Pyramids, Pharaohs and The Bishops: Return to Normalcy??

As I sit here outside on the balcony sipping a cappuccino and watching the sun set, after a beautiful day, a thought crossed my mind. “Is it possible that normalcy will return to the Bishop household??” With the Canadian Koshk (the school store that is run by Hubby) now officially open, and, with only 2 weeks left on the MUN calendar for the year, it seems that things are indeed returning to normal.

Today was the pinnacle of business for us. In the morning, the Grade 9-12 students that have been involved with MUN since the beginning of the year hosted a Mock debate for the Grade 7/8 students that will be participating in their first debate next week. The debate went on without a hitch and was an excellent teaching tool for the younger students.

There was an identifiable energy amongst the Grade 7/8 students as they eagerly asked questions about the debate format and process. The vibe echoed throughout the school as students in Grade 9 and 10 asked when they can go to an MUN debate. The program is growing quickly and I can only attribute that to the hours of effort and work my established MUNer’s have. It is truly remarkable to see how much the program has grown.

In the afternoon, Hubby had the ribbon cutting for the school store. A year of planning and 2 weeks of a “soft launch”, the store officially opened with special promotions and an opportunity for parents to come in and see the store. The launch was a huge success and many people happily departed with their stationary needs met. The big seller were the Green Heritage coffee mugs. Who knew? The Business Education students were all dressed up and ready to greet the incoming guests to the store and, with refreshments available, guests were socializing as they milled about the store. The store at the school has become a great learning opportunity for the students in the Business classes as they help run the store to varying degrees. They are the “employees” and are expected to take in the money, make change and help the customers find everything they need. A real hands on experience that takes what they learn in class to a real situation.

The life of a teacher is a never ending adventure. It is an adventure that we are happy to take, especially as we have the ability to impact the lives of the students with such amazing hands on opportunities. Both the store and MUN are unique changes to interact and work in unique situations that many schools cannot offer. It truly is a blessing to be a part of such an integral part of the learning experience these students are having.

With that said, I must return to one of my integral roles in the house...I have to fix a bike. I am actually getting very good at repairing the chain on the bikes here. They pop off a little too easily for my liking, but, living in a part of the world where the kids can ride bikes all year round, it is also a frequent part of my week. By the end of this school year perhaps I will be a bike mechanic on the side.