November in Damascus - just like being at home

Well, the weather is really starting to cool off.  Mornings are down right brisk.  The AC is only needed in the middle of the day after the children have been running around getting all sweaty at lunch. The evenings are equally chilly - sweaters and/or a nice scarf to wrap up in are necessities.

The week is almost over - thank goodness!  Halloween, as you know was on Sunday.  For the most part, Sunday was a regular day in our classroom - until the last hour when my little ghosts and goblins put there costumes on and readied themselves for the parade.  Our fifth graders led the parade as each grade followed in behind.  The afternoon ended with trick or treating.  Now, while I appreciate the spirit behind the afternoon, it was somewhat frustrating at just how over the top everything was.  Regardless, it is done for the year and I need not worry about it until next year :)

Now that we're into November, my students have been busy doing mini-lessons on Remembrance Day and the significance of the poppy.  That's meant preparing materials and lessons for pre-kindergarten straight through Grade 12.  I am so proud of the work that my students did.  They have developed their own lesson, including a demonstration explaining how to make the poppies. They've acquired a very different perspective for the teacher, I think.  For example, following the Grade 7 presentation today, the boys said to me, "Miss Desfosses, those kids in the back corner just didn't stop talking. I don't think they learned a single thing".  Ahhh, from the mouths of babes!

November is also an exciting time because Damascus is hosting the Terry Fox run.  The run takes place this coming Friday.  There are a group of teachers who will go to the citadel in the old city to be a part of the run.  Many did not know of Terry Fox or his story, so it was another opportunity to share about a Canadian Hero!

Last bit of news for this blog would be that my dear friend Jessie is coming to visit me this weekend from Kuwait. She too is just finishing up parent teacher conferences this week, so I imagine by the time she arrives, she'll be about as tired as I am.  Regardless, we'll have a great weekend of fun and frivolity.  She's only here until Saturday afternoon, so it will be a quick visit, but one that I am very much looking forward to.  Plans for the weekend include karaoke at the Bunker Club (the British Club), the Terry Fox Run, the Marine Ball and an afternoon in the old city. I am most looking forward to spending time and getting to visit!

And on that note I am going to sign off.  I still have about 20 minutes before my kids come back to class.  I could probably get some serious cleaning up done in that 20 minutes.

Talk to you soon.

Tylene