Teacher Aboard

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to go to school in another country? Today I had to the chance to do just that! St. George's Preparatory School in Bermuda invited me to meet in the kids in grades one to five! And here's what I learned!

ST. GEORGE'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL

First off, you can't beat the setting. The school sits high on a hill above the quaint town of St. George. The narrow lane leading up to the school is lined with colorful homes with white shutters and roofs. The yards are landscaped with flowering Hibiscus bushes and red poinsettias. Imagine having a live flowering Poinsettia plant in your yard! With all the white trim looking like icing on the pastel colored houses, it reminded me of a walk through candy land in the movies.

The school has an enrollment of a little over one hundred students. This smallness gives the school a friendly, almost family atmosphere. The connecting areas between the classrooms are open covered walkways called breezeways. Since Bermuda is usually tropical and warm, closed halls aren't needed. As a matter of fact, the "cafeteria" is a group of fifteen picnic tables located outside! The kids pack sandwiches to bring from home. No mystery meat hot lunches here!

There was a classroom for each grade. Bulletins boards proudly displayed the art work of the students and their celebrations of Christmas. Since there are so many kids here from different countries, Christmas wishes were written in several different languages. As I visited the classrooms, the students sang Christmas carols for me. My favorite was, of course, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

I should mention their large room full of computers which the students visit weekly. The school has an award winning web page. Check it out! No doubt you'll find lots more information on St. George's Preparatory school, and great pictures of Bermuda.

You may be interested to know that the kids at St. George's Preparatory School wear uniforms and leather shoes instead of sneakers. They actually look quite nice, and just think - no more fights with mom about what to wear to school!

The students in grade four and five met with me to find out about Pride II's journey to Asia. They were interested in what it's like to live on a tall ship sailing on the ocean. Of course, the stormy crossing from Baltimore with fifteen foot seas was also a big topic of discussion! Then it was my turn to ask them questions. I learned that since this is an island country, most of them snorkel and go boating. They play cricket (baseball with a large flat bat), soccer, golf, and ride bikes. American sports are popular to watch on television, as well as movies and cartoons.

Mr. Moreland, the principal, and the students presented me with a lovely book entitled, A School is Born, which relates the history of their charming Bermudian Grammar School. This occasion also marks the first scrapbook from Maryland to be presented to a foreign country on Pride II's journey. The scrapbook was created by Ms. Galish's third grade class at J.P. Ryon Elementary in Waldorf, Maryland. This scrapbook is very special to me because Ms. Galish was a student of mine when she was in ninth grade. It is very exciting for me to have a former student (who is now a teacher) helping with our Asia with Pride project. I look forward to learning what is being shared between the students at St. George's Preparatory in Bermuda and J.P. Ryon Elementary in Waldorf. This will be our first meeting of schools via the INTERNET! Kids talking to kids across an ocean. Sharing is what this project is all about!

I was just leaving the last classroom when the students introduced Max. He's a short fellow - say three inches tall sporting a round stuffed belly, two large ears. and a piece of string for a tail. He looked quite smart with his red nose and dotted scarf. Max, you see, is a mouse - but no ordinary mouse. The kids asked if I would take him to Asia. The class had prepared a huge wall display featuring a world map which they would use to track his travels. The students were wondering if Max could send a few postcards along the way to post on the map. It seemed like a simple enough request. After all, there are two bunks in my cabin. So we took pictures of Max at school with his classmates, and he has now joined our crew for untold adventures in Asia.

Next stop Panama! Hey, where IS Panama anyway? Do you know? How does a tall ship cross this skinny strip of land between oceans? Keep checking these logs and you'll be the first in your class to find out all about it!

A Happy New Year to you from everyone aboard Pride of Baltimore II.
Leslie Bridgett

YOUR THOUGHTS

1. Draw a picture of the school, the homes, and the flowers of Bermuda based on the descriptions in this log.
2. How does this school's tropical setting make it different from schools in Maryland?
3. How do you feel about wearing uniforms to school? What are the advantages and disadvantages to uniforms?
4. If you met kids from Bermuda, list two questions you would ask them about their country. Check out the school's web site and sign their guest book.
5. Imagine you are Max the Mouse. Write an imaginary letter to your friends at school about your first days at sea and what you expect to find in Asia.

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