Christmas Times a Comin'...

December started with an excursion to the National Art Gallery with the two year one classes.  We've been doing a unit on how we share stories and why we share them, so I thought it would be great to go see some of the aboriginal art and learn about the legends that they portray. It was an excellent field trip and the students were very excited. They kept asking, "What's that? What's that?" My group of students asked so many questions that we actually didn't get to see the aboriginal stuff. Instead, we saw Ned Kelly paintings and talked about them and then went to see some Asian 'stories'.

After this guided tour we headed outside to the sculpture garden to eat lunch. We then took the students on a teacher-guided tour of the sculpture gardens. They really enjoyed playing on and in some of the artwork (above).

With some extra time before the bus came to take us back to school, we then headed down to Lake Burley Griffen and the flags. We, of course, had to take a picture under the Canadian flag.  We also found Canada's gift to Australia in celebration of their century of Federation.  It is a paving stone that portratys the skies of the Northern and Southern Hemisheres. I saw the big dipper for the first time in 6 months.

Canada's gift to Australia

Next on my agenda was the staff Christmas Party. We went lawn bowling and had lots of 'milkshakes'.  I had a great time though I most definitely suck at lawn bowling. Our poor coach absolutely gave up on us. Levi (below) is obviously the best at it though.

The last week of school

For Advent, my students and I have been choosing a symbol of Christmas and relating it to God's love for us and his greatest gift, Jesus. My classroom was covered with various Christmas decorations (all child made) including Santas, reindeer, lanterns, bells, etc. One of our last symbols was Christmas cookies (which I made) and the kids got to decorate.  They thought it was the greatest thing ever.

I also read them the book Snowmen at Christmas and they then had to take their Christmas traditions and draw a picture, then add snowmen as their family members.  As you will see in the picture far below, there are now snowmen who surf and tan on the beach.

 On the Wednesday of the last week of school we had a very special concert. One of the local radio stations had a contest to see which school could come up with the best fundraiser.  The best school would win a concert, at the school, by Shannon Noll (the runner up in the first Australian Idol). One of our students wanted to raise money in memory of friend of hers who died of cancer this year. The students got to wear Christmas shirts for a gold coin donation and could also buy reindeer food, friendship bracelets and guesses in a Guess the Minties contest.  All proceeds went to a cancer foundation.  Shannon Noll thought our school's idea was the best, so we won the concert. Shannon had all the moms and teachers a twitter, though most of the students only knew who he was because we showed them some YouTube videos so they would know some of the songs when he came.  Shannon played about  songs to the delight of the kids who clapped, sang and danced. It made for a very cool end of the year.

To make the final week even better, the day after the Shannon Noll concert, Mom and Dad arrived. After I picked them up from the airport, I convinced them to come to the school for the afternoon. They helped the students make macaroni angels and then helped take down everything off the walls. The kids thought it was awesome, as did my parents. The kids were so disappointed when they didn't come on Friday too.

The Friday was spend cleaning the classroom, moving the classroom (as I will be in a new room and a new grade next year) and wishing the kids a Merry Christmas. I was actually more tired than mom and dad I think. They've managed to cope with jet lag very well and I'm not dealing well with end-of-school lag.

Mom and Dad in Australia - Days 1-4

The first 4 days in Australia have been very busy for Mom and Dad.  I have made sure they've seen everything there is to see in Canberra over the past 48 hours. On Saturday we headed up Mount Ainslie so they could see the layout of the city and maybe get a map in their head as I drove them up, down, around and through the various hills and roundabouts in the city.  Mom still has no clue and I don't think Dad ever tried.

The next stop on the whirlwind tour was the Australian War Memorial, by far my favorite place in Canberra. Mom and Dad were in awe of the scope and the amount of information. We didn't actually see the entire building because they were so overloaded. We'll be going back sometime in January.

In front of the War Memorial

 After the tour inside, it was time for the walk down Anzac parade to see all the memorials, and a cricket match. I tried to explain what I knew to mom.  I think we both ended up more confused in the end.

We then made a stop in Civic. Mom and Dad had to take the now traditional picture with the sheep. Still don't know what that sheep is doing, but I'm sure it's dirty.

Our next stop was to drive up to Parliament. It was closed when we arrived, but we got the photo in front anyways.

We also stopped to see the giant Christmas tree in Civic.  2000 lights and Mom and Dad still don't have that Christmas feeling (Mom said today that it feels like July).

On Saturday night, Mom and Dad got to meet my Aussie family: Natalie's mom (Shirley) and her partner Bill, Chris' parents (Gail and Brian), Nat's brother Rob and his wife Nicole as well as Nat's niece Kyra. We ended up staying at the restaurant for 4.5 hours talking about anything and everything. We couldn't believe what time it was when we left.

On Sunday morning, we started our day with tour of the Australian Parliament. I think I learned, and now know, more about Australian politics than I ever did about Canadian politics. It was very interesting, and very familiar in some ways as they mostly have the same system as Canada. Their senate is elected though. Much smarter than us.

Looking towards the War Memorial from the roof the Parliament.

The House of Commons

The Senate

The Magna Carta

 After the Parliament, we did some shopping at the Old Bus Depot Markets and then headed to Tidbinbilla to show off the wildlife.  Doesn't Mom look like she is ready for a fantastic bush walk?

Mom and Dad were very excited to see kangaroos, emus and platypus, though there were some complaints that the platypus were too far away to see clearly. Next time I will try to work on my platypus call for them.

They were definitely thrilled to walk within a metre or two of a few kangaroos and emu though.  The were also pleased to meet Moe the koala who put on quite the show for them. In the three times I've been to Tidbinbilla, Moe has just slept. Today he walked, posed and ate. Must have known that the tourists were there. We even got within striking distance of a snake, which scared the bejesus out of me, though mom and dad didn't seem phased at all. Stupid Canadians! :-)

Kangaroos and Canadians

Mom, Dad and their new friend Moe

 The final stop on our journey was at the CSISRO/NASA deep space dish. Up until 2009, this dish 'listened' out in to space.  In 1969, this dish (though it was in another place) actually collected and sent out the TV broadcast from the moon when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon.

I've kept Mom and Dad hopping this weekend and tomorrow we are off to Uluru and the Red Centre. Hot, hot, hot.