Crazy weeks

Opps! I cannot believe it’s already Tuesday. With everything that has been going on these past two weeks, we completely forgot to blog. To be honest, school has consumed our lives.

Last week report cards came out, plus we had a Halloween party at school, complete with trick or treating and a haunted hallway. It was fun to see everyone dressed up and having fun. Jamie even had his debut theater experience. He played Frankenstein in “The Monster Mash” dance, which was put on by the staff. I have it videotaped if anyone would like proof of this.

This week has been even crazier. We had an extended workday on Sunday and tomorrow and Thursday we have our first ever Parent/Teacher Conferences. I’m a little nervous just because the culture of many of our students takes science very seriously. I already know that I will get parents coming in who will ask how their child can improve, even though their child is receiving an A in the class. It truly is a culture difference.

Jamie and I have also been getting involved in After School Activities (ASAs) and lunch activities. Sports are important here, but not even close to what they are like in the States. A lot of the Jr. and Sr. high students will do sports after school, otherwise they sign up for ASAs that the teachers offer. I am currently doing board games ASA for grades 2 and 3, plus a friend and I are starting a Hannah Montana dance steps ASA for the same grades next week. It should be fun. Doing the ASAs is fun because it lets me get to know students who I usually don’t see. Jamie is continuing with his Monopoly lunch club. We’ve also started to help out with a rock climbing ASA. Our school has a nice climbing wall in the courtyard and one of the teachers has worked on getting all the equipment needed for it (he also helped build it). We don’t get paid for helping with rock climbing, but it’s a great workout and we get to see our students in a very different environment.

The last big school news is that we are having a science fair in February. I signed up to be on the committee, and somehow became the one in charge. A few of my 9^th graders and I did a presentation for the entire elementary side of the school last Wednesday and the kids loved it! We already have over 35 kids signed up for the fair, which I think is pretty good.

License update: Jamie got an email today saying that the license is being worked on! We’re crossing our fingers that it comes to us next week.

Tara

Hunayda putting up a spooky spider

Our neighbor Kieran as a dinosaur. The "teeth" made it
difficult for him to see so he was always looking up. So cute!

A few of the Venezuelan girls.