Mufti Monday

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Mufti Monday
Last night we had the enthusiastic staff choir singing after dinner. There was lots of energy but a little lack of tune and coherence at times but it was great fun.
Started what is really week 3 by getting to Joe Slovo first - our turn again. We were hoping to get there in time for assembly. As we bumped up the track there was a sea of vivid colours in front of us. Normally the children wear their best approximation of the school uniform. It looked like a party. We went through into the school and asked one of the staff who said it was a fund raiser. The children had to pay 2 rand (about 20p) and they could wear what they liked. The money is for the school fund. We turned round to see teachers appearing out for assembly dressed in school uniform or something like it. They had to pay 5 rand. As they came out the children began to laugh and cheer. It was quite a sight especially when some of the Mammas had short skirts and lace ups. There was a touch of St Trinians. The children had an amazing variety of clothes from confirmation or first communion white dresses to cut down cocktail dresses. There was plenty of beach wear and summer colours and one very smart girl was in an immaculately tailored trouser suit in white with a cerise blouse . She could have been a model or going for a job interview. A small boy who is actually in grade 5 stepped out and proceeded to take the Principal”s role in assembly, leading prayers and song and also delivering some kind of speech which required response from the audience. He had the Principal’s body language off to a T. Teachers among you can imagine how high the children were after this. Every group was bouncier than usual. In one group one of the girls had a frilly pink skirt and every time I turned my back she was twirling round and doing a great flounce,
We did manage to get some work done although one session was confused by failure to ring the bell for lunch at the right time when I had carefully pulled the group to a close at just the right time. We just had a couple of bonus stories and I was glad I had about 905 of my voice back today.
I did some basic oral work with them today including finding out how old they all were - age range 6-9 in grade 2. I checked out days and months and they are pretty good although yesterday and tomorrow are new to them and to get their birthday month in English they had to recite through the year,
I established one boy could read quite well at level 2 and elicited that he read with his Mum at home. Most do not have books and they love handling them. They are further along than the grade 2 children I worked with years ago which reflects the push to introduce more English from reception onwards
We had a meeting with Calabash, the teachers I work with and the deputy principal which is part of the process.
It was hot here today so we went to the beach after the essential first cup of tea. It was the best swim so far.
We share any information gleaned amongst the volunteers. Apparently all the teachers get a basic rate of pay wherever they teach but fees are used to top up salaries so obviously in the townships there is no money to give big extra pay to teachers.

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Comments

[Rose]

Mufti Monday
Hi Sue, Mufti Monday sounds like a bit of a challenge in terms of getting any work done!! I am so glad that you have got your voice back and that the weather has improved, making swimming possible again. Blue skies here today - wonderful! We might even manage some digging next week in Gill's garden. x Rose

[hil]

envy, envy !
Sounds as tho' you are really enjoying yourself, and doing something really worth while. Mind the bluebotles don't get you, use sun screen, and TAKE PHOTOS, love H x

[Jillian]

I love hearing of the children in their various "fashion statements" - I can imaging how colorful it was and how "charged up" they must have been after assembly..!