School is IN!!

 

This past week was the first week of school for children at Twana Little School.  The teachers, children, and community all seem really excited for the school to be open and running again.  It was a bit rough trying to get everything sorted when we really didn’t have enough children registered or anyone who had actually paid for a spot by giving us school fees.  We changed the classes this year wanting to cater to the older children since we realized with two local teachers, we can only have two classes instead of four.  So we gave all the 5 and 6 year old children a chance to register and pay for this term, then at the end of the week, if we still had spots, we would allow 4 year olds to come if they had money.  Unfortunately many of the parents of the children who were 5 and 6 years old, did not come to pay for their children, even though they filled out a form.  It really breaks my heart when I see the joy this school brings to a child’s life and then it is taken from them when their parents won’t pay the $3 to attend.  Well, on the upside, the parents of the 4 year olds were extremely happy.  Once we had 60 children registered and paid for we were able to make one class of 4-5 year olds and one class of the older kids, the 6 year olds. 

During our first week or two of school, we are more laid back as teachers allowing the children to get acclimated with the environment and our daily routine.  Thankfully all the younger children came last year and the new older ones have easily fallen into step with the other experienced children.  They picked up just where they left off last year.  Very impressed with all the children…which doesn’t surprise me!!  The classroom is set up a bit different and we have added the two new rooms.  The children have started wandering in the art studio, since we tell them when we offer something in there for them to participate in, but they have yet to discover the light table in the light and shadow studio.  The other centers that are more familiar to them are in high use as the babies are always on the backs of the children and cars are driving everywhere.

 

 

 

We are loving the dynamics of each class, the children are learning well together and have come so far from where we started last year.  The younger children (who were mainly 3 last year) remembered almost ALL the “M” letter pictures we taught them a year ago when we did letter of the week (English and Tonga).  Medis (our  lead teacher) was so impressed with them, which speaks miles for the impact Christ is making in the people through this school.  When the children are able to make Medis smile with their learning moments, I know God is at work in her and those children.  Stepping back from teaching myself this year, I am happy to observe moments like this and hope to see many more as the weeks go on. 

Please continue to pray for these little ones as they grow in their knowledge of God and his love for them; as well as, learning and growing as a pupil in our classroom.  They are precious individuals, entrusted to us by their Creator, so please pray for us as teachers too, that we are taking our job seriously and giving all that we can to these little ones. 

 

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

                      Colossians 3:16