Filed under: Bolivian music stuff, Highlands School, Tom, holidays | Tags: high school, Christmas, school, music, program, elementary school, middle school
Today was … character-building. Most of the school converged on this church building for our Christmas program rehearsal. Many - not all, but many - things that could go wrong, well, did.
I forgot about a song I was supposed to help the 1st and 2nd graders with.
The archangel Catalina (surely you’ve read about her in Luke!) got mad at her teacher for some, um, creative decisions he decided to surprise her with.
There were major disagreements with the middle school teachers on how their kiddos should come up on the stage.
The middle schoolers made most of our hair turn several shades of gray by burying their faces in the sheet music and frowning through “Deck the Hall” and “Jingle Bell Rock”.
The middle schoolers suddenly became snapping-challenged in the middle of the big number.
My senior pennywhistle player had an existential crisis.
I left the practice thinking pretty much everyone on staff was mad at me.
I mumbled and frowned my way through the rest of the day, managing with much willpower and not a little grace from the Almighty not to take it out on my high school English class. It was only after discovering that no one indeed was mad at me and everyone was very happy with how the rehearsal went (were they at the same rehearsal?!?!?), that my spirits began to lift and I regained the will to go on.
All that is to say, after the dust clears, I love what I do. Freaky how that works.
Filed under: Family, Friends, General, Highlands School, News of Bolivia, Prayers | Tags: Bolivia, pray, prayer
Hey all! Today, I wrote a little prayer-guide you can use as you pray for us, for Highlands and for the general situation in Bolivia.
Let us pray…
- For the Church in Bolivia, for her purity, for unity, for her mission in Bolivia, and for all the people of God in this land.
- For those in Bolivia who do not yet believe, and for those who have lost their faith, that they may receive – even in the midst of the current situation in Bolivia – the Light of the Gospel.
- For the peace of Bolivia, for an end to racism and hate.
- For those in leadership in Bolivia, that they would be freed from anger and fanaticism, and instead promote the dignity and freedom of every person.
- For those who live and work in this community, and call La Paz their home.
- For those who are poor, persecuted, sick and all who suffer; for all who are in danger in this tense time.
- For our enemies, and those who wish us harm, and for all we have injured or offended.For the forgiveness of our sins, and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives.
- For those who have commended themselves to our prayers, our friends, families back home, and our neighbors here in La Paz.
- Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the saints, we commend ourselves, one another and all our life to Christ our God. Amen.
Thanks for prayin’!
(Inspired by Form V, Prayers of the People, from the Book of Common Prayer)Filed under: Anne, Highlands School, News of Bolivia, Tom | Tags: Bolivia, Highlands School
Our school done got tattled on.
Today is Bolivia’s version of Labor Day. We planned to have our third Team Day - a big, fun day of four teams made up of kids from Grades 1-12 working together; today was to be our Academic Team Day (spelling bees, scavenger hunts, giant crosswords and the like; not your typical school day). We picked today because, with most parents off work, they could come and participate. Sounds great, aye? (more…)
Is there a Nobel Prize for standardized testing endurance? The children at Highlands International School deserve some sort of award. They’ve made it through a week of mornings taking Stanford Tests - tests in reading, tests in spelling, tests in math, tests in listening, tests in… I’m outta breath!
The testing went on from grades 2 - 8, and I administered three of the more limited-English-proficient of the second graders. They were clearly novice at this ordeal, but they sure were troopers!
So, parents out there, when your dear sweety-pie takes End of Grade tests this spring, I want you to take them to their favorite retaurant, take them to a movie and let them buy a new toy. They have earned it!
Chau for now!
Today, we celebrated the 5th anniversary of Highlands School, complete with a gigantic birthday cake.
The good old “pour the water in the cup over the head game”! (more…)
