I have taught my last lesson and my Algebra 2 students have spent most of the week revising for their final end-of-year exam, which covers topics from throughout the year.

This week we have a short lesson on Monday morning (I will use it to give them exam tips). Then on Tuesday morning I will invigilate the Algebra 2 exam, and on Wednesday afternoon a Maths IGCSE exam for five students who are taking that exam in the autumn.

Then on Thursday there will be 20 minute lessons, when I will make a few awards, and say goodbye to my students.

The rest of the week will be spent marking their final exam (last year it took me 16 hours to mark 60 papers, and this year I have 65 students….). There is also some PACKING to be done!

On Saturday I went down to Nairobi to support the RVA rugby teams who were playing in the prestigious Black Rock competition. Ten-a-side, using the rules of Sevens rugby, it is the highlight of the rugby calendar in the Nairobi area, so much so that 10 students delayed departing for their end-of-school-life celebratory ‘safari’ to the coast near Mombasa so that they could play.

Normally there are 12-15 teams participating, but this year the competition was held late in the season (probably due to the very rainy weather) and some schools have already broken up for the summer, so there were only eight teams competing.

RVA began proceedings by trying to out-psych their opponents with their version of the haka:

Sports photography is not really a skill of mine, but I managed to capture some scrum action during one of the pool matches.

RVA won both its pool games without conceding any points, and progressed to the semi-final, which they also won comfortably.

Then came the final. It was a tough first half, and the whistle went for the break with RVA trailing 5-7. The teams came back on for the second half, but before the referee could restart the game, officials organising the competition ran onto the pitch and suspended the match.

There was then a 20-minute long consultation between officials, the referee and the coaches. It transpired that the officials realised during half-time that RVA’s opponents not only had a squad which was larger than the competition rules allowed, but also appeared to be fielding players from other teams.

I was surprised that the team was not immediately disqualified. The decision of the organisers was to check the roster of players, and once that had been done the teams were allowed back on the pitch (with several of the opposing team being of smaller stature than those who played in the first half).

The game restarted, and RVA played hard and well, and won 17-7. A just result, and better than winning the competition by default through the disqualification of their opponents.

Here they are being awarded the cup:

A nice touch was they asked if they could sing the doxology, something they normally do at the end of any competition, win or lose [the raised arms are them sharing blessings with those around them, not Nazi salutes 🙂 …]

On Sunday morning was the last service of the year. The primary school children helped with the singing:

It was a moving experience, worshipping together for the last time with staff and students. I have formed a bond with many of my students, and I will miss them.