Tag: school trip

Back to the Rock volume… 4?

Posted on

It’s a long way off, but it looks like I’ve cracked the nod again to be one of the parent leaders for this year’s school trip to Robben Island.

This will be my fourth tour, and regular readers will know that it is always such a privilege to be able to go over there and help out.

It is an amazing place.

Last time around, I was drafted onto the team with less than 2 weeks before we were due to set off. This time, we have seven months to plan (and therefore no excuses).

I’m already excited.

This has been a good day.

Back to the Rock, Volume III

Posted on

I mean, technically, it’s Volume II, because the “Back to…” serves as an indication that this has happened once previously already. But you get what I mean, right?

Right.

I’m heading back to Robben Island this week, assisting with a school trip and looking forward to the amazing experience of spending another couple of nights in the converted prison which serves as the base for the Learning Centre there.

Managing 40-odd 12-year-olds – many of whom haven’t been away from their families for more than a night (if that) before – for three days is always challenging, but it’s also hugely rewarding; and to be able to see “behind the scenes” and learn about the history and nature of the island from properly knowledgeable and passionate people is a real privilege.

I’ve said that before: here.

Longer-term readers (what’s wrong with you guys?) will remember my foggy run in 2020 and my chukka partridge a year later.

I wasn’t well last time around, so I’m looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with the lighthouse and the penguins on an early morning jog (me, not them).

More on that sort of thing in the post I have planned for tomorrow.

But for now, I’m looking forward to another three days of hard work, education and enjoyment.

Day 583 – The day of rest

Posted on

13 delicious hours of sleep and I’m still craving bedtime this evening. My recovery skills are not what they used to be. I’m spending the day sitting inside in front of the football.

Tomorrow looks like a proper summer’s day, which probably means I’ll be spending the day sitting outside in front of the football.

Hopefully, it’ll be a better watch than today.

Day 582 – Are we done yet?

Posted on

I’m a bit finished. It’s 11am and the 10,000 steps for the day are done. Last night was a rough one, with kids up until all hours and everyone is suffering this morning. I’m being propped up by instant coffee and the opiate patch on my arm.

Oh, and the knowledge that I got my Chukka Partridge photos.

Ferry back today, but only just as it almost got pulled because of rough seas and we almost had to stay another night. As it is, we’re in for a bumpy ride this afternoon.

Again, it’s been an amazing trip, but I’m ready to see the family and sleep in my own bed tonight – hopefully without 2:30am shenanigans from any errant 12 year olds.

Beagle Encounters

Posted on

I’ve written a letter of complaint to the kids’ school.

It concerns my daughter’s class outing to Stellenbosch today.

They’re going to a place called Beagle Encounters.

It’s at Spier.

Now to be fair, I haven’t done a massive amount of research into this place, but to be fair, I really don’t need to: the name is pretty much self-explanatory, and the fact that it’s at Spier means it will be overrated, expensive and achingly zeitgeist.

Much like my feelings regarding forcing specific religion and/or political views upon my children, I don’t believe that there is any value in the promotion of certain, troublesome breeds of canine either.

We get quite enough of that nonsense at home, thank you very much.

That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate the value of knowing about these things. It’s the pushing of the kids in any one specific direction that bothers me.

Also, having reviewed the proposed Learning Outcomes for Term 2 this year, I can see no link between this visit and any of their classwork. Let’s face it, visiting several slobbering, disobedient, tri-colour dogs is not going to help with Maths or English, PE or Languages, is it?

And even in Science, they’re supposed to be learning about birds. Not dogs.

I’m all for school trips and all, but surely it’s not that hard to simply link them in with something that the kids are currently doing? This seems, at best, a bit of a jolly. And one with an unnecessarily excessive number of flappy ears involved as well.

No, I think I’m well within my rights to let the school know my feelings on this matter.