School Report and Holiday time

Having studied VEL's (http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/)during my Dip-Ed and using them report on my students last year I find it amusing to see my own child's school report. As a parent you instinctively know (or hopefully do) the personality, learning type and intelligence of your child. But does his/her teacher? In the Steiner system (state and private) children have the same teacher from class 1-8. Some schools will do a split (1-3/4, 4/5-8) if a teacher has a particular strength of understanding for junior or middle school years. SO at the start of this year when introduced to Felix's teacher I naturally sussed her out. I felt reassured by her academic understanding and found she was more math confident than most primary school teachers which was refreshing. She was honest and did not presume to know everything but her openness to learn was outstanding. I have always believed that learning how to learn is a skill children need to see for themselves through experience and example.
But would this new teacher really understanding Felix?
His school report has expressed Felix perfectly. A team leader, confident, a wild imagination which is contagious, puts in 100% effort and wonderful behaviour. Felix's VEL's levels at at the standard or above the standard required for a year 1 student. This is Felix to a tee. Felix is my "easy" go lucky child. My Matilda on the other hand is hard work but her character is wonderful. She is tenacious, strong and more intelligent academically than me (& Felix). This for a 4 year old can be hard work to keep your emotions and self in check socially. She reminds me so much of my brother who unfortunately had a rocky time at school and I know that the sussing out of her teachers in the years to come will be incredibly important to ensure that she is guided and not squeezed into conforming with school. My confidence in the school is strong for the primary school years and our plan is for the children to move into other schools at class 5, 7 or 9 level depending on their needs. Now for some school holiday adventures to enrich imagination, refuel the bodies and bond as family unit once again.

Muffins

Step 1 add dry ingredients

Step 2 crack in egg and remove shell
Step 3 appologies to brother after hitting him with the wooden spoon
Step 4 try not to lick the spoon when mum is not watching
Step 5 fill all muffin cases with mixture leaving lots in the bowl so that licking the bowl will fill me up
Step 6 pop muffins in oven clean up and go play

ay.

Felix's First piano Concert

Felix's first piano concert was held on Saturday. We heard Frère Jacques over and over and over again in preparation for his concert. I was a little worried as the practice session on the Monday prior was some what patchy. Felix was more interested in entertaining his audience with smiles and glances that he forgot to concentrate on his hands.

Moments before he heading up to the piano for his performance he remarked

"I'm nervous but it feels good"

Felix did not look at his hands and managed to only make one small mistake. His timing was perfect and Frère Jacques sounded really good. He stood up and took a big bow and flashed a huge confident smile to the crowd. Aaaah the little entertainer in his element.

Video link HERE

Dancing

Matilda had her debute at the 45th Polonez Anniversary while Felix and Michael are at their 2 year at 17 year marks respectively. I find myself cringing when parents go on about how wonderful their children are but perhaps for once I might indulge. I actually had this warm gooey feeling of pride and thought that both Matilda and Felix were really cute on stage dancing. I will admit that I didn't watch anyone else when they were on stage :) Interestingly their motivation for dancing vary. Felix get extremley excited and nervous leading up to a concert. He loves to dance. He is very social and find the after polonez practice time very important. It is wonderful to see his confidence with senior as well as junior dancers back stage. Matilda does enjoy the social aspect too but it is not the dancing that motivates her, but rather the costumes and make-up. Dancing is just a nessasary part of the "dress up". I find myself being completely relaxed with the children both back stage and in the theatre. All our years of performacing supporting Michael, both in Oz and overseas has meant the children instinctively know when not to talk out load and keep quiet and are reliable and welcome backstage.

June 2010_School Holidays_day 1

What better way than to start the holidays than to acquire a piece of equipment that can generate freedom. With a 12.8kg old school steel bike, Felix has found riding a chore rather than the freedom to move, accelerate and weave. So we hit the bike shop in search for the BYK.
Felix undertook a test ride and had a wide excited smile, he was in love, while I thought he looked so comfortable so my mind was made up.
After a ride home (I could hardly keep up with the new machine and its boy) we heading out country to play with Sabina and burn a bonny. Heavy rain and two widely excited dogs greet us on our return. Day 1 of the holidays is over.

Fairy Blankets

I hand Felix a new scrap book. "Has it got fairy blankets" he enthusiastically exclaims. My mind darts around lost for a microsecond and I respond "no sorry not this on". He seems unfazed and merrily open the new scrap book and starts his "school" work. Michael looks at me and asks "what are fairy blankets?" "Ahh you are not a Steiner kid! The tissue paper between drawing paper in main lesson books from school", I respond.

Family Dentist Appointment

Felix, Tilda and I ride the bus to the dentist. Felix is experienced and walks in with a sense of confidence, " I know all about the dentist" he announces to the receptionist, "I have been in the chair before. Tilda is quiet and is taking it all in, this is her first visit.

Felix egerly jumps int he chair and dons the sunglasses. 5 minute after a quick too the dentist is satisfied, " they look good" Phew I thought, we are a little relaxed with brushing teeth, although we had brushed them before we came.

It was now Tilda's turn.

She stared at the dentist with obvious judgment. Even the dentist recognised the suspisious look of a strong minded 3 year old. "I want to go in the chair" Tilda asserted. Without eye contact she sat in the chair. The dentist suggested that she open her mouth. Tilda ignored this request and continued to avoid looking at the dentist. 2 minutes in the chair and half a dozen request to open her mouth from the dentist Felix and I, Tilda decided that her go was over and promptly jumped out the chair and told me " it's your turn now...

My turn was involved 2 minutes of examination and the dentist gave me a clean bill of dental health, no fillings yet! We jumped on the bus to travel home and enjoyed some donuts with sugar on top!

The Dancer

Felix loves to dance and has started Polonez (polish dancing).
Tonight I watched him and enjoyed seeing him:
*look at himself in the mirror with complete admiration
*dob on the "boys" who would not line up like the girls
*almost burst into tears because he thought the boys had to chop up the girls, when in fact the girls were pretending to be wheat

He doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the group yet (the next boy is at least 8) but with a combination of self confidence, being young at heart and loving dance he is openly accepted by all, even when he leaves rehearsal pretending to be a dog!

Felix's Birth Story by Felix

After reading that some children remember aspects of being born reportedly up to the age of seven I decided to ask Felix what it was like for him. Here are a few things he said..

"It was tight and a short tunnel I needed to go through"
"When I came out I just wanted my mamma and call for her mamma mamma"
"it was warm inside"

I might ask him again another time before his memories disappear.

Felix tells Marta how he was a small egg

Tonight we caught up with old friends Marta and Peter for dinner. We enjoyed a wonderful summer evening at their garden 10 km from the centre of Warsaw. They have a block of land covered in fruit trees including a divine cherry trees complete with ripe plump juicy (YUMMY) cherries! Over the course of a picnic dinner conversation flowed as did the lovely white wine. From out at left field, in a matter of fact way, Felix described to Marta how he was an a very little egg before he was a boy. This egg grew into a baby in "Mama's" tummy and he popped out as a baby. I wish it had been that simple.

Montassori Kinder- Warsaw

On our first afternoon in Warsaw I randomly saw a sign avertising a montassori kinder just down the road from our accomadation. Lech rang for us that evening and arranged for us to visit with Felix the next day. I stayed with him for the morning until after lunch. I found the place really inviting and a beutiful space for children. I have always enjoyed reading about the phyliosophy of Montassori for childrens education and it now lovely to have Felix experience it first hand. Felix has enjoyed going each day and will continue to go for this entire week. He is still talking to everyone in English, although I did notice today there is a little more polish being spoken to Tata. One teacher who can talk to me in English remarked that he is very helpful and gentle with the children. Last Friday Felix apparently raved about his siter Matilda at the lunch table. The teacher said that is was a lovely expression of love unfortunaetly only it was only understood by Felix and herself.

Kinder feedback from Felix's teacher

Felix is so such an asset to the play. He is filled with fantastic ideas and plays so well with all the children. He is making friends very easily and seems to have a special friendship with Robbie. He creates wonderful stories and is very confident.

At the end of a kinder day

Felix looks through th sea of parents for me. He scans nervously. Finally our eyes connect. He runs to cuddle me and starts to chat about having his water bottle, bag and hat. "I'm hungry", I hand him his sandwich, he drops to the ground and munches away.

Arriving at Kinder

The doors open and children rush through the doors. A space filled with wonderful activities, a marble race, a cubby, sewing, painting and story constructed from blocks, cloth and small wooden animal. Felix forgets I exists. He is busy. Ready. I kiss him goodbye- he doesn't even follow my path to the door. I pang of sadness fills my heart for a moment. This is yet another step I will take as my baby grows into childhood.

Tyre Swing

My vivid memories off sitting on my tyre swing under a big old oak tree are reignited. I witness a young boy swinging on his tyre swing under a big old apple tree. Is he day dreaming, enjoying the gentle rocking motion, the smell of summer, the solitude? To see a child enjoy the same types of moments as you remember doing yourself brings joy from deep within, a feeling of knowing and kinship.

City kids with farm attitude

While other children are panicked by the site of a dog, Felix and Matilda are completely confident and comfortable with Gus- our German Shorthaired Pointer. The confidence they derive from living with a dog I believe translates to their confidence at "our farm". Felix believes that the Collingwood Children Farm is our farm- and for only $90 a year for membership it is a lot cheaper than the real thing. We are also fortunate to have my parent's Mt.Martha place with sheep, and also Alex and Little Alex the two horses who love to eat carrots and bite each other.

Lost

"I just need a few more minutes to put your sister to sleep PLEASE"! Felix grabs his "Thomas" novel and matches down the hall to the lounge, waiting for me to read him his beloved book. 10 minutes later I exit the bedroom looking for Felix. moments later I am frantic. I can not see him anywhere. I search outside- no sign. every hiding place- no Felix. I grab the phone- do I call the police or my husband. Think think think. I glance down- I see a small hand holding tight to a Thomas book under the doona pile- I breath, smile and laugh.

A boy and his dog

A unsuspecting Felix lights up as Michael arrives. Quickly he realises that his best friend Gus is absent from the car. He wails. No eye contact for Michael, no hello, only a wail for Gusy- my friend Gusy. A promise of fishing silences the wail and dries the tears. If Gus is spoken about in conversation a scow will cross Felix's face.

Horner

We had just finished assembling the new tepee. Felix was impressed and decided everything from the play room needed to be in the tepee. He raced to the play room grabbed a box and walked back and forth transporting everything he could possibly find. Michal and I laughed and remarked that he was such a hoarder. "Yes" Felix said with a huge smile "I am a Horner" and he continued dragging in more treasures from the play room to the tepee.

A story by Felix and I: Gussy and the bird

Felix and I were sewing a new skirt .. BANG went a bird into the back window. We jumped up and went into the laundry to discover 2 (although Felix counts to 3) birds! They had come inside through the open back door to have a look around. They are call Indian Miners. Felix and I tried to open a window to let them out. But Gussy had another idea. He jumped up and grabbed the bird and broke it's neck. The bird lay on the ground and called "birrrrr birrrrr birrr" then died. Gus felt assamed and would not look at the other bird. I open the window to release the second bird. Gus lay on his bed sad. Felix and I picked up the dead bird- it was warm, lifeless and floppy. Felix and I decided to put it in the bin. Here are a few statements from Felix about the event.

"Gussa get the bird.. now picked the bird he jumped up and put in in the ground and it screamed bird bird bird don't put me on the ground and broke my neck- oh (smiles) Tilda woke up (and runs into the sleep room to greet her with a smile)"

THE END