Facebook Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok Icon YouTube Icon Headphones Icon Favorite Navigation Search Icon Forum Search Icon Main Search Icon Close Icon Video Play Icon Indicator Arrow Icon Close Icon Hamburger/Search Icon Plus Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon

Conversational Threads

School in our Countries

Cherrypops | Posted in Gather For A Chat on

Hi Jatman, Thanks for asking..

Thought I’d start another discussion…Anyone can join of course!

remembering our winters are your summers and vice versa…anyone above the southern hemisphere is now experiencing cooler months.

This link shows our school terms/dates: quite different to you.

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/calendar/viewtermdates.php

As you can see we have ‘little breaks’ throughout the year. and then a larger one end of year to carry us over to 2008. We start late Jan/early Feb.

My school is slightly different to the standard. It is an independent school. costs us heaps but is worth it for Thomas. We finished this term a week before the state/governement schools and will see last week of school end before other schools.

School Terms also vary from state to state ( new south wales – queensland).

We have aircon/heating in classrooms, which is great for the kids. Very small classes (14 in kindergarten this year).

CherryPops

 

Replies

  1. jatman | | #1

    Wow, that is different.  There is no single large break - almost like there is school all year 'round.  Thank you for satisfying my curiosity!

    JT

  2. jatman | | #2

    I've known a lot of parents who were ready to get their children back in school after 2 - 3 months at home!  There was an office supply company that always ran a 'back to school' commercial where the mother was dancing through the store picking up paper and pencils and her two children were following slowly with horrified looks on their faces while the Christmas song 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' played in the background!

    JT

    1. Cherrypops | | #3

      Yes I can imagine! What a funny commercial, that I would love to see.

       

      1. user-217847 | | #4

        Hi Cp.

        Office Works has run a similar commercial the last couple years, after the xmas break. Not with a xmas song but an equally excited mum and less excited teens.

        wombat

        1. GailAnn | | #5

          Is Homeschooling very well accepted in your country?  Do you know anyone who Homeschools?  My youngest child will be 30 on Monday, so I don't participate, but I am very interested in Homeschooling  practices.  Gail

        2. Cherrypops | | #7

          I honestly have not seen this commercial on our tv. Probably cause I'm on holidays and out and about most of the time. I will keep an eye out for it. Thanks!

  3. User avater
    VKStitcher | | #6

    Hi CherryPops,

    Your year-round school calendar is similar to the year-round schools we have here (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA).  The local school system has two different kinds of schools:  Traditional calendar--the year starts late August/early September and finishes at the end of May with a 2-week Christmas break, a 2-month summer break, and a couple of short breaks in Fall and Spring; and Year-Round calendar, which starts in July and has 9-week on/3-week off sessions all during the year.

    The Year-Round schools were started because there are so many students and the schools are very crowded.  When one group of students goes on their 3-week break, a new group starts their 9-week session.  There are 4 groups on this rotating schedule, so more students can fit into the school as the classrooms are utilized at all times.  A lot of parents and students really like the year-round calendar, but others really hate it!  There has been quite a controversy this year because the school system wanted more schools to go to Year-Round calendar to help alleviate the crowding without having to use so many mobile classrooms or raise taxes to build more schools.

    I used to teach kindergarten and first grade (many moons ago), and was always on the traditional calendar.  I think I would have liked the year-round calendar with breaks scheduled all during the year.  After 3 or 4 weeks, I got bored with the long summer vacation, and missed my friends at school.



    Edited 10/6/2007 3:47 pm ET by VKStitcher

  4. maggiecoops | | #8

    Hi Cherry pops, as a retired schoolteacher in England, (and having a daughter whose a deputy head of an inner city state school.) I can tell I was grateful for our long break in the summer here. Although the children get 6 to 7 weeks, the teaching staff are lucky to get 4 weeks max. My daughter uses her summer break as most teachers do, preparing for the next academic year. Curriculum planning, schemes of work, unravelling new government initiatives in education. Amazing how every time the government comes up with an idea to improve teacing standards it actually increases an already heavy adminstrative workload, and cuts actual teaching time.

    After spending a term arriving at school by 7.30 and not leaving until 6 on the evenings I wasn't running my remedial classes or homework club, or 9.30 on those evenings. Spending most weekends in school displaying childrens work, organising resources, attending meetings. I was tireder than my pupils come half term break ( A week for the children 2 or 3 days for me as half terms were the times when our professional courses we were expected to attend were run) I looked forward to the one break in the year when I was reasonably certain I could grab some rest time. I would let the office know I was on holiday abroad for at least 3 full weeks, so no emergency planning meetings, no National Curriculum lectures from some LEA rep who knew full well we gave 200% to our pupils and that government had it's head up its armpit. So no I would have hated a system of short breaks, my daughter who loves teaching, would resign, here in England the long summer break and short Christmas and Easter breaks are great. Teachers here have such a horrendous work load they would be working 365 days a year.

    1. Cherrypops | | #10

      Hi Maggie,

      I appreciate your time to write.

      Everything you say is spot on.

      I feel, Teacher's are not given enough credit or support for what they do. I offered to help my current teacher within the classroom, and she jumped with glee - no other stay at home mum has time. I worked in Day Care/Preschools, so am aware.

      We have a great professional relationship and have become friends.

      My aunt worked as a french teacher in High School. I remember as a little girl visiting.....Oh, the paperwork! All work and no play.

      I can't see myself doing anything other than being in an environment helping children. Whether it be in class helping with their education, or at the moment, sewing the christmas costumes. Every bit helps.

      CherryPops

  5. GailAnn | | #9

    Awesome!  You are doing right by your son.

    I was glad when  our school years were over.  I didn't feel competant enough to home school, we couldn't afford private school.  Public school in our area is so focused on the challenged and disadvantaged students as well as those with bad behavior, that above average, even average students are sorely neglected.

    If I had it to do over, I think I would have at least given homeschooling a try.  Gail

    1. Cherrypops | | #11

      I believe I have done the right thing..it's paying off.

      I wasn't the best student, but I worked in childcare/preschool. I loved knowing I was helping the children - making a difference.

      I didn't want Thomas to go through ' i don't like school'. so we make it fun. He is loving his school. as am I.

      Cherrypops

  6. User avater
    VKStitcher | | #12

    Working with the children was the fun part of teaching.  I really enjoyed teaching them to read and seeing their eyes light up when they "got it".  The are so sweet at that age.

    Your Thomas is a very bright boy, and I'm sure that your reading to him and working with him at home helped to give him a head start in school.  I think you'd make a wonderful pre-school teacher!

This post is archived.

Threads Insider

Get instant access to hundreds of videos, tutorials, projects, and more.

Start Your Free Trial

Already an Insider? Log in

Conversational Threads

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |

Threads Insider Exclusives

View All
View All

Highlights

Shop the Store

View All
View More