Panther sighting, or is it Leopard sighting!

There is never a dull moment at Hebron School.

Last weekend the Standard 12's went to dinner at Nahar's restaurant for a vegetarian South Indian meal. There were crowded tables and lots of animated chatter amongst the students. It was great to see the mix between the genders. There was the "sedate" staff table as well.

Following the meal we played "Find the Headline" newspaper game, had a quiz and then the new principal and his wife told their story about the long association with Hebron. The evening ran late and none of the students seemed to mind!

Sunday night we had an optional movie night for the Standard 12 boys and watched Rain Man, their choice.

On Tuesday Tori and John arrived and I no longer had to cover for Tori's Standard 8 Math class of 5 periods per week. The teaching is much more manageable now. I still have a double conflict on Wednesday and with Clare's return that will be solved as well. My teaching load is 4 classes of French each 3 times per week for 12 periods, 3 periods in DEL (Learning Support), 2 Department meetings, 4 Registration classes and 2 School Assemblies over a 4 day period. Not all days are evenly balanced. On Tuesday I have Registration and then 2 French classes. On Friday, I have Registration and School Assembly, 2 Department meetings and 5 classes to teach! Monday is our Day-off as Dorm Parents. We have no responsibilities and are free to "go to town and visit!" Saturdays and Sundays are non-teaching days and as Dorm Parents we have no specific duty to perform other than "being available"

Wednesday night a bulletin was issued in Prep Hall there was to be no indoor football in the Sports Hall and all boys were to return to their respective dorms as a black Panther had been sighted. On Thursday a yellow cat with spots was also sighted. The Forest People have been on sight and extra guards have been called in. On Saturday the leopard was sighted near the swimming pool area. The school is taking all the precautions necessary to avoid any kind of incident with the "big cat". As we are in the middle of the dry season there is the thought the leopard had come seeking a water source.

Saturday was the annual Support Staff Day. The Support Staff had the day off work and the various dorms took over the cleaning, cooking, dish washing, and other tasks. The Support Staff and their families came to Lushington for Morning Tea, were greeted by the teaching and administrative staff, and were served by the students as a "Thank You" for all they do each day. There were games for the children, the women, and the men. A banana leaf meal was served in the dining room and the staff and students waited on the tables. Our dorm had "clean up" after supper. This included washing all the huge pots for cooking and deep-fat frying as well as all the supper dishes, glasses, and cutlery. Our team performed well and we were out of the kitchen by 7:15 P.M. A movie followed. Avatar, and munchies were provided. I still have not seen "the big cat" and I am not sure if I really want to see it in the woods around the school!