Hosting the Saleeby Family

A week ago Monday, Joseph Saleeby and his family flew to El Salvador to spend several days getting to know the city.  Through past mission trips we had gotten to know Joseph and his wife, Christy.  This time, however, they brought their three girls, Hannah, Jordyn and Layla.  

On Tuesday morning they met with Pastor Steve and Pastor Julio; the girls and I went to visit a classroom at New Life Christian School.  Afterwards, we all went to lunch with Koky, Ena and Guillermo.  Tuesday evening we joined the "gap year" kids in a family festival/campaign in Santa Tecla.

School's Out for Summer!

I finished the school year yesterday . . . . what a day it was.  Gifts all around, their favorite music and a pizza party for 5th grade.

Here are the last day pictures.

 1st Graders (3 were missing)

 2nd Graders (1 was missing)

 3rd Graders (3 were missing)

 4th Graders

5th Graders

Behavior Bucks

Last year I started the "Behavior Bucks" program with the 4th grade.  Frankly, it was an attempt to grab their attention and focus on good behavior.  They would receive bucks when they demonstrated appropriate behavior and good lose bucks for outright inappropriate behavior.  Two times during the year I offered a Behavior Bucks store featuring items (mostly from the states) that they could buy with their money.  As you might expect, this year's fifth graders were really disappointed when I told them that Behavior Bucks was for 4th grade only.

But, the 2012-13 fourth graders were ecstatic!  We just had our final Behavior Bucks store last Thursday.  Since I went to the US in May, I asked them what they would like me to buy.  Boys:  Lego minifigures; Girls: One Direction (a new boy band, I think) items.  The Legos were easy to find because there was a giant lego store at Downtown Disney and since there are no Lego sales, it didn't matter where I bought them.  I was able to locate a few One Direction items at Claires, but, my goodness, they were quite expensive.  Supply and demand, I guess.  I ended up with a 5-pack of One Direction gel pens.

They were so excited for Thursday to arrive.  Each of them had from 18-30 behavior bucks; the person with the most had the opportunity to buy first and so on.  They could only buy one item, but after everyone had a chance, they were able to go through again.  

Here's some pictures of the kids with their purchases!  Next year they're in fifth grade and, unfortunately, the "buck stops here!"

 Laura showing off her One Direction gel pen.  It cost 14 behavior bucks!  Like I said, supply and demand.

 Mario--so excited to get a Series 10 mini-figure.  I don't let them open them at school,
 so I'll have to find out which one he got on Monday.

 Daniela--couldn't make up her mind so even though she had plenty of bucks she decided on M&M's

 Kenneth--yep, Series 10 mini-figure!

 Erika bought an ink pen that's shaped like a tube of paint.  They love novelty items.

 Mariela with her Disney princess key chain that is in the shape of Minnie Mouse.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

My fourth graders have been learning about recycling!  We've talked about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.  I found a recycling coloring book which included one page for each type of item that could be recycled, i.e. bottles, milk jugs, tires, car batteries, etc.  Each student selected a page, colored it and learned (some memorized) the information on the page, in English, of course.  We also learned a Recycling "chant" from our textbook:

Reduce!  Reuse!  Recycle!

Today we're learning a lot

About how to help our Earth

And make it a nicer spot.

We usually throw away many things

We like to go places by car

Today we're learning to be different

It's really not that hard.

Yesterday, we presented the book and it's contents to Ms. Roxana, our principal.  We started and ended the presentation with the song.

Here's a few pictures of the students presenting their pages.  I am really proud of the work they did to learn the information.  I hope that this new knowledge will help them to be a part of the solution,  Unfortunately, in El Salvador, tossing the trash out the window of the car or dropping it on the ground whenever you're done with it is all too commonplace.  

 Jorge welcoming Ms. Roxana and presenting the book.

 Andrea giving an overview of each item that can be recycled.

 Laura talking about "Dottie Bottle" who represents glass that can be recycled forever.

 Kenneth explaining how to recycle "Tire Guy" and listing things that can be made from recycled tires.

 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!  Fourth grade class (missing 2 absent students) with Ms. Roxana.