Day 4 MSA

We are back into the routine of things and the team was huddled in their 'office' putting the finishing touches on their report all morning. Then at 3:15, the whole school community gathered together to hear the reaading of the report. We passed.. all 12 standards.

Now that that is over, we can get down to the business at hand and move forward again.  

Day 3 MSA

So we have come to the end of another day! The team is busy now writing up the report and finalizing the details. The staff seems to be back to normal, as does the school and we can move on with the day to day again!   Thursday is the reading of the report to the school community and then it's official!  So keep praying for the school and all that is happening.

Day 2 MSA

Good day. Lots of meetings for me, but I think they went smoothly. This is a good process to go through because it causes us as a school to think and reflect about what we do and how we do it. It has been good to have to explain things and also get some feedback.

The staff and students are relaxing a bit more and see that the team is not the enemy. That is a positive! You wish that folks would understand it from the start, but being observed is often quite unnerving, so it is understandable. We move into Day 3 and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Toot Toot!

Day 1 MSA

I walked into school this morning and found our maintence team out sweeping the roads...the public lane that leads to the school. That was too much!

It was a good start with the high school assembly (see Lip Sync Message blog).

Then I had a library class first period and the team was getting their school tours. The students would see them come in and straighten up, but only until the tour moved on. However it is a good class and today, we practiced notetaking with an article about the Pacific NW Tree Octopus.(Look it up if you don't believe me).  
Later in the morning I had a couple meetings with the team as a part of the leadership team and the planning committee.

After that I had my US History class and one of the team members came in to observe for about 10 minutes.

A lot is happening today that never has happened the rest of the year.  It is quite amazing and the staff is talking about it.  

Very interesting! On to day two!

Lip Sync Lesson

Today in assembly each class had a group of students who performed a lip sync song. It was quite good and the kids all did a fanastic job.
When all the hooting and voting was done the Seniors rocked it. However there was a message in all this... many times we try to be someone we are not. We act like others, dress like others, talk like others, and just try to be like everyone, but ourselves.  That is not who God called us to be. He wants us to be who HE created us to be!  We need to realize that and walk in His image.  I thought it was a great message for our students and staff to hear and I wanted to share it with you all.
May you live and move in who God has called you to be!

PT Conference - the Secondary Way

So last week, it was Parent Teacher Conferences for the high school. I actually had three parents sign up to meet with me for their allotted five minutes. I started off with a quiz. Most of the parents got the Lincoln question right, but no one could get the Jefferson Davis guy and what he was infamous for. I said, "Ask your kid."
It was an interesting couple of hours and I, not having much to do between conferences, snapped a couple photos of our great staff and parents working together.

CountDown

So the countdown is almost down. On Saturday the team begins to arrive and we all start smiling....more. I will keep you posted. 

Four Day Weekend

So on Friday, it was announced at the end of school that there would be no school on Monday. We already were off for the elections of Tuesday. It wa deemed a security risk to come in on Monday. So I am at home working on grades and getting ready for our visit next week.  The streets have been fairly quite. There is a two day 'silent' period before the big election vote on Tuesday. So all the campaigning is done and no more rallies can take place.  We will see what all this brings about.
Was thinking of having an Election Party on Tuesday and watch the returns, but not sure how it is done here, so figured I would head into work and get some stuff done there. We will see.

Just continue to pray for this country!

Last Celebration of the Week

Decided to meet and celebrate November with a group of friends.  Here are some photos. We played some crazy games and ate M&Ms, all while listening to Christmas music. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable gathering. 

A s'mores party

roaring fire

action games

making funny faces.

US HISTORY: Native Americans

Home on the Range where the buffalo roam
in the millions.

 So this past week in US HISTORY class, we were studying about Native American issues. I had the students role play a scenario that gave a bit of meat to the subject.



 Here are some of the photos from the re-enactment.

Setting up camp in the prime location

Figuring out the next clue

Trying to build a TeePee

Here come the settlers looking for
land.

Don't shoot my buffalo.

Land Dispute Confrontation 

Winter Fair

                                                                                                                                                               We had a winter fair this past week. It was a huge success! I would say the best one ever!  Of course I have only been to two, but with all the stalls and a food tent on the new site...The PTA  ran a great fair and I think a lot of people went away happy!
There was a fishing game for the kids, clothes and books for all. Some played music, and  the food stalls were amazing.                                                      

I enjoyed the atomsphere and tried a number of dishes from the food vendors!
I also took some photos to document it all. Here is just a sampling. It was a good day!  Nice job. PTA!

Ode to A Dill Pickle

I love you, dill pickle

I love you a lot.

Some think you're sour,

I think you're not!

The tangy aroma, 

the salt and the spice

I wish for a big jar

Oh,that would be nice

You play hide and seek

You're not easily bought

on shelves high and low

in stores I you sought.

But I've found a place,

I can order a plate

It just makes me happy,

my craving to sate. 

I love you, dill pickle

You're yummy, 'tis true

A pickle so tasty

I can eat quite a few.

Another Life Celebration

So I had a good day yesterday.  I was trying to keep my day under wraps but a number of people kept saying,"HDB!"  at school.

 When I went in to teach my US History class, another staff member walked in and said, " Don't forget to wish your teacher HBD!" Which got them all singing.  I gave them a smiley face sticker.  Today in another class, a student from a lower grade said, "Hey, we had you teach us yesterday, but we didn't get a sticker?!" So I promised to bring them smiley face stickers next week. At this age, I hope I remember.

In the evening, I had a quiet....well.. not so quiet... we laughed alot... dinner at a local place. It was good fun and I even got a cake... especially for me! Of course, I shared it.

 Another year behind me... i press on to the goal.

The photos are not mine. I handed out my camera to others.

November is passing quickly

I would just ask for prayer as we head into our election season. This country  needs a government and many people are fed up with the small faction that are trying to hold the country hostage. So just pray that the elections will go through and we can do in peace and quiet..

Thanks!

It'sTihar.

This is a five day festival that ends with the festival of Lights ( on Tuesday)  Each day something else is honored  First day ravens, second day dogs... today was cows,   then comes self, and  finally the big day - brothers'  Huge parties and visiting family, lots of lights were put up today and everyone was out making mandala in front of their gates to invite the goddess of wealth into their houses.  I was at a friend.s house for dinner and the walk back was bright and festive. Lots of people on the streets... a bit like Christmas and New Years rolled into one.  Here are some of the photos I've taken over the holidays. There are lights, candles, caroling, firecrackers, and lots of decorations.

Dog Day - malla and tikled

Mandala outside the house attract
the goddess

creating a mandala

festive lights

following a pattern

my lane is bright too.

outside my front door.

Flying Angry Birds

Red

Black

Each day I have been wearing a different angry bird hat. I have all the hats for another project... but since we have been talking about flying in the sky and all things aerial  I thought I would wear birds on my head and the easiest ones to find were angry ones.

Blue

Yellow

On the final day, I had one of the birds flying a plane

I gave one of my hats to the vbs director. She was moved
to tears. NOT!