Latest in the library

A couple of weeks agao the children began a new library project. This block of work is on Asia. The children are working in groups to produce a project on an Asian country. They love investigation work and they were soon digging into the books. They spread out and often end up on the floor.

This is a competition and they are all desperate to earn team points, so each week we are having mini competitions at the end of each class.

The younger pupils are finding out about animals that live in Asia.

Independence Day Parade

I have had a very busy time recently both in and out of school, so I am a little behind on posting my blog update.

On 15th May we celebrated Independence Day. Last year's bicentenary celebrations seemed to set a tradition going, so this year there were more parades.
Early in the morning there was a military parade through the town to the Pantheon where former presidents and army officials are buried along with the unknown soldier. The President made a speech.

Later in the morning I joined the Hickmotts and crowds of people along Avenida Mariscal Lopez, outside the President's official residence, to watch another parade. The morning had started quite cold but as we stood watching, the sun was burning hot. We stayed for an hour soaking up the atmosphere as hundreds of schoolchildren paraded past. (Everybody was enjoying a long weekend away at St. Andrew's so this year we did not participate). There was lots of colour and razzamatazz as bands lent a lot of noise to the scene, all playing different tunes.

Mother´s Day

This morning the children celebrated Mother´s Day. All their Mums were invited for an "English breakfast" breakfast. This was of course with Paraguayan style. Yesterday the school kitchen was a hive of industry as the Primary children baked cakes and shortbread. By this morning the menu had grown to include scones and apple crumble....... for breakfast????!!!

In the secondary department some paraguayan food had slipped onto the table with chipa and other fare available. What was amusing was that the students waited for the mums to be busy talking and they then slipped around the table as if they had never been fed.

Things were very quiet in Pre-school when I went down. Only a few mums had arrived.

Meanwhile the Primary department classes all came out one by one to entertain their mums with songs, dances, poems and words to show their appreciation for their mothers.

They had all made a special "angelic" present to remind their mums of just how angelic they are.

After the entertainment the Mums enjoyed the breakfast that the Primary teachers had laid out carefully that morning.

Dia de la Patria

It is Independence time again, so an excuse for a long weekend to celebrate Independence Day.

Profe Rolando gave us a lecture on the history of Paraguayan independence. Then we all sang a very patriotic Paraguayan song. It was all rather low key, compared with last year´s centenary of Paraguayan Independence.

Star Pupil

We are all so proud of a pupil who left us last year. Christian Cibils had a dream to go to Stanford University in the United States. He has held the dream for a long time and he worked hard to try to get there. He achieved 100% in his advanced maths exam last year. He is an all round student, good at sport and also an accomplished musician. He also has a lively personality and he is aware of God at work in his life.

Christian has achieved his dream and against all odds he has obtained a precious place at Stanford, the university of his choice. We wish him every success in the future as he studies computers and computer programming.

Back at work

I have now completed my first week back at work. It was great to get back into the swing, but I am still a little uncomfortable by the afternoon.

Workers' day

We had a four day weekend this week, thanks to Teachers' Day and Workers' Day.

Workers' Day is always a day of demonstration, with a march through the city and various points where people can blow off steam with long speeches, asking for more employment and better working conditions.

This year many children marched. Lots of children have to work to help their families and to pay for their education. They were asking for their rights as children to be met so that they do not need to work and where they have to work, that the conditions would be improved. Many feel exploited.

Teachers' Day

On Friday, whilst I was at the hospital, the students in school were celebrating Teachers' Day with the staff. The teachers were met at the school door and were given a red rose each.

The older students had arranged for a Mariachi Band to serenade the teachers through a breakfast that had been prepared for them.

This was followed by dancing and general merriment.

The Primary department and the pre-school departments were also busy showing their appreciation and love for their teachers. They performed in a lovely show. The teachers all received lots of presents.

At lunchtime the children all went home and the staff had a celebratory lunch. Everybody was presented with a personalized Bible with their name on the front.

I did not miss out on gifts. They were brought to me later in the day. It is great to feel loved by our kids.