Union Jack Badges

The end of the school year came barreling toward us like a speeding train.  My daughter wanted to make little gifts to give her classmates to say good-bye.  Because she goes to an international school, many children are "leavers" who will be moving on during the summer. 

So, we whipped up these little Union Jack badges.  They would look cute pinned on a backpack or jacket.  The perfect accessory for the Jubilee Weekend or the upcoming London Olympic Games. 

We attached the badges to these felt hearts and added stickers on the back with her contact information.  Hopefully it will remind her friends to keep in touch during the summer months.

You can download the detailed PDF instruction sheet to make these cute badges here.

Here's how we said good-bye to our friends in Australia last year.

Do your kids give gifts to their classmates at the end of the year?  

Banana Olympics

Last week I found myself sitting in front of the computer trying to come up with some clever idea for my third grader's end-of-year class party.  I'd put it off until the last minute so there was no time to search out any special supplies or equipment.  I'd have to get creative.

And that's when I stumbled upon the idea of the Banana Olympics.  With the Olympics coming to London this year it seemed like the perfect silly party idea.  And so I ran with it.  

Our Banana Olympics was so much fun that I have decided to put it out here on the internet so that other frazzled party planners can feel free to copy it.  It was the most simple and most fun class party I've ever done.  This party lasted one hour and was so easy to plan, execute and clean up.

Here's the scoop:

I divided the class into 3 teams.  Each team came up with a team name and then used Sharpies to decorate their team banana.  I planned 8 different "Olympic" events, each involving the use of a banana.  The children competed in the events and scored points based on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place finishes.  At the end, we totaled the points and awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to the teams.  Then we all celebrated by making Banana Splits!

Our events were:

1.  Knee Hold Hop

Holding the banana gently between your knees, hop to the cone and then run back.  Hand off the banana to your next teammate.  

2.  Under Arm Hop

Hold the banana under one arm.  Hop on one leg to the cone and back.  Hand off to your next teammate. 

3.  Wheelbarrow Race

Like a typical wheelbarrow race but with a banana "in the wheelbarrow" (on the player's back).  If the banana falls off, the team must stop to pick it up and replace it.

4.  Shuffle Toss

Two players toss the banana back and forth while shuffling (side step) to the cone and back.

 

5.  Banana Golf

Each player has a banana tied to a string tied around their waist.  Use the banana to roll a tennis ball to the finish line.  This was a favorite event for all!

6.  Long Toss

Toss the banana from a distance while 2 teammates try to catch it in an pillowcase.

7.  Banana Spoon Race

Like an egg and spoon race but with a banana!  We used wooden spoons.

8.  Leap Frog Banana Toss

Players line up leap frog style and after they jump over everyone in the line they toss the banana back up to the next jumper. 

I absolutely loved doing the Banana Olympics.  It was a great end to a wonderful school year.  If you decide to give this party a try, I'd love to hear about it.  Just make sure to have plenty of replacement bananas on hand!

The Private School Difference

Yesterday I got a call from the school notifying me that my sweet daughter was in the health office with a fever and would need to be collected as soon as possible.  So, I hurried over straight away.  When I entered the health office I was surprised to see that it was a complete health facility with several private sick bays.  I was taken into one of the rooms where I found my little girl propped up lovingly on pillows, her shoes had been carefully removed and the nurse was holding a damp cloth to her head. 

It was such a stark contrast to the way sick kids were treated at our public school in Australia.  There, ill children were sent to rest on a plastic lawn chair behind the teacher's Xerox machine.  The front office receptionist monitored them via CCTV.

Our experience yesterday could not have been more different.  There was an actual nurse (who, by the way, has the most beautiful, soothing Irish accent) who offered medical advice, walked us out to the car, wrapped a fluffy white towel around my daughter and reminded me to call her if I had any questions or concerns. 
Of course, most public schools couldn't afford the space or staff for a complete health centre.  But it was the compassion, caring, and kindness shown to my daughter that really impressed me.  And those are the things money just can't buy.

Happy Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for.  Dear friends who come to visit us even when we live on the other side of the world.  Healthy kids.  A roof over our heads and food on the table.  It's a good life. 
So even though today was just another Thursday here in the UK, we had our own small celebrations.
A Thanksgiving assembly at our American school. 

And later, a big dinner at a local restaurant organized by the school.  It was nice to be surrounded by Americans enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal. 

Even though it wasn't quite the event that our last Thanksgiving was, it was a lovely day.  I'm so truly blessed.

First Things First- Finding A School

The first order of business regarding our move to the UK was to find a school for our children.  Given everything we had heard about the school system there, we knew it was going to be a bit complicated.  Schools are all graded by Ofsted reports and the schools with the top scores are typically oversubscribed.  Unlike the U.S., living within the school's catchment area does not guarantee your child a spot at that school.  Since our move was scheduled for August we quickly abandoned all hope of finding a spot for our kids at a good state run school.  They would all certainly be full well before then.

Private schools were also ruled out for the sole reason that the high tuition fees would not be covered by our company.

Which leaves us with American or International Schools.  These schools also have outrageously high fees, but our company agreed to cover them as part of the contract.  So we quickly focused our search on the three main American options.

Initially, I assumed the American School in London would be our first choice.  Tom will be spending a fair amount of time in the central London office and I fancied the idea of living in the heart of the city.  But my hopes were quickly dashed when I learned they would not even accept the little guy's application because they were so oversubscribed at the pre-kindergarten level.

So we expanded our search to the home counties where several American schools are located.  As it turns out, my two older kids now attend two different American schools in Surrey.  And I'm really happy about that decision.

The classes are small (14 kids), the teachers are excellent, the curriculum is challenging, and the schools are specifically prepared to help "third culture kids" adjust to life in their new country. 

When it comes to schools, I'm not easily impressed.  But, based on what I've seen so far, these schools are truly impressive.  I feel lucky that my kids will have this educational experience.  And living in the beautiful suburban English countryside is turning out to be a little fringe benefit.  So far, so good!