After a trip to Europe visiting family and friends over the Christmas holiday, we are back at RVA and already well into the new term.

My Algebra 2 classes are wrestling with polynomial long division and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Brains are aching, but I have slowed the pace a bit to allow more time for the material to be absorbed, and most of the students seem to have a good understanding of what they are learning.

Sports teams have been selected, and last Wednesday afternoon there was a “Peperelli”, an event in the gym to celebrate those who made the various teams and cheer them on for the term’s fixtures.

The school mascot (a black and red buffalo) was spurring them on, supported by a chanting band of drums and trumpets.

The teams included not only sports teams (basketball, field hockey, football this term) but also non-sporting teams such as drama, robotics (competing in the East Africa Lego robotics competition) and chess.

At the end of last term I was asked if I would be one of the coaches for the chess team. This is not because of my capabilities at chess (which are less than spectacular – I can be easily beaten by any of the chess club) but more to be a warm body for when they play away games against other schools.

At the Peperelli, the coaches were called down to join the teams on the gymnasium floor. The boys standing up to cheer for me are from my Algebra 2 class. As you can see from the video below, I misunderstood the principal’s offer of a high-five, and thought he was instructing me to return to the stands. How to embarrass yourself in front of 350 pupils….

Last Saturday was a tournament night, so I organised a Wizard (card game) tournament. Twelve students aged 12 to 17 participated. After teaching them how to play, there were two preliminary rounds, followed by a final.

The winners received a deluxe edition of Wizard, generously provided by the manufacturer’s of the game, Amigo.

Izzy (3rd), Karoline (1st) and Hope (3rd)

At home, our garden boasts a banana tree…

from which the fruit was recently harvested….

Unfortunately, though, we have been invaded by primates. A few days ago, Lesley was sitting quietly in an armchair in the living room when a baboon came in through the front door, calmly walked past her, picked up a mango and (once I started shouting at it), disappeared the way it came. And on Sunday afternoon I came downstairs to find two monkeys had climbed through the fanlight of the dining room window and stolen some of our bananas. Here you can see them enjoying their plunder.

It’s good to be back……..