Teachers Day and Et Cetera

This was the first week back with the students after their three-week teaching experience and a spring break the first week of September. It was nice to see students back and feel the "buzz" of the campus again. It's incredible that I have three more weeks of classes! I'll grade exams the first week or so of November, then John comes to visit, we travel around southern Africa before heading back to the US.

I spent a large part of my week preparing for Friday's "World Teacher's Day Celebration". I was asked by the head of the School of Education to help coordinate the events for the day. I, along with four other lecturers, planned a morning session for students of the School of Education and prospective teachers (high school students). The morning event was held on campus at the Linder Auditorium and we had the school's choir perform before the event, three exemplary teachers from the community speak, and had prizes to give away.  The auditorium was surprisingly packed full of students and the speakers were really inspiring. After the event, the prospective students were taken on a tour of campus, sat in on a few classes, and saw the residence halls. In the afternoon, we organized a teacher's appreciation tea and roundtable discussion for teachers in the community. The event was really positive - we had three speakers from the School of Education and student teachers talk about why they want to be teachers. With more than 75 teachers from the community and a dozen more staff members from Wits, the event was a success. We gave them all 'teacher packs' - full of items that they will use in the classroom (pens, pencils, highlighters, correction fluid, erasers, et cetera). There was a lot that goes into planning an event of this magnitude - a lot of things done in the background to make sure the event runs smoothly (and a lot of bureaucracy to get through). Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the day went yet glad it is over!

On Sunday, I went to Gerhard and Marlize's for a potjie ("poh-oy-key" literally "small pot"), a swim, and a relaxing afternoon. A potjie is a Dutch oven stew with lamb (Karoo - from the Kalahari!), vegetables, potatoes, et cetera served over rice. It was so nice to spend time with them, a perfect afternoon really. I got some work done, finished a book (in the sun!), swam, ate good food with good company… what more can a guy ask for? 

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Wits Choir

Morning Speakers

Teacher's Day Tea and Roundtable