Love my job!!!

It has been another short week, even for a short week.... Short weeks usually seem longer but this week flew by. I'm starting to get the hang of teaching multiple classes every week . The first group i teach, at the beginning of the week, are guinea pigs and the last group I teach are stars because I iron out the kinks and I  improve my instructions. I've developed a new way of assessing by having each class self reflect and give themselves a happy face or sad face depending on how they feel they have worked and what they've learned at the end of each class. That helps me keep track of each student because it is difficult to remember every student and I have 18 different classes per week . I am also trying to use the three focus student idea  that Hillsmeade has implemented. I've learned 300 out of the 425 names. We only have three weeks left until the first holiday and the end of term one . There are four terms in the school year and two weeks of holidays in between three of the four terms; 2 semesters. By the time I learn all the students' names for the first semester, I will need to learn another 425 names for the second term semester, because my teaching partner, Lisa (music teacher), and I are switching classes....but it's a pleasure!
We left the elastic bracelet fad in Canada at Christmas and now elastic bracelets are becoming a huge fad now in Australia! 
We had three aboriginal incursion days which are the opposite of excursions :-)  the trip comes to you, in the school. I had the pleasure of watching one of the presentation and the misfortune of having them being presented right next door to my drama room. One draw back of having the drama room next to hall (the gym), is that the phys ed noise or whatever is happening in the gym is constant and loud enough to be heard through the thin sliding wall on the stage that separates the two. I think I've heard enough didgeridoo music to last me a few years.
At the end of every week Hillsmeade has an assembly, one Junior ( prep/1/2) Assembly, one Senior (3/4/5/6), one house assembly, and one whole school per month..Hillsmeade heroes from every class are chosen and recognized. Every specialist teacher chooses a class from their 18 classes to win their subject award. There are 3 visual arts awards, 2 sport awards and 2 performing arts awards, one for music and one for drama. That helps keep the classes motivated to do well and to work as a team while they compete with other classes. The assemblies are usually held during my APT (prep) time but I make the time to go watch classes receive their awards and share their performances or presentations. Over the years, we've held assemblies at the 3 schools i taught at in Canada. We should do them again.
I've really connected with all those sweet and adorable children...even the little monkeys, who make  it challenging sometimes, and I enjoy being with the staff. I love seeing them in the staffroom having fun, interacting with kindness with their students, planning in grade teams, or visiting me to chat and giving me helpful hints....most do, most of the time.
I already know that I'll be crying the last day of school.
Love my job!!!