Tuesdays are great days for me! They're my "Teaching Tip Tuesday" day, so I get to hear from lots of volunteers, which is always great, a full suite of classes in the morning to keep me busy, nap in the afternoon, and then the afternoon classes. Now let me tell you, I don't have favourites. But if I did, 8B art class, 8C pe and arts club would be them.
8B is simply hilarious. We're drawing designs for T shirts for a printer in SA, and I was asked, "Miss, can I draw a butt?" How can you not just love that? "No. No, you cannot draw a butt." "But Miss! I wanted to write 'Wiggle' across it." *Thank you Derulo and Snoop...* "There's a rule in this: you can't use words. You know that's out. And no butts, either. Just to be clear."
Following 8B Arts, I pop next door to cue up 8C and we head outside. These kids (yes, the same class from CTF), are SO committed to having fun and moving. It's inspiring! They're involved, they're excited, they listen, they GET INTO IT. Diving in with both feet. Not that other classes don't do this, but these kids put 300% into PE (and all things they do). We're kickboxing this month, and I told them, "Kickboxing is all about control of your body and your emotions, so if you lose control, you'll have to sit out." One kid accidentally kind of swiped the girl's head in front of him, and he was so upset at the thought of missing a set. But he sat out quietly and hopped right back up when I said he could. Later in the class, I had them design sets as a group, and oh MAN, Paulus's face. I wish I had my camera to show you all his grunt face. SO. INTO. IT. I can't wait to learn their moves next week!
Then I rush back to school for Arts Club. Today was our first day. We talked about the different types of art we wanted to do. Cartooning, landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. Cool. So we started with landscapes today, and the grade 11 boys were really paying attention and producing some cool stuff already! I'm excited to see where this goes!
Today (even though I got up on the wrong side of the bed to begin with) was amazing. And I'm really looking forward to making the absolute most out of next Tuesday!
I only have two Tuesdays left here at RVS. I'm heading to Windhoek at the beginning of October to take on a new role in WorldTeach as the Field Director for the Namibia program. I couldn't be more excited at the prospect of helping strengthen our partnership with the Ministry of Education and help volunteers navigate the world of volunteer teaching in Namibia. And have my own apartment, and access to fresh fruit and a pool.
But I am going to miss the people at this school with the entirety of my heart. They planted this seed of love in my heart in January, from when three little, shy girls came up and introduced themselves as Regina, Rebecca and Ida. Now these girls, and their friends, are some of the most outgoing, inspiring, brilliant young ladies and gentlemen I know. To quote the Ninth Doctor- "I don't want to go!" But I know I must, as he did, and grow myself into my new role and let the school evolve, too.
