Friday- Parent’s Day at Holy Cross & Cheering for the Red Team at Wairiki Primary

August 8, 2008 — calabasas, Fiji, gc4p, global classrooms for peace, rotary, Uncategorized

Today there will be no teaching at Holy Cross Secondary School because it is Parent’s Day. Today, the parents of my students will come in to meet with teachers and receive progress reports.

I think all Parent’s Days all around the world must be the same. Parents come dressed up in their best church clothes. Kids sheepishly walk around the school beside them, and remain on their best behavior.

Teachers will smile, shake hands and try to use teacher-ish diplomacy. This is just how it is.

Our day pretty much follows this ageless pattern.

I sit in on some of the conferences and hear a lot of, “Your child is usually well-behaved, but I would like to see him working more to the best of his abilities. I think he could do better”. I notice this is said to the students in the top ten percent, as well as those in the lowest percentile. Ah, some things never change the world over.

The students are receiving percentages for each class instead of grades. I notice that the average percentage “grade” is about a 50%. Then I find out that 50% is the lowest passing grade allowed. The highest grade I see is a 68%. This is a little troubling.

I’m hoping the rest of their terms are heading up from here.

The day at my school ends before lunch, so I say a tearfull goodbye to all of the wonderful students and staff I’ve worked with.

They have truly touched my heart and I will never forget them.

I have promised my GC4P collegue, Caroline that I would walk over to her school, Wairiki Primary which is just down the hill. They are having their big Sports Day event in track and field. I’m kindly escorted down by one of my now former students.

“I’ll be back to sit with you after I eat lunch and change from my uniform” she promises.

We are cheering for the Red Team aka “St Peter” which has adopted Caroline as a member. I spot a pair of workers from Maravu, our sponsoring resort, and sit with them and their friends under the shade of a large tree.

Soon, several secondary school kids from Holy Cross, who have been my students all week, begin to surround us. I feel so much at home sitting with my kids, and with Tracy and Chuky from the resort that I feel like I’ve become part of a family.

I remain there, cheering for their children, cheering for Caroline, and cheering for a week that has exceeded my expectations in more ways than I could have hoped.

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