First Exams Passed

We are into the second week of classes and students are still coming to class. That is so exciting. What is even more exciting is the speed with which this approach allows the students to progress. The first group of Grade 7 students have written their first exam at the end of Unit 1. That represents 25% of the first of four textbooks in the Grade. So, they were able to do two or three weeks worth of work in four days. Everyone passed the exam with ease (I was informed that the exam was actually very easy so as to encourage the students [exams are set by Educatodos]). Still, for students in the 40’s and 50’s, it was a bit of challenge to have to write an exam.

We have the students working on their own now and they are beginning to spread out in the material. We will see how that works out.

A funny challenge came along this week. Two of our Grade 8 girls are teenagers. Well ... Mom sent them off to school from their village to the big town of Santa Cruz. Monday they were not in class but we didn’t really think anything of it. After all, this is a “learn at your own speed” type of course. However, unfortunately for the girls, one of the teachers is from their village and when they did not show up on Tuesday, he phoned their mother. She was busy picking coffee and was not pleased to hear that they were not at school. Two hours later, Mama and two rather chagrined girls arrived at the school to check out the situation. We now have a sign in sheet for them each morning and one of the teachers gives mom a quick call. Christmas season and sooooo many boys on vacation ... and Mom wants them to study??? Really.

We put up some bulletin boards on Monday and have four more drying to be put up this afternoon. Each of the students has a progress chart with their picture posted on these boards. That way everyone can see how they are doing. And, at the end of their course, they will get a nice, coloured copy of the same to hang on their walls. Wall decorations are not a great priority on ways to use minimal funds so this will be very welcome. Great advertising as well.

The director of Educatodos for our area came on Friday to check out the operation. I had one of the teachers give her a tour and so wasn’t sure how she felt about things. She has a rather good poker face. Well, her only comment was to ask if she could register her son in the school. So ... I guess that is a good sign.

Saturday afternoon I went to sing at a church service which turned out to be a wedding. The wedding was slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. The music group straggled in at about 3:30 (scheduled for 2:00) and set up the equipment. At 3:50 the group began running over the music to a packed house of four people. 4:15 and the numbers had skyrocketed to eight. The priest came out to check on the progress of events and asked us what time it was. On hearing that it was already 4:15 he declared that we would start the service right away. Fortunately, right away was an extra fifteen minutes. Still no sign of the wedding party and guests. Service began. The first reading came along and one of the music group looked around and, rather hesitantly, got up to read. The Psalm and Second reading followed in like fashion. About that time the groom came down the aisle and stood looking rather puzzled about where he should stand and so forth. One or two more guests had filed in by this time. The Gospel was read and, finally, the bridal party was assembled on the steps. The priest allowed the bride to process down the aisle and, after she was seated with the groom, carried on with the sermon and the rest of the service.

Christmas lights now bedeck the huge trees in the Central Park. It looks quite festive at night. The baby that was dedicated on Sunday had a red Santa Suit and hat on. One of the phone companies was doing a promotion on Saturday and the helpers were dressed in red and white costumes. They certainly contributed to global warming.

Some Barrel Top Bar Hives are now ready for installing the foundation and ... hopefully ... bees. Six more barrels await the stands and top bars.

TTYL

BB