from the kics retreat. we took the holiday weekend (memorial day in america, buddha's birthday here!) to retreat to the mountains and had a great three days uniting as students and teachers. it was lovely to watch different grades and classes interact that don't usually, to participate in the blessings the students received, and to pray with and for students. there was also plenty of water fights and ultimate frisbee games, so all in all it was a fun and refreshing weekend.
we are winding down to the end of the semester - about a month left. their graduation is july 6th. finals the next week for underclassmen.
oh! i had a birthday too, right before the retreat. i didn't really tell anyone it was my birthday, but of course my students found out somehow and i was surprised with treats and songs. coworker friends took me to lunch and dinner, so it was a very full day of celebration. quite lovely.
besides the major events, it has been pretty routine, yet constantly full of joy. we've been learning a lot in classes, but also taking time just to have fun together, especially with the seniors.
this week, seniors are doing "passion and affirmation projects". we finished the main course content, so their goal is to teach the class about something they love and in return the class is going to affirm them. awwww. i'm looking forward to it (and not just because i have no more planning to do for that class!)
eighth graders are in the thick of world war ii. they made up some creative "great depression games" last week so it will be fun watching them make diplomatic moves as fascist dictators, if all goes well!
ninth graders are getting into far east asia. for them, they love this region because, of course, they live in it. i've actually been really impressed with this class. i am pushing them hard this semester and having them learn where all the countries are by region and they are getting it. one of my favorite games i recommend to them is seterra online - although it doesn't include a lot of the smaller countries, it does have south sudan, unlike a lot of the other games.
time is swiftly running out this year. they are pushing really hard to get teachers to re-sign, but a very small percentage is staying next year - it's a mass exodus. it's gonna be a new school next year.
odd observation skills #14: okay, so, students. i can tell them over and over again about a project and they will still say "what? we had homework?" but not even kidding, one day my hair was parted on a different side than usual by accident and they TOTALLY called it out. selective observation?
i'll update you about my summer plans soon...
