beans and water; cover and simmer till beans are tender, about 1 hour. Drain, reserving liquid. Measure 2 cups liquid, adding water if needed; mix with molasses, brown sugar, and mustard. Cut salt pork in half; score one half. Grind or thinly slice remainder. In 2-quart bean pot or casserole (I prefer the bean pot), combine beans, onion and ground salt pork. Pour molasses mixture over. Top with scored pork. Cover; bake in 300 oven for 5 to 7 hours. Add more liquid if needed. Makes 8 servings.

Boston Brown Bread

This is best made the night before, this way the flavor will be enhanced and you can clean up some of the mess the night before. Wrap the bread in foil, freeze a couple and just reheat in the oven. This is also a nice bread to bring camping or hiking. Keep in the can and just heat near the campfire (away from direct flames).

Sift together 1 cup sifted rye flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon soda, and 1 teaspoon salt; stir in 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice. Add 2 cups buttermilk, 1 cup raisins, and 3/4 cup dark molasses; beat well. Divide batter among 4 greased and floured 16-ounce fruit or vegetable cans (labels removed). Cover tightly with foil. Place on rack in deep kettle; add boiling water to depth of 1 inch (cans should not be resting in water). Cover; steam 3 hours, adding more boiling water if needed. Bread is done when it has risen almost to fill the can and the center has puffed slightly. (If center remains indented, steam 15 minutes or so more). Cool 10 minutes. Remove bread, best done by removing bottom of can and pushing bread out of can. Wrap; store overnight. Makes 4.

Bon Apetit!

What I'll miss...and what I WON'T!

As I approach the final week of my exchange - I still can't believe its about to come to an end - I have been asked numerous times by my new friends and students alike, what I will miss the most about Fairfield and England, and what I am looking forward to doing/seeing the most when I return home. I suppose it is worthy of a blog post; as up to now my life has been an open book - well, almost...

So in no particular order (other than the first two)-

The Things I Will Miss the Most:


The people - I have definitely assimilated myself into the culture of Fairfield and I have made so many new friends, it feels like I have known most of them my whole life! I will miss so much the ladies in the English department, and my good mates in the PE dept., along with the kind ladies in the office and Kath and Josie - there are just too many people to name. Thank you all for your kindness and friendship these past four months; I truly have had a most wonderful experience.



I will miss my students - they have been so good and have taught me as much as I hope I have taught them. I will miss my form group; and I know that somewhere in that group of young footballers is the next David Beckham. My Year 7 group, while the most challenging on some days, have lived up to the expectations I have set for them and they have all adjusted well to high school life. I will miss my Year 8 class; we have come a long way from the start of the school year and I have developed a particular fondness for this group of students. I promise there will be care packages coming your way soon! I will miss the chattiness of my Year 9, but they have been great to teach, as have been all the Year 10 and 11 students that I have had the pleasure of knowing since coming here. Thank you all so much for sharing your school and your lives with me - hopefully you will each get an email partner in the next few weeks.



I will also miss:

...Kath's flapjacks & mince pies - although I won't miss the calories!

...the view of mountaintops and green pastures filled with cows, horses and sheep.

...the Pandy Inn.

...basketball, netball and rugby matches.

...my Year 7 boys win their tournament game in February!

...wild mistletoe, holly bushes and ivy.

...Mel's Christmas pudding and brandy butter (after I eat the one she gave me to take home).

...my neighbors: Debbie, Katie & Lucy and their dogs.

...cloudy lemonade.

...fish 'n chips and chips 'n cheese.

...authentic Indian curry.

...London.

...running to France for a weekend.

...a one hour lunch break.

...the projection screen for lessons.

...my Fulbright friends and the British Council gatherings.

...writing my blog.

...BBC Radio 1.

...Cadbury crunchies.

...the Walsh's and the Kerby's.

...Lucy Hockey hair salon, especially Katie! She gives an awesome cut!

...Tracy and Chloe nail salon, love them!

...cold cider on tap.

...rugby matches in Brecon with Ellie and her friends.

...crashing at Jan & Ian's.

...cranberry cheese and cinnamon apple cheese.





What I Won't Miss:



...the drive to school.

...driving on the left.

... shifting with my left hand; a serious case of neck/shoulder/wrist pain has started to plague me.

...spending money on petrol.

...the exchange rate.

...the smell of putrefying rats under floor boards.

...flies.

...rain, more rain, wind and mud.

...stinging nettles.

...sheep; they're creepy.

...hedge-lined lanes.

...baked beans in tomato sauce; it's just not right.

...AQA mark schemes!

...the chairs and tables in the classrooms; individual desks with welded chairs are my thing.

...registration after lunch.

...Mondays without a prep.

...low water pressure.

...hanging clothes to dry.

...a 3:30 dismissal time.

...the bulletin board with all the crazy notices; please could we use email!!!

...handwriting student reports.





What I Am Looking Forward to the Most:



...seeing Michael.

... seeing Zachary.

...sunshine & snow.

...cuddling with my dogs, Duke & Charlie.

...seeing ALL my friends and family at home and all my students at NHS.

...going to the NHS basketball game on Tuesday.

...my morning coffee stop at the Little Coffee Bean!

...a 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. day.

...my car!

...my country music station.

...my tumble dryer.

...the warmth of the coal stove.

...Patriots football games.

...chips & Helluvagood Onion dip.

...pizza.

...Chinese & Thai food!

...margarita's on the rocks with a salted rim.

...the Outback, Longhorns, and Vinny T's!

...Friday afternoon's with the crew!

...having a cold one at the VF, Hawks Nest and the Barn.

...Boston Baked Beans...in molasses!

... my homemade sauce and meatballs.

...the teacher contract negotiations; this exchange has strengthened my confidence- bring it on!

Tea with the "Queen!"

Prior to departing for this exchange I had written in an earlier post, after receiving my Patriots tickets for the London game, that this exchange could only get better if I had tea with the Queen; to which Dave Provis responded that the Queen had been known to occasionally stop by Fairfield - well, yesterday, Her Majesty did indeed stop by Fairfield for tea!

My Year 10 drama students, Micaela included, surprised me with a fantastic, creative and original production as a goodbye and thank you for working with them this term. (Despite the fact that I have been an absolute rubbish drama teacher!)

I arrived for the term's last drama lesson a bit late, as Mel had given me a heads up that I needed to give the kids a few minutes because they were planning something for me to see, and they needed to get ready. I arrived to an empty drama room, except for Micaela and two other students seated on the floor. The stage was set with a banquet table and chairs, and some treats displayed. As I took my seat, one by one the students entered from "backstage" and began performing a "tea party"; each student dressed in costume and playing the part of various British characters. Their play was quite humorous and at one point,as I was a spectator I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.

The tea party progressed with more and more people joining it, additional food being delivered and then one character made a phone call to the Queen to invite her to the tea party - the role of the Queen being played by Mel, dressed in her royal purple especially for the occasion. It was at that point that I was invited to join the tea party on stage and was presented with a thank you card and many well wishes from the group. Of course, at that point, the tears in my eyes were no longer from laughter, as I was deeply touched by this lovely gesture, completely generated by the students.

The tea party continued, everyone still in role, and then Jo, Ruth and Jayne (the rest of the English dept.) joined us also. The students performed karaoke, we played the "minister's cat" game and other drama games during the remainder of the lesson. Each student had cooked something for the tea party - from homemade scones and sausage rolls, to cucumber sandwiches and chocolate cake! I wish so much I had this performance on videotape, because for the first time all term I saw how truly creative and talented the entire group of students, acting together really are.

The students had planned this during their lesson last week, when Mel worked with them, and spent the entire of this week rehearsing during lunch times. I had wondered on several occasions about all the noise coming from the drama room all week long, as it is directly above my classroom. On one occasion three young ladies asked for the keys, and when I asked why they needed them, they hesitated for a brief second and then came up with some excuse about doing something for Mrs. Williams. I thought they were trying to avoid hurting my feelings, thinking they were continuing to rehearse a bullying drama concept, without my involvement, as I truly am rubbish with giving dramatic advice. So at that point, seeing their hesitation, I assured them that my feelings were not hurt one bit if they were working with a proper drama teacher. They nodded, took the keys and off they went. Even Micaela kept the secret, carrying on with the bullying production practicing and making some pointed remark about one student constantly complaining about having to use lunch time to rehearse for a whole week; sounded plausible to me, so I completely believed her.

It was a truly touching gesture and a memory I will fondly cherish long after I depart Fairfield. Thank you so much GCSE Drama Year 10 students - you truly are a remarkable group of young people and I have been truly privileged to have been your teacher for this short time.

I Luv Me Mudder and Me Mudder Loves Me...

One of the bright spots of the exchange has been discovering the remarkable British black poet, Benjamin Zephaniah. I vaguely knew a bit about this man prior to my arrival, but instructing the Year 7 students the past few weeks, and preparing them to write an essay of comparison, for his poems has truly been quite enjoyable. On any given day for the past several weeks you may have openend the door to the classroom and found a group of Year 7 students and their teacher jammin' to the beat!

My students fell in love with him as much as I did and one of the best activities they did was to perform the poem, "I Luv Me Mudder and Me Mudder Luvs Me" in Benjamin's unique style. My friend and co-worker, Ruth, once worked with the poet and she contacted him. He agreed to answer four questions from our students in an email before we leave for Christmas break! NHS English department will be glad to know that we have this connection for future reference. I will definitely be introducing this poet to my students at home, as some of his poems are of a rather mature nature, as demonstrated in the clips below, but I think they will really find his poetry accessible and inspiring...I did.

Discover Benjamin Zephaniah through the links below, I am sure you will love him too!







Below is the email response that our Year 7 group received from Benjamin Zephaniah. The third question in the list came from a student in my class!

How has poetry changed your life?

I've done poetry all my life so I don't really know anything else. I did go through a bad period in my life when I was getting in trouble with my parents and the police, and I think poetry help me then. I had something to concentrate on, something that could help me to have ambition and dream of a better life. The real answer is that poetry hasn't just saved my life, it is my life.


What is your favourite word and why?

I like all words but the words I like the most are made up words like Jabberwocky. It just sounds like in should mean something but a poet made it up. I also like overstanding, understanding is okay, but sometimes you just need a little more. Oh yes, and I like mushymushy, it means hello (on the phone) in Japanese.

If you could shape, design and control a world of your own, what would it look like?

My world would have no armies. Governments would be forced to sort out their problems without killing. Like most other people have to. I would not tolerate homelessness and every house would have a mango tree. There would still be cars but they would only be allowed in certain areas, pedestrians would have priority. And people wouldn't have to works so hard, half year working, half year having fun.


Which events or experiences in your life most affect your poetry?

Many events affect my poetry, sometimes I experience something and it doesn't affect my poetry until many years later. I think the thing that affects my poetry more than anything else is travel. I usually travel to what we now call developing countries, when I am there I see so much poverty, and so many people suffering from diseases and homelessness, that when I arrive home I feel I have to try to remind people how bad things can be and how lucky we are. The other thing that affects my poetry is remembering all the things that made me laugh when I was young. This is why some of my poetry is very serious, some is quite funny, and sometimes I manage to do both in one poem.

Benjamin

Bonjour! J'aime la France!

J'ai voyagé en France en Ferry, quittant Portsmouth et arrivant dans le Havre pour un beau lever de soleil. Nous avons apprécié le dîner un dîner délicieux de cari avant que nous ayons laissé le port et nous avons dormi solidement pendant que nous voyagions à travers la Manche dans le dormeur confortable assied. Mel m'a invité sur ce voyage, comme mon cadeau d'anniversaire, à rendre visite à ses parents et parents qui vivent dans le beau village de Roncey, en dehors de la ville de Coutances.

En arrivant dans le Havre la première vue impressionnante était le Pont du Normandie. Une structure élégante et géométriquement intrigante, elle dirige le trafic au-dessus du fleuve Seine.

La ville de Coutances a été occupée par les Allemands pendant cinq années pendant la deuxième guerre mondiale, et l'hôtel de ville soutient toujours l'évidence, comme mortier et des trous de coquille peuvent néanmoins clairement être vus dans des ses murs en pierre pleins. La cathédrale de Coutances est également une vue impressionnante. En tant qu'un voyage sur la route d'anneau en dehors de la ville la cathédrale et ses flèches se lèvent majestueux des brumes un jour obscurci.

Les jardins de Coutances sont également impressionnants, et partout on tourne dans cette belle ville ne peut s'empêcher mais envisager chaque film comporter des batailles combattues dans la deuxième guerre mondiale. Les rues et les belles maisons françaises, granges construites avec de la belle pierre, toutes semblent comme une bande de décor de film de frères. Un des événements les plus drôles de ce voyage était l'aventure à l'épicerie, où les specials décrits du jour dans la boucherie étaient langue et lapin. Yum !

Nous avons dîné qui soirée dans un restaurant local de village où la mousse de chocolat était lisse et crémeuse.

Une église locale a également comporté un village miniature de Noël construit par main, construit pour perfectionner la balance, et comporter le plus petit des détails, y compris les chiffres miniatures d'étudiant se reposant à leurs bureaux dans la maison d'école. Dimanche matin nous avons assisté à un office pour la communauté anglaise locale comme Mel' ; les parents de s sont très en activité et ont fondé ce groupe particulier de paroisse. Tandis que le jour commençait par la pluie torrentielle et le vent, avant que les services aient été complets le soleil était brillant en cieux bleus. Nous avons conduit dans la ville et avons eu un repas merveilleux ; gallettes et crepes traditionnels. La nourriture française est fantastique !

Avant que nous la sachions, il était temps de partir et de faire notre manière de nouveau au Havre de prendre notre bac. Un week-end de tourbillon en France - un de mes rêves viennent vrai pour certain. J'avais été craintif que je peux devoir retourner en Amérique sans visiter ce beau pays. Merci que Mel pour faire un rêve viennent vrai. J'ai eu le temps fabuleux. L'hospitalité de vos parents a été considérablement appréciée. Merci de partager votre visite de Noël avec moi. Faites attention de ces distributeurs de savon ! Aimez-vous tellement !

To translate: select English from the drop down menu. It's not perfect, but you'll get it! This was fun just the same!

Bah Humbug...Assessments & Marking Schemes!

Well, for every success, there are some failures; and this exchange process has certainly proven this edict to be true. While I was quite pleased with myself for having marked (graded) all the Year 10 top set coursework essays on Great Expectations; spending hours reading, re-reading, annotating, and commenting in detail - as it turns out - not quite up to snuff! Sitting down with Melanie last week, and reviewing several of the essays I had graded, it turns out that the mark scheme, (a rubric - but ten times more complicated than I normally use) is still completely foreign to me! I miserably failed at grading these essays - well, maybe that's a harsh criticism of myself - but with only two weeks left to go in the exchange, it became apparent that it would not be possible to go back and recorrect these essays, so sad to say, they will be unfinished business left behind.

On the bright side - I apparently, and this will be of no surprise to anyone back home, have been especially harsh and critical in my grading of these essays, in some cases marking two grades below what Mel's trained and skillful eye assessed as the student performance on a handful of randomly selected essays. I have not overmarked, but I have apparently severely undermarked - again, no surprise to anyone back home, certainly not my students, as they are accustomed to harsh, albeit fair, grading of essays and projects; but I have a seriously high standard of expectations and this has been to my detriment on this particular set of essays, as it has been difficult for me to compartmentalize the reading, literature and grammar aspects of "marking" on this side of the pond.

In some cases, even though an essay is not particularly well-written or organized - if that is not part of the mark scheme one is to "ignore" those aspects and look only for the "insight" and "analysis" - at home I wouldn't consider that there is much difference in these ideas, but here there definitely is - albeit a fine line at that. At home, if an essay is not grammatically in line and not organized, this too seriously affects the grade earned.

Therefore, viewing this entire exercise in an optimistic light, I instructed these students brilliantly, as their essays are much better than I gave them credit for, and even some of the lowest achieving students in the class have apparently achieved a C on this essay! Yay!

A Day at the Academy...How to Make a "Dalek" Cake?

I am a bit behind in the blogging...but here goes a catch up day! Last Thursday I spent the day at Hereford Academy. Hereford is a much larger school than Fairfield, bragging a student population of over 800; so on that account it reminded me more of NHS than Fairfield does. Set in the middle of the city of Hereford, and smack in the middle of a Council Housing Estate, it also has a much different socio-economic demographic than Fairfield High School.

With a proper lobby and reception area, requiring buzzing for all visitors to the campus, the school reminded me more of what I have come to know as an American high school than Fairfield - although it still lacks lockers in the hallways. (The concept of an American high school is quite stereotyped here with movies such as High School Musical and Grease, which depict all American schools with lockers - I guess, though, technically, that's not really a stereotype, as it is a reality for all American schools.) It is a cultural difference that our students do not carry their backpacks during the day, emphasizing school safety, and instead store all their items in a locker and then returning to it throughout the day prior to each class. The English department at Hereford consists of ten teachers, and they use the Welsh Examining Board curriculum; as they have found that this particular curriculum works best for the needs of their students.

I was invited to observe at Hereford Academy by Abby Hughes, the Head of English. I observed a variety of classes throughout the day, including two classes related to the new Heroes curriculum for Year 7 - which actually involved observing a physical education class and a related period of instruction in a classroom where students were learning about leadership skills, as they examined various sports and coaching figures. It was quite interesting. This new curriculum at Hereford focuses on improving student skills in the five "R's": Relationships, Readiness, Resilience, Reflectiveness and Resourcefulness. This program has been in effect for a couple of years, I believe, and the teachers involved do say they have seen an improvement in student preparedness, motivation and success since its implementation.

The first class I observed was a Year 7 mixed ability lesson where the teacher was instructing her students on a Fairy Tale Poem lesson. Students had spent four lessons learning and researching the structures and backgrounds of fairy tales. They had researched and chosen a fairy tale of interest and their task was to write a poem based on that fairy tale using elements of a fairy tale in their poem, such as the phrases, "Once Upon a Time" and "Happily Ever After." While there was a lot of chatting, something I too have experienced with my teaching groups at Fairfield, the students were generally focused. Every classroom at the Academy is equipped with Activeboards, equivalents to our Smartboard technology in the US, and the teacher made excellent use of the timer feature, as she provided certain amounts of time for student work, followed by teacher directed sharing as a whole class, and teacher directed peer evaluation and sharing. I found the church bell chimes quite engaging, and it was apparent that this class had been trained well, and knew the teacher expectations when the bells would ring, as they all redirected their focus to her within seconds. The teacher will be using this assignment for a variety of assessments including a writing focuses and speaking and listening components, as the students are to present their poems. I liked this lesson and idea, because it reminded me a bit of my gothic fairy tale project I use at home when I am instructing Frankenstein and studying elements of gothic fiction. The children were very interested in asking me lots of questions about America and I enjoyed assisting some of them with their task.

One element of classroom management / school discipline that I discovered being used consistently throughout the school was a process I had learned about when visiting the British Council in September. The C4 system. This basically entails setting a school wide set of expectations for behavior and all staff use it. A student is progressively assigned warnings, until they have exhausted their chances to correct their behavior and may end up at a C4 stage where they will be excluded from classes, or perhaps even from school. This system encourages discipline with dignity, as not one teacher raised their voice while I was in the room, and also puts the ultimate responsibility of changing behavior upon the student and applies a consistent procedure of discipline to every child in the school for the same offense. Some would say that Hereford is a "rough" school, but I did not see one child reach any higher than a C2 while I was in the room; and every teacher consistently used the process.

I also observed a Speaking and Listening lesson taught by Abby to her Year 10 top set students. This was quite entertaining, as I was exposed to a cultural phenomenon called "Blue Peter", which is a television program where guests appear and "prepare" something while explaining it. (See the posted YouTube link for this episode.) The demo version that we watched involved the guest baking a "dalek" cake, and basically she had prepared a "cooking" show, where each step was explained, and stages of the cake had been prepared in advance. The students were then asked to select their groups of no more than three and begin planning to demonstrate, in this style of "Blue Peter", how to make some object of their choice: such as a paper airplane, a christmas card, or some other item of their choice. They were instructed on taking into account the importance of their audience, the use of command verbs, present tense, pronouns to involve the audience, connectives (transitions) from one step to the next, etc. Students were instructed to think about props they would need and stages of the finished product they may have to complete. Students were told this was a coursework presentation that would be due for completion the last week of term; I do wish I could return to see their finished presentations.

I also observed a bottom set (bar one) of Year 8 students and a bottom set of Year 9 students at the Academy. The Year 9 students were engaged in a library lesson, so there wasn't much to interact with or observe in that class, but the Year 8 students were in the middle of filming an animated version of The Hound of the Baskervilles as part of a unit on Myths and Legends. The project had been student driven, as, according to the teacher, the students had shouted one day - "Hey, we should make a film!" -and so the idea was born. The students built "sets" out of legos, and were using animation technology with a series of still photographs to illustrate the various events of the story line. I was seated with a group of students who were "rehearsing" the positions of their figurines for each still photograph. The hardest task was determining how to make it look like the characters were running. The Hound? A large dinosaur...! Hilarious and creative with a low ability group. I was impressed with their creativity.

Overall, it was a really valuable experience to observe at a school with a much different demographic and style than Fairfield. The students were well behaved, inquisitive and fun to watch. The faculty that I ate lunch with were also very kind and informative, and inquisitive about the Fulbright program and the details of the exchange process. It was fun to share and be an ambassador for the program, as it definitely is a life altering experience on a myriad of levels.

Thank you to the Hereford Academy staff for allowing the opportunity to visit and learn even more about the English educational system. Good luck with your new multimillion pound school building- which also promises to be a state of the art and modern facility, set for completion in 2011.

Christmas Yummies...

Today I had my first mince pie, a Christmas tradition here in England. Mince meat is actually a blend of dried fruits, liquor, candied peel and suet. The treats have never been something I have been eager to try, as I just didn't have a notion of what they could possibly taste like. Today at break Kath made some, which were nice and warm - she made certain that I got one. All present in the moment were shocked that I had never tasted the warm gooey goodness before now. Sprinkled with powdered sugar on the flaky crust my pie was indeed a sweet treat and one which I savored.

Likewise, Christmas pudding, as I have previously blogged about, was also something I had never actually tasted. In the States I don't really know anyone who makes their own, and it is not something I would typically purchase at the store during the holiday season. The traditional Christmas pudding is something I always equated with the Cratchit household; I never understood why this large family was so excited at having such a small bundle of pudding. In August I got to have a taste of Mel's Christmas pudding and it too was a gooey goodness - and very rich, so a little can feed a lot of people - hence the excitement in the Cratchit household. Ironically, many people I have met here don't really like Christmas pudding, but they make one, or buy one anyway, just to have it on the table. Yesterday, Mel brought me my very own Christmas pudding to pack in my suitcase and take home with me. Attached was a recipe for brandy butter...can't wait to have a taste and share it with my family on the holiday.

Thank you to Kath and Mel for providing my taste buds with a cultural pleasure!

Thanksgiving in the UK

Thanksgiving in the UK? Well, not officially. I spent the day at a professional development workshop in Hereford, which was not the most exciting way to spend the day, but at least I wasn't in a classroom! It was a pleasure, however, to engage in traditional Thanksgiving activities just the same, albeit later than usual.

Many weeks ago I was fortunate to meet an American, Jack Walsh, whose children attend Fairfield. Jack has lived in England for about 25 years. We met at a dinner party at the home of Claire and David Kerby, whose daughter is one of Micaela's friends. Jack and his friend Katherine were also invited and from there Thanksgiving plans took shape. Jack's daughter and son are also Micaela's friends and have spent much time together.

I have taken a keen interest in the Fairfield basketball team, attending what games I could in the past weeks. I am often the only other fan in attendance, other than Jack, his daughter and Micaela. Occasionally there are one or two other parents present. Sport at Fairfield is not well attended by spectators, certainly not what the average high school team at Northbridge would expect for fan attendance. Thursday afternoon there was a game at the nearby rival school of Kingstone High School, as the school is on my way from Hereford to Peterchurch, I attended the game. It wasn't the traditional Thanksgiving football game, but it was sport nonetheless.

Following the game we all headed to the Walsh home for a traditional feast! Roast Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, carrots, green bean casserole (but much better than the recipe used at home) and many other choices of vegetables. We had homemade pumpkin pie, apple pie and ice cream for dessert! The Kerby's and the Beaton's joined the Walsh family, along with myself and Micaela. We watched the Green Bay Packer NFL football game, Skyped with my family and the oldest Walsh son who is attending college in America. All around it was a fabulous feast. I spent the evening in Peterchurch and had a five minute drive to school the next day... the most wonderful thing to be thankful for!

PD...UK Style

The more things change, the more they stay the same. I have experienced three different professional development opportunities...all within the last two weeks. I have determined that professional development in the UK is as exciting, useful and interesting as it is back home.

First, for two hours during class time two weeks ago, I had to be trained in the health and safety laws pertaining to children and teachers in the UK. Basically this was a review of the mandatory reporting process when teachers learn about any abuse that puts a child in danger. Since I work with children, and it is a law that all people who work with children be trained, I needed to participate.

Second, about a week later, from about 5 p.m to 6 p.m. last Wednesday night, Fairfield teaching staff gathered with their departmental counterparts from a nearby school, Webley, to discuss the differing ways things are done in each school. This conversation was followed by a curry buffet - but since the curry man was running late, and I had quite a distance to travel, I skipped the curry and got mine for lunch the following day.

Third, on Thursday this past week I attended an AQA examining board session in Hereford from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Frankly, I was sent on this mission because a) someone from the school is mandated to attend each year to calibrate all schools who are using the mark schemes for coursework, and b) Jayne & Mel have already been in the past- so I drew the short straw! Preparation for this included each member of the department being required to read about 20 student work samples provided in the mark scheme booklet, determining a grade for each and then further determining, as a full department, a consensus mark. Once at the meeting the "correct" marks were provided and each school in attendance was to report their "consensus" scores - for which a +/- of 4 in one category and 7 in the other was acceptable. Fairfield scores were indeed within the acceptable marking criteria.

The majority of this training involved reviewing the entire mark scheme booklet, that I had already read prior to attending... basically the leader of the workshop read the booklet to us. We then went through each individual student work sample and discussed any discrepancies or questions. During these discussions I interposed some questions to further hone my understanding of the differences between the US and the UK. I did determine and perhaps confirm, that the UK is much more test oriented than the US; and, indeed most schools are working within very prescribed guidelines of instruction. Test scores determine placement on the League Table, a ranking of the "best" schools in the area, and something many parents consult when deciding on the school where their children will attend. It is much more "competitive" in the UK as far as where your child can attend a high school. Unlike the US, where a small amount of school choice is available, and where most students attend the publicly funded school in their town or opt to go to a private school at their own expense, people here can choose form among many schools in the catchment area. Students then apply to these schools, visit and are then accepted or rejected. If rejected from a school, a family can appeal to a higher educational body, who can overrule or support the appeal. High test score results are imperative to enticing families to choose a school. Also, the more students in a school, the more funding is available and the higher the salary for the head teacher. This kind of pressure is not as high in the US.

Most teachers in attendance expressed the desire to study individual works of literature in more depth than they do currently, rather than focus on excerpts and bits of chapters. I heard of "theme" based units, where more focus is put on a whole piece of literature and linked videos, where multiple pieces of course work are assigned using that one piece/theme, thereby allowing students to choose their best piece of work and submit that as their coursework. For example, a student may read a piece of dystopian literature and write a literature/reading coursework essay, present a speech on propaganda as their speaking and listening component, watch the film based on the book and write a film review, and write an original piece of writing based on dystopian themes. They then would study another novel with a different theme and do the same, thereby having multiple pieces of coursework to choose from. It was interesting to hear about various ideas of differentiation, from alternative essay topics to selection of literature based on gender preferences. I also appreciated hearing about the many pieces of literature being used throughout Hereford to address coursework assignments, from timeless classics to very modern pieces. Since I have not yet had the opportunity to observe at a different school, this was appreciated as it is nice to know how things are done outside the realm of Fairfield. (I will be going to Hereford Academy this week to observe.)

The remainder of the session consisted of being trained to use the speaking and listening mark schemes by watching video sessions of student presentations of work. New exam guidelines and a review of the new controlled assessment processes was also done in the afternoon. Coursework pieces are evolving from open ended time frames, where the literature, computers and notes can be used to complete the work, to more "controlled" environments, where time limits will be imposed, teacher input will be limited and word processing systems will also be limited if computers are used. Controlled assessment would be much more similiar to what is done in the US regarding exams such as MCAS, AP and SAT.

Overall, professional development in the UK is not that much different than what is often provided in the US. Some are mandated by law and still others can be a mix of useful information and boring routine. In the end, I still believe that a healthy session of teachers teaching teachers, where best practices and instructional modalities are shared with each other, is the very best form of relevant professional development. Add a curry buffet to this and it could be perfect!

Christmas Shopping in Worcester...

Worcester, England - the twin city to Worcester, Massachusetts. Having come 3000 miles from my home, and Worcester, Mass, being the closest major city to my Northbridge home, it seemed only appropriate that I make the journey at least once to this twin city before returning home. Several ladies from Fairfield plan an annual Christmas shopping journey to Worcester each year, and I was kindly invited to join them. I am glad I was able to spend some time with these ladies outside of school - it was quite fun.

The city of Worcester, England is a mix of Victorian factory architecture, modern architecture and Tudor style architecture. The city was the home to the final battle in the English Civil war where Oliver Cromwell emerged victorious. Like the sister city in Massachusetts it has a major river running through it, the River Severn, which supported its industry and occasionally floods its banks. On this day, the river was quite high, as there has been about 30 days of straight rain in the area.

This particular shopping weekend also found us visiting during the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre ( the spelling of this word is not in error). There were many street stalls selling cheeses, meats, vegetables, wines, clothing, gloves, jewelry, and, of course, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. Ware mongers were dressed in traditional Victorian costume and there were carnival rides, especially a beautiful carousel. There were street performers, including dancers and the Salvation Army band playing Christmas carols. It was a festive atmosphere and the weather was crisp and chilled - perfect to get one in the mood for the holidays.

I had much fun, bought a few bits and bobs for my family and friends at home and enjoyed the day very much. Thank you, ladies, especially Kath, for thinking of inviting me along.

Lost Treasures...

One of the bright sides of teaching in an older building are the surprising things that can be learned about the uses of the building as the history is revealed, for example, my current classroom used to serve as the children's playroom. Another is the amazing treasures that can be discovered throughout the building. This week, as Jo Parson's was preparing to put up a new display of student work in the corridor outside the library, she discovered a fabulous jungle mural underneath some old bulletin board paper, which had been painted some years ago by a former Fairfield student. Who knew...

My 44th in the UK!

I've never been one to be embarrassed about my age... I think teaching high school students and spending so much time involved in their activities, in and out of the classroom, along with having children of my own who are high school age or just starting college, has always kept me young in mind and spirit. I also never thought I'd ever be so far away from home celebrating a birthday. Combine my birthday with the Thanksgiving holiday, and I've had a bit of homesickness this week, because this week is traditionally quite a busy and fun-filled one for me. Short week at school, pub hopping at home and seeing all the old friends from high school, Northbridge Rams football game, turkey dinner with friends & family, Christmas shopping and decorating the tree are all traditions for me, so I was pleasantly surprised today when so many people at Fairfield remembered my birthday.

I had cards from many friends, and two signed by all the faculty and staff. I had a few gifts from the ladies in the English department and even my form sang Happy Birthday to me, as well as my Year 8 students. At break, when I went downstairs to get a cuppa and a flapjack, I entered the staff room to find just about all the staff gathered, the room decorated with American flag and birthday decorations, a chocolate cake decorated in a New England Patriots theme, complete with mini replica #12 jersey with "DeJong" on it, a likeness of myself as a football player (photo taken off my blog or facebook) and candles, other cakes and a CD mix of Bruce Springsteen playing "Born in the USA"! Everyone sang happy birthday and I discovered that one of the ladies who works in the office, Mandy, also had a birthday today - Happy Birthday, Mandy! It was nice to be remembered this way by people and it truly made me feel like part of the Fairfield family.

The day continued with some successful poetry presentations and comparison discussions, along with some "meaning of Thanksgiving" lessons to the younger age groups. They all made their own "thanks" turkeys!

At the end of the day, doing a favor for Ian, I rode the bus with the Year 7 U14 boys to Hereford, where they were scheduled to play in a 5 on 5 football tournament - the winner of this tournament advancing on to the Midlands League tournament in early February. Ian was unable to ride the bus to the tournament, so Micaela and I gladly offered to accompany the boys to and from the match. I am so very glad I did. Three of these very talented players are boys in my form group, and I was able to see a very exciting series of games. It is easy to see that football (soccer) is a sport that children play here, probably from the time they can run, and the spirit of competition and level of talent I was able to watch, even for such young boys, was excellent. Even though they were not my own children, I found myself anxious as the final minutes in the third game ticked off, hoping for the Fairfield boys to hold their lead. Indeed they did...and they are the first group of boys from Fairfield who will advance to the regional Midland's tournament. Well done boys! I am glad I was there to see such excellent team work.

It was a wonderful birthday on the whole... so thank you to everyone here who helped make it special and memorable. Thanks also to all my friends at home who sent messages and well wishes through the email and on my facebook; it is nice to know I have so many people in my life who care about me and I am very thankful for all of you to be in my life.

Year 7 Football team photo printed with permission of Fairfield administration.