What's happening in your world?

[Farseer]

Can I ask what you're doing in a dorm situation, Farsser? Are you at conference or something?

I sure am! This week is set aside annually for professional development in the form of convention presentations and workshops etc for Home Tutors and families (this year we are looking into the content and delivery of the New Australian Curriculum), face-to-face classtime with students and their base school teachers, our school's swimming carnival and also an opportunity for students to participate in football (rugby league) and netball clinics prior to selection in a school representative team. As the majority of students live in very remote locations, they otherwise rarely have opportunity to see other children or to learn or participate in team sport.

Hope it's fun, whatever it is!

It has been so far, thanks! It's always nice to come together and network with people (friends) who are in a similar situation. As for most things, it is difficult to understand the uniqueness of this style of education unless you live it every day. It is also great to simply be able to see/chat with someone else other than your family or the people who work with you at home on the property, so it is as much a social opportunity, for both adults and students, as it is educational. While there is always the phone or email or snail mail or the internet eg Facebook, it is special being able to catch up face-to-face, and it keeps you grounded in the world.

On sheep and cattle properties, the accommodation building/s besides the homestead (main house) usually gets dubbed 'The Quarters' eg The Married Man's Quarters, The Overseer's Quarters (you know you're addicted when you see how close that comes to reading as 'Farseer'! ), The Jackeroo's Quarters or The Shearer's Quarters etc. As the base school caters for remote students and their families, our accommodation block on site here is also known as 'The Quarters'. It contains dormitory-style rooms with a large, very well-equipped kitchen and dining area, tv room, toilets/showers, outdoor deck, playground etc. Besides sheets, blankets, towels and toiletries (which we supply ourselves), it has everything we need for a home away from home. We do tend to come here quite often throughout the year and so it really does function as a second home at times.