The year seems to be moving along at an alarming rate at the moment - Christmas is just around the corner and I haven't even begun to do my shopping! It seems very hard to believe that Jake is almost finished Grade 4 and will soon be starting on a new adventure with a new teacher and classroom full of new friends. Jake's exams are well under way and he actually writes his last paper (Maths 2) on Monday.
In the build up to the end of the term, I was lucky enough to go on an outing with Jake's class (above) to the Cape Town Science Center. Jake's teacher is wonderful and it was lovely to be able to catch up with her again too. She does happen to be a family friend, so we don't have a traditional parent/teacher relationship.
Jake was thrilled to have me with him for a change - he even took his chances in stealing some of my coffee...
The science center is a great way for kids to learn through play and if you haven't been, it's a trip well worth making...
Using their minds to move a ball along a table...
The kids took part in some boy vs girl challenges and they boys really outdid themselves. It's so funny to see how differently the two groups work and think...
The boys built a lot slower, but theirs was sturdier and they managed to beat the girls, who's tower kept falling over...
They made rockets, which tied in brilliantly with their Space theme they've been working on in class...
Getting ready for messy experiments...
the idea was to put vinegar in a canister, pop some bicarb in, tip it upside down with the lid on firmly and wait for it to pop off - needless to say, most of theirs fizzled out before popping happened...
Break was held outside too. It was such fun to be the fly on the wall for a change...
Chatting across the courtyard...
To the girls on the other side...
Another team work exercise - the girls actually finished first, but someone tripped and knocked it all over before they'd had a chance to have it checked...
In other news, Jake and I did our first fun run together. We're hopefully doing another one tomorrow morning - just 5km, but you've got to start somewhere. Jake was thrilled with his medal...
This one was for the West Coast Running Club, which is Marius' club...
I was invited to stay at cubs on Wednesday evening, to help and to take some photos...
As a special surprise for the cubs, the leaders had organised for a visit from the guide dogs...
They were told all about raising guide dog puppies and about living as a blind person and how guide dogs help. The kids were enthralled...
This little one is Zeeba...
And Vixen, who's obviously a chocolate Lab...
Zeeba is very quizzy. She's still in training and is only 5 months old...
This is Barry. He's an old friend and has lived in Edgemead for many years. He was left blind after having an accident while driving like a maniac in his Lotus. He didn't have his safety belt on and his spectacles smashed into his eyes. It's a good lesson for the kids to learn and Barry does motivational speaking, so he's also very entertaining...
Des and Estelle have given up many years raising guide dogs - Zeeba is their 5th...
The kids had lots of questions. This guy was very skeptical about how blind Barry actually is...
Jake loves animals and wanted to be as close to Vixen as he could be...
The kids learned how important it is not to touch a guide dog, or interrupt them while they're working, unless they've asked permission...
It all got too much work for Zeeba and she took a nap mid-way...
When she woke up, she'd been made an honourary cub...
We had a friend out from the States a little while ago, who's also very involved with guide dogs there and she's been to see the kids before. She sent a link for a video
http://boyslife.org/features/136450/scouts-help-raise-puppy-to-become-a-guide-dog/ - which shows a scout who raised a guide dogs and the kids got to enjoy this on Wednesday too...
A group snap...
And a big thank you to everybody for coming...
We have a very hectic weekend ahead, 2 braai's and Rylee's getting Christened on Sunday and a fun run tomorrow morning at sparrows. Hope everyone else has a restful one ahead.
Lots of love
Sue XXX
2 comments:
How can Jake be going to Grade 5! I remember starting grade 1! They grow too fast. I met a lady who trains guide dogs too and it is such a selfless act. K got to be a muse for a few minutes as part of the training was to be good with and around kids. Luckily my child is fearless when it comes to dogs.
Yay on the race, hope yesterday's went well too. Talking about has Jake stopped participating in the cycle races?
Hope you have a wonderful weekend
Oh I want to do races with my oldest too! But the Saturdays are just so full.
I helped to arrange a visit from the guide dogs to our grade R classes last week but was not able to go myself as it was A's prize giving at the same time. But L and his friends loved it. We also collected some of the items on their kennel wish list
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