So, sometimes, despite those good intentions, school takes on a somewhat less academic tone.

Today started with a late night yesterday. As a result we were eating breakfast with bleary eyes just when we normally are starting school. Although Teacher feels better than she has in days, the jitters in the students foretold a challenging morning. Teacher consulted Principal who agreed that an hour outside in the snow would work wonders. Teacher was actually hugged as a result of the announcement. Within scant minutes she was alone in the house, free to make banana muffins to bless her family and tea to renew her own spirits and body. Principal joined the students outside to split wood for next year's heating supply.

The course of the study during the day has included of a game of chess followed quickly by a 'variation' on the game complete with white army and black army fighting (gently against a backboard so as to not lose the pieces) and the white army losing. Thoughtfully though the black army gave up three prisoners of war so as to even the odds. Next time I looked the game and pieces are tidied and put away. Wow!

Detailed craft projects followed, inspired, designed, planned out and executed by the students themselves. There was even a dictionary pulled out for reference.

Principal initiated a quick football (soccer) game in between his various phone calls and duties. Lunch was accompanied by the engaging sound of Jim Weiss reading out G.A.Henty's Cat of Bubastes, a story that has been currently continued.

I am quite certain that a good deal of learning has happened today, however unacademic it may have looked.