Sam Rocks RAKESS

Sam is really enjoying his school, Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking School (RAKESS). He missed the first two weeks, but not too much content. Today, when I watched him scooter to the elevator in his long, powder blue shorts and white collar shirt and new black backpack, I thought he looked so grown up. He scooters two blocks in the morning to Kulsum's house. They drive him to school and back in that fancy BMW SUV. The kids watch movies in the car on the way to school. She picks him up at the end of the day too. I feel very lucky. I have given her that big, beautiful tablecloth (Ted and Clayton, I will get you something else and better for Christmas) to thank her, and as an early Eid present. Really, Sam would not be in school if it weren't for her.

He came home with a homework packet that is due in a week. He was proud of the fact that he has homework. He is also very proud of his fancy black school shoes, and he has borrowed shoe polish from the cleaners at the fort, and he polishes his shoes each night before school. Since we have our membership cards (which allow for multiple pool and gym use and big discounts on site), I decided to have a little birthday party up at the fort. Tomorrow we will convene at one of the pools for a swim, and people can order cocktails and appetizers if they want, then Bethany is serving a cake for me at 6 p.m. That sounds like more of a party than I would even want at the blaah age of 44, but it was fun to send out a group text invite. I don't think mobiles have that capacity in the U.S.

As for work, I told you I have been in charge of editing the norms, and I hope I will have a lot of input in creating the mission statement. I have put together a skeleton framework of a curriculum for my third grade kids, and I have a bunch of classroom management tools on my computer from the previous job. One of the big education gurus of classroom management is Harry Wong, and I have been to a lot of his trainings and have read his book. So, it was kind of nice to be ahead on one item here, as we're adopting his philosophies at RAK American School. One area of obvious challenge for me is technology. I am determined to get better this year at the phones/computers/i pods/cameras, promethian board for classrooms, etc.

There will be more chrons. on Sam's foray into the British curriculum, which is referred to as the National Curriculum. Not nearly as touchy-feely as American Schools. I had left my phone number for Sam's teacher, but she never called me. That would NEVER happen in the states. If a parent left me a message to call, it became top priority, but their system is different. Anyway, I am pleased overall, even if I do feel out of Sam's educational loop because I am used to being right there. He should be transferring to my school before Christmas break.