Tuesday and Wednesday

It was my turn to blog yesterday, but I fell asleep! So there are 2 days and 1 blog entry!


Tuesday was one of the coldest days so far! It looked fine, but the temperature was only a few degrees, everywhere we went people were apologising for the weather! 
Tuesday started with a dunkin' donuts bagel and a coffee, then off the Hudson to meet up with Kathy and Janice. they were involved in a meeting ( with other staff members) discussing specific students,  their learning & behaviour and management of  different situations- it all felt very familiar, Kids are kids world-wide


We were very privileged to be part of a meeting that involved Principals and the District team, they had got together to discuss safety issues. I was very impressed with their in-depth knowledge of each of the districts sites, and the challenges that each site proposed.  The Tempe district has 22 schools that they look after, primary to secondary, they are all sizeable schools, some over 2000 students. It was interesting to hear the discussions and concerns had some parallels to our schools, but on a bigger scale. 
After a great taco lunch we visited a PD dept. This was an amazing facility, it was set up in a school that was closed last year( school merger), the building has been set up with model classrooms, spaces for large and smaller groups of teachers to meet and use during the day or after school for PD or planning, and all the resources and expertise are there! It is also used by ASU students, studying education.
The next stop was downtown Tempe, where we all meet up, with Linda Parrish from the Tempe sister cities organisation and met with the Mayor Mark Mitchell. The building was very unusual, it had lots of glass and looked a bit like an inside down triangle. At the entrance we went through security, our bags went through one of the xray machines, and we had our photos taken and they were printed in security passes, before we were alowed in the lift. Downstairs was the mayoral chambers, part of the back wall was strips of copper, it was very pretty. Upstairs in  the entrance way, there were many  flags including the NZ flag, and window boxes showing artefacts from the different sister cities. It was very cool to see the NZ one, including a sheep!
We were presented with beautiful plaques from Tempe, and had group photos by the flags. 
Crissi and I went out to Oreganos for tea, it was a pizza and pasta place, amazing meals, we shared a pizza cookie with ice cream! Another first.   Met up with Kim, a very good friend of Crissi's. She is also a teacher and teaches in a different district. it is interesting to learn about the differences between the districts. then school times are different, and also the pay of teachers and principals. Elementary Principals are paid on the length of  service, not school size, there is a difference between elementary and high schools. It isn't easy to move between districts, it affects their pay,  contracts are signed yearly, and the contracts happen at different times.                
Kathy, Janice and Casey went out for tea at a cowboy style restaurant complete with wood shavings on the floor. It was tucked against a hill and had expansive views of the city lights. Just before heading out for tea, Clifton, Mairi and their gorgeous children, Declan, Calvin and Eleanor came to visit.
Today was sleep in, shopping and packing day. I have bought a box to fed ex home! The shoes and baby clothes were just too cute!