Day 4 - Athenian School

Up early today for the Cable Car ride and then train trip to Walnut Creek about 35 minutes North of SF. Everyone was excited to see the yellow school bus turn into the car-park to pick us up. It was exactly like in all the movies and TV shows we’ve all seen. Driving into the school, we could immediately see the similarities with Billanook……semi-rural, natural environment, large campus and welcoming students.

We started the day teaching Aussie Rules to two middle school classes (Year 7 and 8 students) using the balls we had brought with us and intended to leave behind. There was a little talent on show but most found the notion of kicking to a target and handballing rather than throwing very different. They loved the game and really enjoyed running around kicking the footy.

A lunch in the school cafeteria with local students was fantastic giving us an opportunity o chat with Athenian students and ask plenty of questions about their school and fill them in on ours.

We go a great tour from Mark, the Round Square Rep from Athenian and were entertained by the school’s Round Square Committee members (all students). We saw a range of round square initiatives including lots of solar panels and an orchard where fruit is harvested and donated to a local food bank. After lunch we did a session with grade 6 students that was lots of fun before a great game of Aussie Rules with the senior school students including the captain of the wrestling team who was a favourite with our girls.

After school, the Athenian kids organised a game of kickball that was hilarious with a number of falls and tumbles. There were many occasions when all students, both Billanook and Athenian were in fits of laughter. After a bit of a chat in the student common room with many new friendships made, we headed back to Walnut Creek for the train ride back to SF.

Dinner at the Westfield Food Court in downtown was followed by our last cable car ride and bed. Gotta be up at 3.30am tomorrow for our flight to Vancouver.