Flat out like a lizard drinking...now that's how my weeks been! The old flu bug has hit hard this week. We are only a little team, three teachers and a part time admin person. Wednesday was Wacky Wednesday and all the fun that entails. Thursday both teachers were away and Friday both teachers and the admin person were away. Fortunately we had relievers - once last year and once this year we have had to shut the doors at thrity instead of forty five children because we just couldn't get in staff and no parents wanted to/were able stay and help (we can replace one teacher with two parents and still operate). Shutting the doors on fifteen families is not something we do lightly, however the law states that we can't open if we don't cover our ratios and of course we don't want children placed at any risk (though I personally think the risk is minimal, there's nothing magic that happens between four years eleven months and five years, and they go from fenced kindergartens etc etc to a big school playground that's wide open and one teacher to about six hundred kids out in the playground...). Oh and one of the teachers (she's only been with us a year) has resigned and will finish at the end of the term, so we will start the term running with a reliever as well!
Scrapbooking wise, I have been hard at work getting my latest care2crop album done. I'm getting there but I'm finding this one hard going. Not really sure why, as the parents have supplied good photos and lots of information, I'm just finding it a bit of a struggle to put it all together. Oh well, such is life, I'm sure it will all work out in the end. I've also managed to do a welcome card for our new neighbours. I thought I would just whip up something easy, but would it work...of course not. Just a simple circle door design and I wanted to thread a bit of ribbon to add a little something, but the darn holes that I was threading the ribbon through kept ripping - and you can add in a few expletives here - but I kept at it and was pleased with the final result, however in my rush, forgot to take a photo to show you!
House wise, the lounge is finally painted and the dining room table is now in there, covered in all the stuff that would usually be in the pantry along with all our glasses and coffee cups etc from an overhead glass cabinet thingy. The kitchen will now be started. There is the most delightful brown brick archway to pull down...an orange swirly glass cabinet...green benchtops with brown cabinets...and the nicest of all embriodered panels on the front of one section. My apologies if seventies decor is your cup of tea, but it ain't mine - I think for it to look cool and retro all your furniture needs to reflect that style, and ours certainly doesn't. I can't see us going back to the formica table with orange chairs...Still I'm looking forward to seeing this finished as then it's just the flooring (and that's all chosen and waiting for us) and then the best bit, we get to 'dress' the house. I've missed having art work up on the walls and all the bits and bobs out that make a house a home.
And just think it used to have hanging floral lights too...Right, best I get stuck back into this album and I've promised Lyall a curry for dinner (not something I can eat, but I love the smell!). Enjoy your week.
Just because I could - here's Lake Ianthe, which is on the West Coast of the South Island, stunning isn't it?
8 comments:
Wow, sounds like you have had a stressful week at Kindy. I didn't realise that shutting the doors to some children was a possibility ... but you have to do what you have to do! How does that work, is it just the last 15 kids to turn up for the day get sent home? As a working mum, I feel terrible that I can't just drop everything and stay for a session without any notice, there have been times I would have loved to help out, but I need to know in advance so I can take time off work. It's tough, eh?
I hope all the teachers are back on deck tomorrow, and that you all stay healthy from now on. And also through the holidays, you deserve to really enjoy those :-)
Thats a huge post Trace. I too would like to know how you decide which 15 kids aren't staying! LOL. Good luck for tomorrow and that everyone turns up raring to go.
70's decor is not my thing either but how exciting to be up to doing the kitchen. Thats a biggie. Look forward to seeing photos of the finished project.
I thought you'd been a bit quiet lately ... so ... flat out huh? I'd love a new kitchen ... wanna swap houses when your done?
what a week - I know what they are like.... never heard of shutting the doors.... we just have one parent per teacher missing and our association has been known to move teachers if they can.... we normally find someone.... though we are only 2 teachers... I remember once in wellington when there was a huge storm...trees fallen down, flooding etc - civil defence said dont go outdoors!!!!!.... and ta-dah we had 28 out of 30 children still turn up - see with a range rover you just drive over the fallen trees!!!!!
enjoy the last 2 weeks of term......
Flat out like a lizard drinking - haven't heard that one before my friend.
Hopefully you have managed to shake, rattle and roll all those germs of yours ... cos it sounds as tho you are now doing overtime making everything work at kindy.
Look forward to the pics of the kitchen renos.
you have been a busy bee. Had to giggle at you not wanting the retro table and orange chairs lol. Ours is a 50's kitchen so finally we got a table that suits our 50's kitchen. Wow at the kindy door situation, thats a tough week you all had last week. Thank goodness for relievers. Love the shot of Lake Lanthe.
Hi Trace
You sure have had one full on week. You kindy teachers have my full admiration. You do an amazing job.
I would like to stay and help out more often too. With the two other littlies and their moods and sleeping habits etc. it doesn't work out very often.
www.shornsheep.wordpress.com
Jeez, that sounds like a rough week! Hope things have turned around this week for you and the team.
I adore that pic of the Lake - I was there waaaay back in 7th form (I've just died as I calculated that was TWENTY years ago now!!!!!!!!!!) and was stunned by it's beauty back then. We forget don't we that there are spots of perfection all around us.
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