Week One - High School in Auckland MP

Getting back into the classroom has been fantastic. It's been a steep learning curve to review some math probability concepts but overall the first week was a success.

Year 12s are preparing for an external evaluation. These "externals" are standardized tests that all students across NZ must write. The next external focuses on Probability. So, unfortunately, I've been teaching to the upcoming test since time is very limited. Afterward, I plan to venture into the world of problem-based learning and try some different teaching strategies.

Year 9s are young. They are closer in age to grade 8s at home. These kids are keen, excited and willing to work. We're completing a unit of study on statistics and understanding how to conduct an investigation. 

Year 10s are my most challenging class. They have not bought into the value of education. I have my work cut out for me with this group.

New Zealand doesn't have the same building structures as Canada. At home our buildings are insulated and temperature controlled. Here, ommonly, temperatures within homes or schools are controlled by opening or closing a window. I'm not even sure if walls are insulated? So quite often room temperature is whatever the temperature is outside not a balmy 20 degrees. 

Students call teachers by their last name, for example - Mr. Phillips. But more often they shorten their greetings to Sir or Miss. This is different from home. I don't think I've ever been called Sir by a student in Ontario. 

I was invited to watch some of my students play in a rugby game. So on Saturday morning, the family ventured down to the school to cheer on the team. 

We spent the rest of the day venturing up hills to take in the views. 

To the left of Jonah is Mt. Victoria close to where we live. The picture below is a view from the top of Mt. Victoria.

All the best!

First Day of School JP

On the first day of school I got to school and then got picked up by one of my classmates named Kianni. When I got to class I did a test for my teacher to see how well I am at math and then my class read a short story for English. After that I went outside for interval/lunch/play time. Then I went to another class just for art. We had another lunch period and then at the end of th day we did some more English stuff. Now here are some pics of the first day of school. 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Yay, Nay, Bro MP

New Zealand Slang and Vocabulary

Yah = Yes, for sure.

Nah = No, never.

Yah, nah, bro = used to fill time while talking, like saying um.

Good onya! = Well done!

Eye brow raise (with a possible slight head raise) = yes or I agree. [hard for those who don't read body language]

Pin = pen

Bin = garbage pail

Rubbish = garbage

Y'alright? = Are you ok?

Pants = underwear

Bro, Cuz = friend, dude

Mate = friend

Macca's = McDonald's

Hot chips = french fries

Tomato sauce = ketchup (typically not as sweet unless it's Heinz)

Chockablock = busy

Jumper = sweatshirt

Cuppa = hot drink, usually coffee

Sweet as = all good

As = a qualifier used after an adjective, for example, "cheap as" means really inexpensive

"My pen (pronounced 'pin') is cheap as. It don't work anymore"

Not even = no way, not true

Shot = thanks

A feed = a meal

Good on ya = well done or great work

I can't roll my r's, yet. In Te Reo Maōri rolling r's is essential. I was taught a trick that's helping. 

Pronounce Maōri as mouldy and it's very close to sounding like the r is rolling.

Heaps = lots

"That's heaps of homework sir."

Aye = eh - used at the end of sentences to seek agreement and Canadians get made fun of!!!

Choice = cool

Me: "Students, today we are going to play maths games"

Student: "Choice, sir"

Suss it out = sort it out or figure it out

Wag school = skip school

Judder bars = speed bumps 

Partner = significant other (wife, husband) Same as at home but used much more frequently then wife or husband.

Sir = what students call all male teachers

Taking the mickey = making fun of someone.

Farrrr out = holy cow, unbelievable, holy F*#% (depending on your audience).

How ya going? = How's it going?

I really like the wording of this question. It places the onus on us to have a choice of attitude and contemplate our perceptions. When we ask, how's IT going? IT might lead us to think that we have no control of what's happening to us in our current situation.

The First Days of School SP

This is going to be a short blog 

My school is AMAZING 😍😘😍❤️😻

This is Jonah and I with our school uniforms.

I have made lots of friends. Their names are Hannah,Emma and lots more. 

My school is big, kind and fun. I now have a recorder 😜😱😍😜

I have lots of 📚📚📓📙📒ahhhhhhh!

First few days of school...and some "relief" teaching for me

Well, here we are...less than 2 weeks in New Zealand and the kids are already 3 days into school.

Briefly, we spend Monday running around getting the kids registered for school and buying school uniforms, shoes & stationary. Although it cost us a bloody fortune (including a hefty "donation"...it's not a "fee" because they can't call it that, but it's not really a donation, because it's not optional:) Fortunately it is pro-rated!!

Siena is going to lovely, well-resourced Belmont Primary School and Jonah is off to Belmont Intermediate, a Grade 7-8 school filled with new opportunities including a cooking class, hard materials class (woodworking), extensive art class and a legitimate science lab. We think he is going to love the specialized classes.

Seriously $10 socks for an 11 year old?!

The kids went to bed on Monday night excited about their first day of school on Tuesday. And they couldn't possibly have been any cuter in their school uniforms.

J didn't even complain about "school shoes" (mainly because there is no other option:)

Both kids were happy at drop off and perhaps even happier at pickup, which made this Momma VERY happy!

Tuesday was a "four thumbs up" kind of day:)

And here we are, after school on Thursday and both kids are having a great week! 

Next week I hope to look into some local sports activities for the spring.

My big news is that I will start supply teaching tomorrow at Takapuna Grammar School. I dropped my "CV" off to the "Deputy" Principal yesterday, met her today and I start tomorrow. I would like to think it's because I am so awesome, but sadly I just think it's because they are desperate 😂

Sure glad I enjoyed my THREE days off 😜

The best part is that I can walk S to school for 8:30am, carry on and drop J @ 8:35am and be up to the high school by 8:50am for a 9:00am start.

This is the map of our walk to school. Feeling pretty good about it!

We are going to have the kids write a blog about their first few days. Stay tuned for that.

Cheers:)

First Day Teaching Maths at Onehunga HS MP

What a steep learning curve!

I left home at 6:30 AM to avoid traffic and get to school early. Living in Devonport means a 35 minute commute around the bay to school. This drive is great, going across the Sky Harbour Bridge and doesn't compare to the stop and go traffic at home. 

I arrived, settled in, found the person that assigns keys and organized my first lessons.

Monday, Wednesday and Fridays start with 10 minute staff meetings or "briefing". I was quickly introduced to staff by Principal Shea and then the two Assistant Principals spoke. Next it was off to meet my students in each of my classes.

Classes went well. Students liked that I was from a town only 45 minutes from where Justin Beiber grew up and two hours from where Drake first started singing. I teach four math classes; Year 9, 10 and two 12s.

At lunch I walked around the campus and snapped these pictures.

Onehunga HS is built on the side of a hill with many different buildings "blocks". There are many exterior hallways between buildings. Most of my classes are in rooms in B Block.

After school we had a professional learning staff meeting to review the student course selection process so next year's schedule can be created through student choice.

While all this was happening, Lynn was registering the kids into school and buying their uniforms, all without a car. After a long day, the kids are set for their first day at Belmont Primary and Belmont Intermediate Schools...

Our First Days in New Zealand JP

On the first day we arrived to New Zealand we went on our first ever grocery shop here. Now I wasn't expecting the first shop to be expensive but that changed. We were walking throughout the store and were finding that food is VERY expensive! So we finished shopping and when we got to the cashier she said the total price was $442.00

NZ DOLLARS!!

Soon after we arrived to New Zealand we went to a car fair to look at buying a  car for NZ. When we got there we just started looking around for cars. We saw some good cars but one did not stand out. We stayed looking and found a nice car for us and took it for a test drive. When we got back from the test drive we thought the car was okay but we kept looking. After a while we found a perfect car for us and so we took it for a test drive. After the drive we negotiated a price and then we ended up having to go to a mall to officially register the car.

On one of the first days here in NZ we decided to go climb a hill called Mt. Wellington. When we got to the mountain we threw a frisbee around and then we went up the hill to the top. We took some pics, then we went to the middle of Mt. Wellington because the hill used to be a dormant volcano. Sadly on our way out Siena scraped her self badly and so we had to go right home.

Jonah

The beach near our house SP

There is a beach near our house it is called Narrow Neck Beach. It has a playground and the beach is only 10 steps away. Narrow Neck beach is a 9 minute walk to our house. 

Here is a panoramic of the beach. My family and I have not been swimming in the salt water yet because it is winter here in New Zealand. There is another beach near our house but I will talk about it on another blog. 

Bye 

Siena

Last Few Days MP

New Zealand, even a big city like Auckland is setup as small communities or suburbs. Each suburb has a main street and hub. We've been exploring some of these areas - Takapuna, Devonport, Onehunga, Glen Eden, Birkenhead, Albany the list goes on. This is Devonport Wharf across to downtown Auckland.

We live between Devonport and Takapuna and have started to get into some routines in these areas. Visiting the Devonport Library is a fun trip when the kids get to connect with their devices and we wish they would read more. Yesterday I worked for a couple hours preparing for school on Monday.

We've found a nice pub that we may visit once or twice in Devonport. The Patriot comes alive on Friday nights and may require some more investigation.

Today is a typical winter day - rainy and cold. So we're going to visit the Vic, a small cinema in Devonport showing Cars 3!

Our long-time friends from Paihia, Lynda and Dave drove 3 hours to visit us the other day. It was so nice to catch up with them. It's been 14 years since seeing them in NZ. We look forward to driving up to Paihia soon to visit them again!

The kids start school on Monday. They have registration meetings scheduled at their schools in the morning with Lynn as I begin teaching maths at Onehunga HS. I'm teaching grades 9, 10 and 12 maths.

Siena plans to attend Belmont Primary and Jonah is looking forward to attending Belmont Intermediate. The schools are basically beside each other and the kids can walk 20 minutes to school together. 

Next to Belmont Intermediate is a large high school called Takapuna Grammar with a student population of 1700. Lynn hopes to supply teach (relief teach) at this school since it is so convenient.

We've looked into possible activities for the kids such as climbing for Jonah and swim team for Siena but we're waiting to see how they transition to school and what activities are offered through the school and future friendships.

Yesterday in Birkenhead we found a pie bakery that we had to try. They were delicious!

All the best,

Mike

A few days in...LP

We hit the ground running when we arrived in New Zealand. We blew through our list of 'start up' things to do (phones, bank account, grocery shopping, buying a car, internet etc.) in two days, which was super productive and helped us to feel more settled. 

Since then we have been able to slow our pace a little and each day we try to explore something new. After a busy few days before leaving Canada and some big days in LA, along with some extensive travel days, the last few have been a welcome change of pace. One of the side benefits of being away is having lots of quality time with our kiddos. While it comes with challenges to only have each other for entertainment, I am feeling grateful for the time we have together before school starts on Monday. We have enjoyed exploring new sights together, played games and read books in bed together...little things that we hadn't taken the time to do in the recent past. 

So, while I am looking forward to the kids starting school next week so they can meet friends & engage with kids their own ages, I am enjoying our time together as a family.

The kids seem to be settling in well, both feeling happy and excited for our adventure. I am sincerely hoping for a smooth transition into school for both of them and then we can all breath a collective sigh of relief. Stay tuned:)

Indoor Rock Climbing and Mt. Wellington MP

Yesterday we ventured to an indoor rock climbing gym. Our first impression was not great. It was old and didn't have great bouldering facilities.

We're going to try some other places to climb...

Afterward, we climbed to the top of Mount Wellington for a panoramic view of the Auckland area. We understand now why Auckland is called the city of sails. Everywhere you look you see water and sailboats.

The kids liked exploring this dormant volcano!

 

Today, I drop into school to meet the Principal and some staff members, set up rooms and organize curriculum.

Wish me luck...

Los Angeles and Hollywood JP

Today (Tuesday, July 11) my dad and I went to Sender One Rock Climbing Gym and climbed for a little. After that my mom, dad, sister and I went to down town LA to go on a bus tour. On the bus tour we saw lots of architecture and famous peoples houses. Below are some pics of the houses and buildings that we saw.

And here are some other pics.

I hope everything is going ok for you and I will talk to you later. BYE!

Disneyland California Adventure Park SP

Disneyland California adventure park,

On Sunday the 9th when we got to our hotel, my family had some screen time then we had a nap. Once the nap was over we went to Denny's to have lunch it was yummy. For the rest of the day, we went to Disneyland California Adventure Park. 

My family went on rides and the first roller coaster we went on was California Screamin' it went upside down. It was my very first upside down roller coaster. It scared me during the upside down part but then once it was over I wanted to go on it again. 

I also went on a fun thing where you choose what way to go. 

Then we went to a light show in the cars section we also watched a water show. 

It was COOL! Finally we went home after a long day. Here are some pictures from the day.

Bye for now!

Siena P.

On The Plane SP

Happy Birthday Claire, Ashton, Trevor, and Taya!

 On the plane ride to NZ (New Zealand). It was VERY long, 13hours!  We had screens with games and movies to play and watch. My whole family had naps. When we were napping I put my foot on Jonah's  face hehehehe

We had so much fun with each other. I loved it. Some parts we're boring like the take off and the landing. 

Buying a Car in New Zealand

Buying a used car in Auckland is a unique experience. You could go to a Used Car Dealer like at home but you can also go to a Car Fair. Every Sunday in Auckland, sellers set up their cars in the parking lot of horse race track to sell their vehicles. It's well organized and for a fee of $140 there are mechanics on site to inspect cars on behalf of the buyers. You can also complete vehicle history checks to ensure the car isn't stolen.

The four of us went to the fair on Sunday, the day after we arrived. After shopping around we test drove two vehicles. Siena wanted a turquoise minivan that had 300 000 plus kilometres. Instead, we purchased this 2005 "7 seater" with 160 000 kms.

It's called a Toyota Stream. Most of the cars are imported from Japan. We're not sure what type of vehicle it is. It's not tall enough to be a minivan or SUV, but it's definitely not a car. After purchasing it, I realized that it most resembles a taller station wagon! 😝 It's safe and allows us to get around to wonderful places, like North Head.

North Head is a tall hill used in WW II as a fort or lookout with canons. It's a 30 minute walk from our home. Now it provides great views of Devonport and Auckland for dog walkers, tourists and runners.

I came across this picture of Siena sleeping on the plane to NZ. She was sprawled out and had "a great sleep". Notice where her foot is!

Yesterday we walked up to Belmont Primary and Intermediate Schools to check them out. No one was there since it's school holidays. Both schools look lovely. The primary school looks better for younger grades and will suit Siena well. Jonah is suppose to start at the Intermediate School so we're wrapping our heads around Siena and Jonah going to different schools (basically beside each other). The Intermediate School is far better suited to Jonah. It's facilities are geared towards Jonahs strengths. 

Food is expensive here. Over $400 of groceries didn't even fill the fridge.

As we travel this year, we're working on our handstands. Wish us luck...

Today, we are going to a Rock Climbing Gym and to site see around Auckland. 

Tomorrow, I go to school to meet the Principal, some staff and organize classrooms and lessons. I start teaching "maths" on Monday, July 24th.

All the best!

Day 1 in NZ MP

We landed in Auckland around 5:20 AM on July 15th. Auckland is 16 hours ahead of EST. Clearing customs was fast since we were the first flight to land for the day. Our flight number was NZ1. 

We had a short wait for our rental car company to pick us up. We rented a minivan for three days. Getting into the van, out of habit, I opened the left side door which is the passenger side in NZ. I also continuously turn on the window wipers instead of indicating a turn. Otherwise, driving on the left side of the road isn't too difficult.

We arrived to 15a Achilles Crescent in Narrow Neck Auckland around 7:30 AM. Jonah and Siena were very excited to setup their rooms as Lynn and I unpacked our things. Jonah has embraced living on the lower floor, basically in his own apartment with a washroom right beside his bedroom. It didnt take too long to unpack 7 suitcases. This is the view from your porch.

We decided to go for a walk in our neighborhood. We met our neighbors, Quin and Robin an elderly couple that live in a small "cottage" at 15 Achilles. Then we continued onto Narrow Neck Beach and into Devonport.

This island is Rangitoto, the remnants of an underwater volcano that erupted over 700 years ago. 

We walked down to Devonport which is a small town across the harbour from Auckland. Our goal was to get some lunch and use the free internet at the public library.

Successfully completing our goal, we forged on while feeling the effects of the time change. J and S did great all day. We drove to Albany to a mall and worked on the following:

- groceries

- cell phones

- bank account

- internet for home (this might take some time...)

- fidget spinners for both J and S

We returned home to cook dinner, get the kids showered and get to bed. I went to bed at 9 PM having almost fallen asleep eating my dinner. It's currently 4 AM and I'm now wide awake writing this post.

On today's agenda, buying a used car...