Exchange postcard

Janet is on exchange from St Francis Xavier Primary School on the mid north coast of NSW

We’ve fit in very well to the Canadian culture and like most Canadians, we’ve visited a warm country to defrost and relax. Most people who I teach with were either going to Hawaii or Mexico, so we thought we’d try Mexico. The trip to Puerto Vallarta was a direct flight from Comox and we were here in four and a half hours. I am sitting poolside on a lounge chair in the sun writing this promised email. The weather is amazing, not too hot and not too cold.

We are having a fantastic time and I’m loving Valley View Elementary. I am particularly loving all of the services available to the teachers in District 71 and taking advantage of as many as I can. The support staff here offer so many resources, they plan with you, then come into your class with prepared lessons and teach alongside you, always backing up with further ideas and resources.

So far I’ve had woodwork training and am about to make iphone/ipad holders with my class. I’m booked into a STEM webinar with the whole class which will guide them through a hockey goal design project. We are in the middle of a ‘Business of your own’ program where volunteers come into the class from the business community and guide the students (and me) through a three week business course where they design, make and sell their own product using recycled materials. I’ve also had the curriculum support person come into the class on three occasions to model and show the ‘three step math process’.

All that as well as spelling bees, mini Winter Olympics, Australian Day fun, Weenie Wednesday Fundraising. In April my class and two others were due to head to Vancouver for an overnight camp where we get to sleep inside the aquarium. There is never a dull moment and I’m loving it. I have found Barb Robertson (principal) to be very supportive and relaxed. She’s great.

Mick has been having a great time and skiing on average three out of five weekdays. This year has been a great one for Mount Washington and we have been very spoilt with excellent skiing conditions. I have also done a lot of skiing on the weekends. In between skiing we have also been exploring the beautiful area of the Comox Valley. There is so much to do around the valley. Now that the ski season is finished we will be doing a lot more cycling, hiking and when the water gets warmer, water sports.