Living Like a Small Green Hairy Fruit

Kiwi School is So Cool

You'd have thought the kids would have been pleased to have time off school, especially as this year they would miss out on their usual 6 weeks off in July and August.  Well they were to begin with but after a couple of weeks here they were desperate to get into school and meet other kids (my company obviously not good enough anymore!).

I suppose for me and Mark the worst of the move was over.  We had all the stress beforehand just getting here, done the gruelling flight, done the flying round like headless chickens getting transport, house, and all that paperwork sorted, our container was on it was and would be here soon, work was going well, etc.  But for the children they still had their 'bit' to do in starting all over again at a new school in a new country.

They must have been so nervous, not knowing how or where they would fit in.

When our daughter was due to start high school back in the UK we attended a parents evening beforehand where the headteacher stated that there were only two things new entrants worried about; where the toilets were and when would they get fed!

She'd survived that and done really well.  She had a big group of friends she'd had to leave behind and was getting all As and Bs in her studies.  Our son was just finishing his last year at primary.  The week he left school was SATs week and despite being due to leave the country, we nasty parents insisted he attend that week and sit the exams anyway (all good practice, even if they don't mean diddly squat).

So, not having much idea about the schools here we started sorting that.  Like I said, Michaela was just finishing Year 7, her first year at high school in the UK, but here she would have to go to intermediate school or a primary that covered Year 8.  You should have seen her face when she heard she'd have to go back to little school with the uncool, immature little kids!  Andrew would have been starting his first year at high school this September but over here he's another two years to do at primary before high school in Year 9.

We started with the nearest state school to where we'd be living.  It was a great school with a really gentle but firm headteacher.  There was really only one basic rule;  do as you're told the first time.  If you didn't there was a consequence.  Seemed fair and sensible.  We looked round some of the classrooms.  The kids all looked so happy, alert and enthusiastic.

We went to all the other schools in the area that they were eligible to go to due to the zoning.  I asked around in the town about the schools; just shopkeepers, other mums in the shops, the ladies in the real estate office - I didn't really know any of them, but you know me, I'll go chat to anybody.  No-one had a bad word to say about any of the schools. 

There was an open evening at the nearest school to our home.  It's a state-integrated Christian school and although I'm a Christian I did have reservations about the kids going there as I didn't want it to be just 'bible bashing' without a rounded education and the ability to live in the real world with a balanced view after.  The open evening was fab.  The school kids, two girls, that gave us a guided tour were so articulate, knowledgeable and passionate about their school.  The school, whilst small with only a capacity for 320 children in total, is well equipped and has all the latest technology.  It takes all ages from 5 to 18.  In the later years if there is a particular course/exam any pupil wants to do and the school don't have a teacher with the knowledge to teach it, they have a special video conference room linked to CantaTech which pupils can use to get interactive lessons from another teacher in the region.  The scope is phenomenal with courses available such as astronomy and commercial airline pilot!

There is a fee, around $1,000 a year, plus money for all the trips, and buying all the books and stationery (which I think is standard here anyway). 

Mark (despite being a 'non-believer'!) thought it was a great school and we both liked the fact that the children could go there until they're 18 and could make friends that they could grow up with and hopefully keep for life.

I filled in the application forms which included having to say what we understood a Christian education to be, what we expected from it, what characters are children were, their strengths and weakness, what type of teaching would best suit them.  It was quite in-depth and I answered it as subjectively as I could - I mean isn't it natural for every parent to want to sing the praises of their kids and gloss over the not so pleasant bits?  Well, I didn't.  I said exactly what the kids are like and what kinds of moods they can get into in the given situations.

A few days later I had a phone call inviting us for an interview.  I was really quite nervous.  I hadn't been to church for ages and I certainly can't quote too much from the bible, other than most - it begins with Genesis and ends with Revelations with lots of miracles in the middle bits?  I thought it might be me for a change that lets the children down and embarrasses them in public.

Needn't have worried.  The interview went well and I didn't have to recite any psalms or anything.  The Heaf of Primary and Head of Secondary had a quick meeting and came out to Reception to tell us we'd been accepted.  You should have seen the kids jump for joy.  They were just like, thank you, thank you, thank you to the Heads and hugging them and asking 'can we start tomorrow?' (bit miffed actually that I'm now so old and uncool that they don't wana hang with their mum anymore and would rather be in school).

We sorted uniforms.  The really nice lady on Reception took us to the stock room and kitted the kids out with a mixture of new and second hand uniforms.  Michaela gets to wear one of the ankle length kilts she has admired (NOT!!!) since we got here.  Andrew get shorts with knee high socks.

We then went down to the townstreet to the local shop and got a second set of everything new.  I just love shopping in these little personal stores.  The assistants are all so friendly and chatty and its just lovely having such attentive, old fashioned service.

They didn't start the next day as the Head of Primary telephoned Andrew to apologise but his class teacher wasn't going to be in school that day and he thought Andrew would be better starting on the Monday when his class teacher would be there and could get him introduced and settled.  That too amazed me; such a caring attitude.

Monday 18 June was their first day.  I took them there and left them with the Receptionist.  I just hoped and prayed all that day that they'd be accepted and make friends and understand the lessons and just be able to cope.  You always worry that your kid will be the one on their own in the playground or drop their lunch and have to go hungry.  But this first day just seemed so mega important; if the kids didn't settle here and got really homesick we'd have some very difficult choices to make.

Well, I needn't have worried.  They had a brill first day. Made heaps of friends and were included in everything and they loved it!  They said the work was a breeze. The teachers were really laid back and cool. 

And they've said that every day since!  Within two weeks they'd both been for sleepovers.  We don't see much of Andrew at the weekends as his off with his mates.  Michaela has a good group of friends but most live in Kaiapoi so after school she doesn't see them much but weekends she's usually busy.

They've both done really well with their schoolwork and are in top sets for everything.  Andrew has had two certificates so far in assemblies, one for his enthusiasm, hard work and honesty and one for getting 100% in maths.  Michaela and 3 of her friends did a fund raiser for orphans in Uganda.  They made cakes and biscuits and sold them all week at school and raised nearly $60.  She also got a certificate for showing compassion in a practical way.

They been on several school trips already, including laser zone and science alive, but the one they're really looking forward to is skiing next week at Mt. Hutt.

They've both grown in confidence and are just so happy and settled here.  We're very proud of them.  They work really hard and both have such a caring nature.  Doesn't stop them fighting like cat and dog at home sometimes mind!

Here they are in the uniforms they've grown to like:

Gorgeous kids!

9:21 PM, Sunday 12 August 2007 .. Posted by Littletoe

You must be so proud.

Nice...

10:01 PM, Sunday 12 August 2007 .. Posted by Wiz'n'Ton

...kilt that is 'Kayla! ha ha ha ;0) Better or worse than shorts Andrew, eh?! Well done to both of you on settling so well. All down to having such balanced parents I imagine..... ;0)

She was right about that kilt!

11:27 PM, Wednesday 15 August 2007 .. Posted by Gotooz1

I agree, that kilt is like noting I have ever seen before........... Despite that great news that school is a big success.

N