On the second last week of term, a mystery virus hit 50-60% of the infants population at FJT. When the assembly and playground looked half full it was because many were away sick. Abigail reported her class of 26 had 13, then 11, then 9 kids in attendance.
After discussing this with other parents it seems these epidemics sweep schools from time to time. St Pats last year had typically 3/30 kids in one class, Kinta this term had 10/30 in attendance. Stay home until well/not infectious!
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Tooth The Whole Tooth and nothing but the tooth
The infants musical involved all kids from K-2. Every Thursday there would be dancing lessons at school, where they would learn the steps to their class dance for this musical. Only halfway through the term were kids/parents told this would be part of a musical. Parents were all incredulous that kids this young and not particularly skilled at musicals could pull it off. All credit to the kids and their teachers. It was a wonderful performance in St Scholastica's school hall, with 2 rehearsals there beforehand.
What excitement. Abigail was a fairy, wearing her performance tutu and tiara from last year's ballet concert. Kindy boys were Sleepy Boys in their PJs. Lovely dancing, smartly choreographed so each line of kids gota turn at being at the front of the stage. Many photographers. Serendipitously we were late and sat at the back row where we could stand and get a good view of the stage. Abigail was so excited at performing, she didn't wind down until 10pm! Performance from 7:15pm - 8pm. Luckily there had been a nap after school for both sisters.
What excitement. Abigail was a fairy, wearing her performance tutu and tiara from last year's ballet concert. Kindy boys were Sleepy Boys in their PJs. Lovely dancing, smartly choreographed so each line of kids gota turn at being at the front of the stage. Many photographers. Serendipitously we were late and sat at the back row where we could stand and get a good view of the stage. Abigail was so excited at performing, she didn't wind down until 10pm! Performance from 7:15pm - 8pm. Luckily there had been a nap after school for both sisters.
Map reading
One day we had to use the street directory to get to Heather's party and home again. Abigail had already been very interested in the world atlas at home, and now she was shown where the park was, the beach and our walking path from picnic area to the car.
Then Abigail kept studying the directory on her lap as the car started moving. She asked Chris to show her where we were going, and managed to follow the car's progress from yellow to brown to black roads, all the way from Abbotsford to Lilyfield. Her parents tried to tell her a few times our updated progress, but sometimes she was already pointing to the spot on the map.
Then Abigail kept studying the directory on her lap as the car started moving. She asked Chris to show her where we were going, and managed to follow the car's progress from yellow to brown to black roads, all the way from Abbotsford to Lilyfield. Her parents tried to tell her a few times our updated progress, but sometimes she was already pointing to the spot on the map.
Big Sisterly Acts
One night after lights out, Abigail came out of the bedroom to her parents in the kitchen. "Pascale's wheezing", she said. And indeed her sister was. Despite their conflicts Abigail still has a sense of caring responsibility.
Then after many pleads from their mother to turn off the computer and come to dinner, Abigail would comply leaving Pascale still playing ABC Playground games or such. Abigail would ask Pascale in an exasperated voice to turn off and come, then she would press the "off" button on the CPU when Pascale ignored her. She has seen Priscilla turn off the room lights to persuade the kids to leave their activity, but her parents explained that computers don't like being turned off without leaving the program/game first. Abigail is trying to act responsibly.
Then after many pleads from their mother to turn off the computer and come to dinner, Abigail would comply leaving Pascale still playing ABC Playground games or such. Abigail would ask Pascale in an exasperated voice to turn off and come, then she would press the "off" button on the CPU when Pascale ignored her. She has seen Priscilla turn off the room lights to persuade the kids to leave their activity, but her parents explained that computers don't like being turned off without leaving the program/game first. Abigail is trying to act responsibly.
Book Week dress up parade
As one of the many dress up opportunities at FJT, the children were asked to be a character from one of the many books on the short list for a Book council award. Parents rushed into book shops trying to see what these books were like, planning their kids' outfits. Abigail wanted to be Fearless the bulldog (Fearless by Colin Thomson), not wavering even when her mother suggested other easier things eg. Isabella's Garder (girl in flower dress - "boring") or Mr Chicken goes to Paris (strange look "I'm not going to be a chicken!").
Finally, Priscilla go her act together and bought some taupe coloured towels from Kmart and Por Por figured out how to drape Abigail to look like she had fur. Her long hair could be tied up as the floppy ears sticking out of the towelled hat/head. Unfortunately preparations were not very thorough and it was only on the night before that we discovered the face paints were nearly dried up. Just enough black for a few strokes.
Abigail made her own dog tag with name, proudly using block letters to spell Fearless.
On the day, Abigail wore her costume and paraded from the school along Darling St past woolies and across the road past most of the cafes (bursting with parents) before getting on a charter bus to a picnic at Federal/Jubilee park Glebe. There the children drew bridges (Book week theme) and had a BBQ lunch. Then off on the bus back to Balmain. Many kids dressed as fearless or a bear or a robber or Isabella. Some had hired costumes, quite a few with face paint.
Priscilla and Pascale and Gung Gung managed to find the kids as they were getting ready to board the return journey bus, but Abigail didn't want to go with mum. She wanted to remain with the school group until dismissal in the playground. So Priscilla drove the car behind the charter bus all the way back to FJT, picking up Abigail at the regular time. There weren't many students left.
Finally, Priscilla go her act together and bought some taupe coloured towels from Kmart and Por Por figured out how to drape Abigail to look like she had fur. Her long hair could be tied up as the floppy ears sticking out of the towelled hat/head. Unfortunately preparations were not very thorough and it was only on the night before that we discovered the face paints were nearly dried up. Just enough black for a few strokes.
Abigail made her own dog tag with name, proudly using block letters to spell Fearless.
On the day, Abigail wore her costume and paraded from the school along Darling St past woolies and across the road past most of the cafes (bursting with parents) before getting on a charter bus to a picnic at Federal/Jubilee park Glebe. There the children drew bridges (Book week theme) and had a BBQ lunch. Then off on the bus back to Balmain. Many kids dressed as fearless or a bear or a robber or Isabella. Some had hired costumes, quite a few with face paint.
Priscilla and Pascale and Gung Gung managed to find the kids as they were getting ready to board the return journey bus, but Abigail didn't want to go with mum. She wanted to remain with the school group until dismissal in the playground. So Priscilla drove the car behind the charter bus all the way back to FJT, picking up Abigail at the regular time. There weren't many students left.
Religious Knowledge
FJT has educated the kindy children in basic concepts of God and prayers. Abigail memorised the class prayers from each of terms 1 and 2 in a few weeks, teaching her parents and sister.
Sometimes after RE lesson Abigail would come home saying "God: is there anything that He can't do? NO!" probably echoing the catechism. The kids capacity for learning is ever amazing.
Sometimes after RE lesson Abigail would come home saying "God: is there anything that He can't do? NO!" probably echoing the catechism. The kids capacity for learning is ever amazing.
Belly Button
We were looking at belly buttons, explaining that this is the connection to mummy while the child is in the tummy. Abigail asked if all people had this? yes. What about the first person on earth?
Self conciousness
Sometime during this year, Abigail became self concious about getting changed in public places such as the swimming pool deck. She was taught this partly by Por Por but was getting modest already. Por Por taught her to hold a towel around herself as she got changed, and Abigail would do this even in the change rooms. Of course she has been having her privacy in the toilet for a long time before this, but now she locks the shower cubicle door to prevent Priscilla from helping her with her shampooing.
Once at Heather's party when all the little (pre-school) children stripped off for their skinny dipping, Abigail remained in her singlet and underpants.
Has become more selective and stylish in her choice of non-school clothes (few opportunities are embraced for fancy/pretty stuff, even just to do craft).
She doesn't like to stand out/have different things from others in her class/school eg. knitted scarf, school apron colour, rain poncho in school colour instead of yellow or Dora. Of course the hair ties and long socks are like other kids'.
Once at Heather's party when all the little (pre-school) children stripped off for their skinny dipping, Abigail remained in her singlet and underpants.
Has become more selective and stylish in her choice of non-school clothes (few opportunities are embraced for fancy/pretty stuff, even just to do craft).
She doesn't like to stand out/have different things from others in her class/school eg. knitted scarf, school apron colour, rain poncho in school colour instead of yellow or Dora. Of course the hair ties and long socks are like other kids'.
Fairy Books and other chapter books
Somehow during a shopping trip with Edith (Yee Ma), Abigail came across the Fairy series of chapter books. She was given one, and read eagerly (her first long chapter book). She liked to see the different fairy names, and found that Abigail was the Rain fairy.
After this Abigail was confident to start reading thicker chapter books. Owen's set of Roald Dahl books came in handy: The BFG, The Magic Finger, and The Enormous Crocodile were read by Abigail in the morning as soon as she woke up. Other books she enjoyed were Wombat and Fox series by Terry Denton, and Monster and Frog by ??
Priscilla reported the reading progress to Miss Clarke, kindy teacher, who decided that she would stop sending the reading lexile books home and let Abigail read her own choices as above. She would have completed the entire 30 levels by either the end of kindy or start of year 1, not lasting until the end of year 2 as they were intended.
Abigail also enjoys reading factual books, on space, volcanos, the world map.
After this Abigail was confident to start reading thicker chapter books. Owen's set of Roald Dahl books came in handy: The BFG, The Magic Finger, and The Enormous Crocodile were read by Abigail in the morning as soon as she woke up. Other books she enjoyed were Wombat and Fox series by Terry Denton, and Monster and Frog by ??
Priscilla reported the reading progress to Miss Clarke, kindy teacher, who decided that she would stop sending the reading lexile books home and let Abigail read her own choices as above. She would have completed the entire 30 levels by either the end of kindy or start of year 1, not lasting until the end of year 2 as they were intended.
Abigail also enjoys reading factual books, on space, volcanos, the world map.
Skating
Inspired by a book about a girl who learns figure skating, Abigail and Pascale wanted to try ice skating themselves. During the school holidays we went to Macquarie Centre ice rink with Maddie and her mum Anna (and little sister Cleo). Abigail was initially very unbalanced, maybe just not used to the heavy rigid boots? She clung on to her adult (Chris or Anthony) and let them drag her around the rink.
Gradually Abigail gained confidence to take penguin steps herself, and to hang on to the side of the rink while skating unassisted. She even made it to the centre of the rink a few times. Maddie was quite well balanced, having tried ice skating before. The 2 girls played happily for the duration of our ice skating session. Rewarded by lunch in the overlooking food court afterwards.
Gradually Abigail gained confidence to take penguin steps herself, and to hang on to the side of the rink while skating unassisted. She even made it to the centre of the rink a few times. Maddie was quite well balanced, having tried ice skating before. The 2 girls played happily for the duration of our ice skating session. Rewarded by lunch in the overlooking food court afterwards.
Art classes
During Terms 2 and 3, Abigail was enrolled in a course at Pine St Children's Art Centre called "Discovery of Clay". It was a wonderful course run by Di (Dianne) Turner, a gentle motherly artist with creative ideas about using clay. At this time Abigail was interested in play dough and this allowed her to make things that she could decorate and keep.
She made many wonderful things: figures, pots, plaques: hand built or with moulds. Once she made a mug one week but painted another child's mug the next week. There was some dissent over whose mug was whose but each child took the mug with their painting work on it.
By the end of Term 3 Abigail was looking for a break from clay class. Probably as she got progressively more tired after school as the term went on, by the end she would fall asleep on the short 15 minute drive from Balmain to Chippendale.
Holiday art classes too were enjoyable, after the inevitable initial wobbly by Abigail as she found herself in a new environment. The teachers were all very down to earth and the studios shabby but comfy, not uppity like ArtSpark or ArtEst where Abigail went on past holidays.
She made many wonderful things: figures, pots, plaques: hand built or with moulds. Once she made a mug one week but painted another child's mug the next week. There was some dissent over whose mug was whose but each child took the mug with their painting work on it.
By the end of Term 3 Abigail was looking for a break from clay class. Probably as she got progressively more tired after school as the term went on, by the end she would fall asleep on the short 15 minute drive from Balmain to Chippendale.
Holiday art classes too were enjoyable, after the inevitable initial wobbly by Abigail as she found herself in a new environment. The teachers were all very down to earth and the studios shabby but comfy, not uppity like ArtSpark or ArtEst where Abigail went on past holidays.
Sibling
Somehow we got to talking about babies, and when asked how she felt about them Abigail quickly said "no thanks! they are too noisy." Probably because she regularly complains about Pascale's early morning waking (6am or earlier) habits: turning on the lights to read or calling out "wake up Abi it's morning!"
Year 5 Buddy
At the beginning of the school year each kindy child was matched up with a Year 5 child as their Buddy. During the first few masses and functions the older children were examples of behaviour for the younger ones.
Abigail's buddy Neve (rhymes with Steve - Abigail kept on forgetting her name for 1.5 terms) was very nice to her, and on the last day of Term 2 Abigail drew a card for Neve "happy holidays" it read. Unfortunately we weren't going to see her for 2 weeks by which time the card had been forgotten at the bottom of Abigail's school bag. It's the thought that counts I guess.
Abigail's buddy Neve (rhymes with Steve - Abigail kept on forgetting her name for 1.5 terms) was very nice to her, and on the last day of Term 2 Abigail drew a card for Neve "happy holidays" it read. Unfortunately we weren't going to see her for 2 weeks by which time the card had been forgotten at the bottom of Abigail's school bag. It's the thought that counts I guess.
Gruffalo excursion
As a treat on the final day of Term 2, FJT school organised for the kindy children to attend a performance of The Gruffalo at the Seymour Centre. They had charter STA buses for everyone, and no parents were invited. Afterwards they had a picnic lunch with their year 5 buddies in Gladstone Park. Abigail enjoyed the Gruffalo performance as well as the excursion.
Ballet Exam
Abigail prepared and went for the Test 2 ballet exam, and passed with good comments (pass/fail) in the distinction columns mainly. She was nervous but came out 15 minutes later quite pleased with her work and the examiner's remarks.
When her report was distributed , she also received an invitation to attend the Performance classes where children concentrate on stagecraft, performance pieces and enter eisteddfodds. Maybe next year we will try this.
Abigail proudly wore her Test 2 medal on her clothing all weekend.
When her report was distributed , she also received an invitation to attend the Performance classes where children concentrate on stagecraft, performance pieces and enter eisteddfodds. Maybe next year we will try this.
Abigail proudly wore her Test 2 medal on her clothing all weekend.
Kites
Kites are a fascination with Abigail and/or her craft teachers. She has made them from plain paper and paper bags, and decorated with streamers, pastel drawings etc. She tries to fly them in the park after school or in the back yard.
Writing
Abigail is interested in experimenting with different types of writing: running, and block/outlines. In September she discovered join the dot writing, mirror writing. She started to learn Chinese characters with first Priscilla then Por Por every Saturday (sort of).
Update
Yes, 3 months have whizzed by since the last post. So much has happened, Abigail has become a more confident and capable person both academically and socially. Brief entries follow to describe this period.
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