Year 11's leaving
This is an interesting time of year to be working in a British school. When I say “interesting”, I mean “different” or “weird”. This was the last week we have the year 11’s in the school. After the half term break (end of May) they will start writing their final exams over 3 or 4 weeks, so they have what is called “study leave” to get prepared for it. They will be expected to revise what they have learned over the past two years while at home. As far as the science department goes, they will have their notebooks and any handouts they have kept, but the text books are to remain in the school. When they write their exams, they will be at the school, but otherwise we will not expect them in at all. In our school, there is no graduation service (marks will not be revealed until well into summer) but apparently there is a prom.
As I said, this week was their last full week that they were together. We have had a hard time trying to keep them on task over the past few months, so you can guess how hard it is to get them to do anything this past week. Many students are going around and getting books or their shirts signed and some are getting quite emotional about the end of their time with their group of friends. This is fairly normal at the end of a school year, but there are still another 8 more weeks for the rest of the students, some of whom are feeling that it is almost the end of the year.
During this time, the year 10’s are completing their second of two weeks of mock exams. They all go to the gym and write 1, 1.5 or 2 hour exams in their subjects for part of the day, and the rest of the day they are to go to class which are to be carried on as usual. I have spent a good chunk of the beginning of the week to mark one class’s science exams: 6 exams of 30 min each, covering 12 chapters. There are complete chapters that they have not yet been taught, but they were tested on it anyway. The good news is that I got a break teaching some year 10 lessons because they were writing an exam at that time, so I would help invigilate instead. The bad news is that the students have been stuck in that gym for hours over the past two weeks and many feel they need a release outside of test situation, which is often displayed as misbehaviour. I hope they are ready to learn new information when we get back to a normal schedule next week…
Last weekend I was able to put school on a backburner and spend time with camp friends (from Manitoba) who are travelling in the UK. I know that they travelled a great distance to be here, but it just felt normal to visit with them. It was like we were just hanging out on a weekend after camp was done, but we just happened to be in London. We went to the London Zoo, ate out at a pub and watched the penalty kick out for the FA cup final West Ham vs. Liverpool (Liverpool won) and to see Ice Age 2. It was time and money well spent.
This weekend I am fortunate to have yet another Canadian friend (Amy Peters) to visit on while on her way from London to Holland. Tentative plans are to visit Colchester Castle and maybe go walk around Highgate Park whilst visiting. What ever we do, it will be fun!
Shalom
Kevin
As I said, this week was their last full week that they were together. We have had a hard time trying to keep them on task over the past few months, so you can guess how hard it is to get them to do anything this past week. Many students are going around and getting books or their shirts signed and some are getting quite emotional about the end of their time with their group of friends. This is fairly normal at the end of a school year, but there are still another 8 more weeks for the rest of the students, some of whom are feeling that it is almost the end of the year.
During this time, the year 10’s are completing their second of two weeks of mock exams. They all go to the gym and write 1, 1.5 or 2 hour exams in their subjects for part of the day, and the rest of the day they are to go to class which are to be carried on as usual. I have spent a good chunk of the beginning of the week to mark one class’s science exams: 6 exams of 30 min each, covering 12 chapters. There are complete chapters that they have not yet been taught, but they were tested on it anyway. The good news is that I got a break teaching some year 10 lessons because they were writing an exam at that time, so I would help invigilate instead. The bad news is that the students have been stuck in that gym for hours over the past two weeks and many feel they need a release outside of test situation, which is often displayed as misbehaviour. I hope they are ready to learn new information when we get back to a normal schedule next week…
Last weekend I was able to put school on a backburner and spend time with camp friends (from Manitoba) who are travelling in the UK. I know that they travelled a great distance to be here, but it just felt normal to visit with them. It was like we were just hanging out on a weekend after camp was done, but we just happened to be in London. We went to the London Zoo, ate out at a pub and watched the penalty kick out for the FA cup final West Ham vs. Liverpool (Liverpool won) and to see Ice Age 2. It was time and money well spent.
This weekend I am fortunate to have yet another Canadian friend (Amy Peters) to visit on while on her way from London to Holland. Tentative plans are to visit Colchester Castle and maybe go walk around Highgate Park whilst visiting. What ever we do, it will be fun!
Shalom
Kevin
posted by K. Stoesz at 02:05
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