School started today!

[Michael Alexander]

Collect 6 whole Trolleys, I will tell you where to take them and I will pay you R2000.00

(Not Pick'n Pay ones!)

woo_hoobbb

[Bertie Horak]

Damn, Pick & Pay is much easier - they leave them outside, while our SPARS all have them inside!   

[Rhona]

Check out if any smallies are going to school in fancy shmancy karts.....or if there are any racing events scheduled soon

[Delia]

@ Michele - i know how you feel - i sometimes feel like i'm doing my schooling all over again with Caryn and her projects.  Just finished scouring the net for a project she has to do on tertiary education institutions...........sometimes tho' i'm gobsmacked at what they give these kids to do.........some of it i don't even understand too well, how they expect the kids to i'm not sure.  I remember in grade 5 she had to do a project on the different types of taxes in SA.........what does an 11 year old need to know about taxes for............shame, that's still coming to them in the working world, why bog them down with it at that age? 

we don't have internet at home so i have to rush rush my searches in my lunchtimes at work, then when it's time for her to actually do the project, i have to practically do it for her purely because the topic is so above her head. I don't believe in doing kids projects for them, but sometimes that's just how it works out with what they expect from the kids nowadays.

where have the days gone when a coupla pics out a magazine stuck on a cardboard sheet with a few facts added were good enough????

[Michele Alexander (Voden)]

Yay, at least I'm not the only school mom on the board! It's amazing what these kids get lumped with. I don't even remember getting homework in Grade 1 (Sub A) but Cameron, the youngest, comes home with a load everyday! Luckily they do a lot of it at Auntie Ceu's in the afternoon and then as soon as we walk in the door at 16h30 it is straight to the kitchen table to finish off the last bits and do the reading. I also make a point of copying their show and tell list so that we can make a start over the week-end, it is so much easier than having to sit and do it all of an evening!

I am so grateful for the internet - it saves so much time than having to page through magazines having to look for a picture - I had to laugh on Saturday afternoon I was still busy unpacking shopping and Shannon was already on the pc, logging on to google looking for pictures for her oral! I also don't agree with doing the projects for them but feel they still need a helping hand - I can always remember my dad helping me and my brother with our projects and hope my kids will be able to remember me helping me with theirs!

[Delia]

Yeah, you right Michele, their growing up years are all about building memories and i have the same attitude - i'd like Caryn to be able to look back one day and have good memories, among others, memories of me helping her when the going got a bit tough, be it in school life, social or just generally.  I remember when i was at boarding school.......definitely no internet back then.......when i got a project, i would phone my mom and a week later there'd be pictures cut out of mags in the post for me. No ways was i going to waste my precious pocket money (R30/term) on magazines..............

Caryn's in high school (Grade 8) and their workload is actually ridiculous - on top of daily homework, they've got projects every week, sometimes 2 at a time, and in between their sport (which  is compulsory in Gr 8 & 9) and everything else, they're just meant to get on with it and cope.........i see some of the kids stressing so badly, it's quite sad.  And for what I ask myself? The whole idea of projects is for them to learn something out of it but they're so overloaded and tired that nothing is gained from it....they're on autopilot just trying to get thru it all. Even if Caryn's still got work to do, i allow her to take an hour and go to her kick-boxing in the evenings, something she loves - to my way of thinking it destresses her and gives her mind and body a break from the constant work work work - she comes home refreshed, has supper and dives back into whatever work's still waiting for her.

You right Michele, i don't remember being so loaded with homework etc. even in high school..........anyway, we'll help them thru it, that's what we're here for......it's what moms & dads do.

[Michael Alexander]

What R30  a term? I got R10 a week and that was in 85....

[Rhona]

You were always spoiled!