Aug 2008

My good friend Breanne moved to Montreal, Canada with her job. Here are some pictures of her going away get together.

















Before school officially started with the kids, the staff had a team building challenge day at Sentosa (small island in Singapore). We aren't going away for a weekend like we normally do because this year is a week-long ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) conference in Hong Kong. Our team building on Sentosa was really fun because we got to do things at Sentosa that I've always wanted to do, but haven't yet. And the best part is that I got to do them for free! One of them is going to the top of the Merlion statue. Here are pictures from the top of that. We could look out of the mouth and also stand on its head.








An interesting fountain/path.




















This is the southernmost point in continental SE Asia.
















These show the construction of the new casino/hotel on the front of Sentosa. The mainland is in the distance. In the first picture, you can see Vivo City in the middle. It almost looks kinda flat in this picture. In the second picture you can see some of the skyline of the downtown area.




















The first week of school went pretty well. It was an adjustment getting to know the new students and my new students, the 6th graders. I had forgotten how needy they are when they start the year! I'm also teaching a section of 7th grade this year, which is nice for me because I already know all of my students except the 4 new ones in that class.


The first weekend, I went to Bintan, Indonesia for a retreat for WyldLife and YoungLife staff and volunteers. In case you don't know, YL is a Christian outreach program for high schoolers. WL, where I volunteer, is for middle schoolers. The scenery around where we stayed was beautiful. It was a great time to relax, play beach volleyball and discuss the upcoming year for YL and WL.

Back to school...

Our first official day of school was yesterday. We had a fellowship time in the staff lounge from 8:30-9:00 before devotions and some 'get-to-know-people' activities. I walked in and was really overwhelmed. I think I was still a little loopy from the jet-lag. I had been trying to mentally prepare myself to answer the "how was your summer?" question several times, but forgot about all the new people. I think there is about 18 new staff, so add that to the number of returning teachers (about 35-40 I think) ... The staff lounge was really crowded and loud and full of people I didn't know. That is one of the difficult things about teaching at a school in such a transient society. I know that I will eventually know them all as part of one community. My first year, I wasn't around for any of this stuff. And last year, I knew everyone because I had gone to PFO and met all the new staff over the summer. I sort of knew one new person (she is a close friend of one of my roommates at PFO who now teaches in Turkey - crazy, small world, huh?). Anyway, I said hello to a few people, but quickly emptied my mailbox and went up to my classroom for a few minutes. I felt like a huge sense of peace as I walked into my room. I was really glad to see the new things I requested were there (a new whiteboard that erases, a music stand/podium that holds the books without falling, and a cupboard with doors). The rest of the morning went well though and I was in a group with two of the new teachers, so we got to know each other a little. We got to spend some time after lunch working in our classrooms, too, so iI was glad for that. 

Oh, I almost forgot! I found out that I am teaching two blocks of 6th grade and one block of 7th grade. A block is a Spelling and Grammar class and a Literature and Composition class where I have the same students two periods in a row. This is what I requested, so I'm really excited about that. This means that I will be teaching half of the sixth graders I taught last year in seventh grade. I'm glad for that, but I'm more excited NOT to be teaching 8th grade Grammar again. All summer I had been telling myself that whatever classes I was given would be exactly what I was supposed to teach, and the students I was supposed to have in my classroom. I would have been happy either way because if I had gotten a section of 8th grade again, I would have taught some of the students I had my first year here when they were 6th graders. 

Well, I should go be productive - like finish unpacking... :/

I'd love to hear from you!