Matric dance pics. Everyone looked amazing!!
Well, term 4 has started, the beginning of the end so to speak, and I generally can’t think about leaving without feeling unspeakably sad, I will miss so many people and things here. Having said that, there is one thing I will NOT miss at all… “moderation”. Moderation is a lot of paperwork that did not enhance my teaching, has not improved my learners’ achievement/marks, and has caused some frustration to me. Basically, a teacher takes his/her portfolio and several learners’ portfolios to a meeting with other local teachers in their specific subject or field; the teachers meet and assess one another’s work, etc. In theory, this is an amazing idea; in theory, I would love moderation. However, the reality is that teachers spend a lot of time and effort making their portfolio exactly like everyone else’s in the region. Even my slight variations caused a few wrinkles in a few foreheads at my last moderation (yeah!) today. The moderation becomes more about having a certain table of contents or following a prescribed format. I would love moderation if educator’s were sharing ideas (what worked, what didn’t) and looking at student work. (At this point, MVA teachers are rolling their eyes—sorry, you are probably very tired of looking at student work, again –however, believe it or not, I actually miss it a little. And Lagares, I really miss the end of the year teacher portfolio meetings; I would like to try something like that at King Makhosonke , but I will wait and see what comes next here.) Now, after having whined and complained about moderation, I will say there is a positive side; moderation does bring educators together from different schools, and my cluster of teachers was pretty great and really nice about hosting me and answering my zillion questions throughout the year. They were very patient with all of my paperwork blunders, and rather calmly, they would reiterate the format of assessment required. Moderation was also a great place to vent my frustrations (and hear their frustrations) about learner achievement. So “shout out” to KwaMhlanga South West Physical Sciences Cluster!
Also, Term 4 has brought about the Matric Dance; sort of South Africa’s version of Prom and Awards and Graduation, rolled into one. Grade 12 learners and educators, get dressed up, hair done, and travel to a nice hall in a hotel. The evening begins with dinner and speeches by educators, top learners, and a guest speaker. This is followed by awards, and then finally the party and dancing begins and lasts until dawn.
You may ask, “When is graduation?”… uh, never. Learners write their final exams in November (75% of their year grade is the final exam), and these exams are marked externally, so learners receive their marks after school lets out, during summer holiday here (December). Basically, they find out if they graduated after school is out, so no graduation ceremony at the secondary level. Bummer.
Also, Term 4 has brought about the Matric Dance; sort of South Africa’s version of Prom and Awards and Graduation, rolled into one. Grade 12 learners and educators, get dressed up, hair done, and travel to a nice hall in a hotel. The evening begins with dinner and speeches by educators, top learners, and a guest speaker. This is followed by awards, and then finally the party and dancing begins and lasts until dawn.
You may ask, “When is graduation?”… uh, never. Learners write their final exams in November (75% of their year grade is the final exam), and these exams are marked externally, so learners receive their marks after school lets out, during summer holiday here (December). Basically, they find out if they graduated after school is out, so no graduation ceremony at the secondary level. Bummer.
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