School These Days

These past two weeks of school have been really different. I've already mentioned the two Tuesdays of strike, meaning, on those days, no school at all for Emily, and two classes last week, one this week for Jason.

Then his English teacher is sick all week this week, so that removes 4 more hours of class (they don't seem to do substitute teachers here much).

And finally (perhaps), his science teacher won't be there tomorrow either (no reason given that I know of).

The upshot for this week:
Monday: 5 classes (plus one study hall due to teacher illness)
Tuesday: 1 class (4 off for strike, 1 for illness)
Wednesday: 2 classes (normal part-day)
Thursday: 3 classes (one unexplained absence, one illness)
Friday: normal day except for the one ill teacher

I wonder if we'l have any "normal" entire weeks before the end of the year. It's keeping me on my toes, anyway, remembering to drive to and from the school at all these odd times. Well, my Palm remembers for me, but I have to remember to program the alarm into the calendar application.

Meanwhile, this week Emily is supposed to have 4 half-days learning some basics of playing golf (one session of which was cancelled by the strike).

BUT, YOU KNOW, my kids are learning French...and that was our goal for this, our first year in Europe. I remember telling them that if that was all they learned or accomplished, we'd be very happy and proud. And they've done way more than that already, getting commendable grades in most subjects. I am very pleased that Jason's math teacher is serious and rarely participates in the strikes, so he is making progress in that domain.

Usually, my kids are immersed in the French language 24-27 hours per week. This is fabulous. I just love it when they mix up the two languages at home, because it means they are getting more and more comfortable with it; it's coming more naturally. We seem to have turned some kind of corner this week, when these statements were issued:

- Emily: When I grow up, I want to be a teacher in my school here in Baillargues.
- Jason: I think I'm ready for my third language. It's been a long time since I started French. Latin next year might not be such a bad idea.

(stunned Mom; I guess that means Emily plans on settling here permanently and Jason is going to pick up a new language every 9 months or so...)

Or maybe they just like all the extra time off lately.