October 29, 2009

Stacked

The regular academic year in the Philippines begins in June and ends in March. Most colleges and universities divide these ten months into two semesters, though a few offer trimesters. For those with only two semesters, the last two weeks of October and the first week of November (with some variation) are usually the semestral break. While students and faculty are on vacation, other school personnel use the time to clean, repair and renovate classrooms.

stacks of school chairs outside a classroom

19 comments:

Clueless in Boston said...

I hope the students and teachers enjoy their break.

Lowell said...

There is always a ton of work to do when the humans leave. But walking through a school without students is like walking through an empty cave.

Anonymous said...

Still remember the sound the chairs did make during the early morning hours, after being able to relax, before getting used again.

A wonderful, relaxing Thursday for you as well.

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

ahhh, the school chairs we all used to sit in. your photo has great angles and memories

Don and Krise said...

Back in the mid 90's I got word that my old elementary school was being demolished. I stuffed my trusty camera in my bag, jumped on my bike and headed over there. I went through the whole school photographing everything. I even managed to collect the classroom numbers above the doors of my old classes as well as a brick from the building. Seeing these desks stacked in the hallway reminds me of that day.

Elaine Yim said...

I did that during my elementary school days. I mean everyday we put up the chairs on the table when the bell rings. This is the most fun part because it means that school is over and I can go home or the holidays are here. Hurray!

George said...

Ah, those desks bring back memories. But I do agree that there is an empty feeling to a school building without the students.

Layrayski said...

Ohh! Happy sem break Hilda! =)

Anonymous said...

The reason we have summer school vacations over here is that the kids had to be at home to help with the planting and plowing and taking care of the farm during the summer. So school was made with 185 days and kids were out from the last of May until the 1st Monday of September. Now it has been changed slightly but that is how it used to be. And people wanted to take a vacation with the kids so August was usually the month everyone went on vacation. Our factory that made National Cash Registers used to close down for three weeks in August so all the employees could go on vacation.

A nice post, Hilda, and one that brings back memories for me too as I taught school for about 13 years.

escape said...

yeah! students are at their happiest mode this time. when you start working you forget about sembreak.

Cezar and Léia said...

It's good everything okay for the next semester!
Léia :)

Hilda said...

Lyra:
We office slaves do not get a sem break. :(

FA said...

Since I lived just down the street from the grammar school I was in the school occasionally during summer (helping the Sisters). This shot brings back good memories of "free time" since the only time the desk were ever stacked was during the summer months.

Halcyon said...

Interesting, that's sort of the opposite of here. We get a long break from June - August.

James said...

This reminds me of my old school days. I lived for vactions. I guess I still do. :)

Lois said...

I always love semester breaks because it is so nice and quiet and there is so much less traffic. We have 2 universities here and a huge community college and Tallahassee is not that big, so when the students leave town it is very noticeable! Our break falls around Christmas though and we have a week long spring break in March.

penny said...

That sounds like a nice time of year for the students to have a break.

Tussy said...

It is similar to what we do here on school break like long holiday.

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Tes said...

Yes, I remember how we look forward to those Semestral breaks! Good time to unwind. :)