Barb in Jinshitan

Date: 17th October 2010

Thanks for the armchair visit!
Hi Gail and Rick! It's so wonderful to get your blogs and photos--next best thing to your being here and make you feel so much closer than the thousands of km away that you are! I'm happy for you that your sister Barb made it over and cuts back on the loneliness for family. All is well here--still nice out but cooling down a bit. My family are back this weekend from Mexico for Diana and Jim's daughter's wedding. My boys went. ATA retirment do is coming up on the 29th--wish you were here to be with us. Donna W. asked if I would do the little talk for Salva. I could ask you a few details. Oh well, this way I'll keep it short! Eliana, Lynn and I have been having our "Early Interviews" this week and last--a new Pilot project to see if students/parents benefit from knowing how their child is doing--before report cards are started. It has been a hectic and busy start with so many new things to try to learn. many are getting the bugs ironed out still--such as Grade book. We have yet to see the new report card while the public system has already seen and done inservicing on theirs. Our PD day at the ranch on the 25th will be a workshop on the Write Traits and then Keri the leader, will work with students in individual classes similar to how Geri Lorway did the math teaching demo lessons. My children are all doing alright including Mark and Ashlea going through the divorce process. The grandkids seem to be rallying and doing the best they can with all the adjustments. I talked to Ashlea and Kaylie yesterday. Kole was in Red Deer with his volleyball team. They are one week with their dad at their house and one week with Ashlea at her apartment. I had Thanksgiving at Fred and Beth's with many others--Vinos (spelling?), Gel, a Newfie who is principal at Fairview and whose wife has been in Newfoundland since June, Ab, Fred's brother who has been out for the annual hunting expedition and myself. Ab stays at Dave Troup's and that's where all the hunting and follow-up activities take place. They have gotten two deer so far, I gather. Last evening Beth and I had a lovely walk down the Westbrook road and then wine, popcorn and the Sandra Bullock movie, "Blind Side" which I had seen before but enjoyed just as much the second time. A couple of weeks or so ago I went to the local theatre with Maureen to see "Eat, Pray, Love" with Julia Roberts. I had been reading the book but found it a bit slow going. However, I did enjoy the movie and will persevere with the book. As usual, I have about a half dozen other books on the go at the same time--both professional and fiction reading. My class is a very busy bunch but I am getting to know their individual personalities now and liking them despite some of their antics and behaviours that can be trying on the patience. I have two EAs -one two days and the other three days a week alternating--Kristine McGuinty and Joanne Crowley, so very lucky. I told my class about your having to do your own classroom cleaning and that they are lucky they don't have to help me with cleaning ours. So far Vern has trapped 7 mice. Mary-Anne is surprisingly nervous about mice in her room-especially now that one trap had only a front leg in it and she fears the rest of the mouse may be decomposing in her room or something.... I've seen Salva power walking in the hills and by ways and have seen her and Wayne at IGA a couple of times. Their kids all came home for Thanksgiving. Nicholas C. is still trying to find a job and thinking of raising his marks even further before going into Law School. Colleen Rotenburger was looking for a job but has now gone back to school and is studying linguistics to go into Speech Pathology. Darlene's baby shower was a school a couple of weeks ago. What a beautiful son Colton is--very fair and looks a lot like Nick. Darlene keeps in touch and goes for coffee with Mary-Anne, myself or whoever else is available. Mary-Anne keeps in touch with Rachel who has phoned her and e-mailed. I have not e-mailed so have heard nothing. It's been crazy busy--though no worse than for you--and I also have family to keep up with. Kathleen still writes letters--I had two last week! She is such a busy lady with her Home Care nursing which is being evaluated-not the right word, getting to move to new quarters, with the harvesting--which is finally done, her camer club, book club and keeping the men fed! She says that work gets in the way of her extra-curricular activities. She will have no problem enjoying retirement! Guess I should start the lesson planning and marking and get another mark or two on that Grade book! Wishing you all the best and hope you acutally see this e-mail! Love to you both and good luck in your teaching! As ever, Caroline PS Jean-Paul was in Africa and just back--going to start subbing here.

From Blog: Barb in Jinshitan