This past week, the LDS Primary School celebrated their 50th Birthday. It was a fun and crazy week the whole week at school. Each day was a "Crazy" Day. Monday was crazy sock day, Tuesday was crazy hair day, Wednesday was crazy glasses day, Thursday was Bling and Ring day and Friday was crazy hat day. We do days like this in the states, but NEVER have I seen the extreme that some of the children went to on these days. We missed Monday so we didn't get to see the crazy socks, but I'm pretty sure they were just as amazing as the other days.
There was an assembly on Tuesday where a stake president from one of the stakes in Suva who had attended the primary school as a child spoke. He talked a little about the history of the school and how it had molded his life. It was a great foundation that took him on the path that he is still on today. How many primary schools do you have the opportunity to sing primary songs, emphasize the standards and morals of the Savior and have a picture of Jesus Christ hanging in every room. It is quite a blessing.
After lunch, they invited the grandparents to come to the school. The younger classes did dances for them and a band that has a couple of the teachers in it sang traditional Fijian songs. Some of the grandparents danced. They were served "refreshments" of egg sandwiches, orange flavored drink and cake. Lots of fun!
On Wednesday, they had another assembly where 6 former students and just recently returned missionaries spoke to the students. They spoke about the joy of serving a mission and how the Primary School had planted those seeds of service. They told great experiences and funny things that happened while serving the Lord in other parts of the world.
Thursday night they had a "cultural" night. Each of the upper grades were performing traditional Fijian Dances. They had food items in the court yard that you could purchase--curry dishes, taro, lollies (suckers) and other such dishes. It was suppose to start at 7:00 and by 7:30 I think it was underway. It seemed so disorganized but no one seemed too worried about it. (That's the Fijian Way!) The dances were amazing. You get 5th and 6th grade boys up on the stage and they are NOT inhibited and they can move! And they love doing it! It's got to be something in their blood. In the states, it's like pulling teeth without anesthesia to get the upper grades to do a dance festival-especially the boys. The crowd was cheering an
d having a great time. I guess in Fiji if you like the dancer, you go on stage and poor powder on them (I don't know why!) or give them a bite of food (like cake or a cookie or a lolly) or you stick money in their waist band. 💃💸😂 The music was so loud our ears were ringing.
On Friday they had one more assembly. That day our coordinators, Elder and Sister Poll, who work out of Auckland were in town.The day before our principal asked them to be the guest speakers. (Haha! that's the Fiji Way!) Sister Poll is a former 2nd grade teacher from Davis County in Utah. She had taught a young boy who was born without arms or legs. His name is Gabe Adams. You can look him up on You Tube. She showed some pictures and talked about his great attitude and how his motto was "I can do it." She encouraged the students to never say "I can't" but always say "I can!" It was very inspirational. Then they took the children outside to the open court where moms brought a decorated birthday cake out for every class. The students went crazy. They sang "Happy Birthday" with about 5 different verses and then had a cake cutting ceremony with 2 students from every class chosen to cut their class's cake. Then they took the cakes to their class rooms where all the students got a piece of cake. Right before lunch! A kids dream come true.
The last and closing event was a school dance Friday night. We went over about 8:00. Sharing the school property is a church. The school uses the chapel for assemblies and the cultural hall for all their events. So the dance was in the cultural hall. We just down the street and around the corner. We could hear the music from our house. As we approached the church, we could see the lights flashing and hear the music blaring. The kids had come dressed in their Sunday best, Moms and Dads were there and everyone was having a great time. One of the girls that I have been reading with saw me and introduced me to her mom. That always makes a heart feel good. Then another girl-probably a 5th or 6th grader, asked me to go out and dance with them. Oh my! But you can't say no so out I went. I think I was the only adult out on the dance floor. 😅 That's when Kim left the room and went outside. I don't think he wanted to have to go dance or maybe he didn't want to claim me at that point.🤷🏼 We didn't stay too long as it had been a long day and we aren't too much into dancing. We just wanted to show our face in support of the school.
Earlier in the afternoon, we had gone to the college for Elder and Sister Poll to make a presentation to the faculty there. Afterward, the faculty honored Elder and Sister Blackburn who are going home on Oct. 7. They have been serving at the college for the past 18 months working with the vocational part of the school. It was very nice and at the end the faculty sang a traditional goodbye song. It is the most beautiful song and so touching, even though we can't understand a word of it. It just makes you tear up! If you've seen any of the videos or pictures of when Pres. Nelson came to Fiji earlier this year, they sang the song to him. There is a picture of Sister Nelson wiping a tear from her eyes during the song. Words cannot explain this song. Anyway, after singing they brought out food and a big cake. It was really really nice.
It's been quite a week. We had celebrations, taught my reading strategies class, Kim taught only one night this week his technology class and "entertained" our coordinators from New Zealand. It was so nice to have them here with us this week. It was a boost for us and a verification that we are doing what the Lord needs us to do. We love the work here. We love the students we get to work with. We love the faculty members and school leadership. The Fijians are amazing people with strong faith and testimonies. They center their whole lives around the Savior and just want to serve Him. It's an honor to serve them.
The parents were invited to "pin" their 5th graders who will be the student body helpers for the rest of this year and next year. This is our principal, William, from the college and his wife with their daughter.
Some of the parents gave their child a lei. These are made from paper ribbons and special tree papers. They are very common when honoring someone.
Grandparents!
One of the "crazy" hairstyles.
Some ladies enjoying the music at the grandparents celebrations.
First graders dancing.
This dance was so so cute. Everyone enjoyed these 1st grade boys. They made me laugh.
These are either 2nd or 3rd years. I think 2nd.
The Fijians are no different than other Polynesian Cultures. They CAN Sing and Dance.
5th Graders waiting for the Cultural Night to begin.
More Year 5 dancers.
Teancum is the one in glasses. His mom is the remedial teacher and coach at the Primary School. His dad teaches PE at the college. His dad is also the Korovou District President. Teancum is in Kindy (Kindergarten) and he is always coming in his mom's room at all times of the day. He and I have become good friends since his mom shares her room with me. I love Teancum. He's quite the character.
This is our principal at the Primary School, Meisi. She is also a character. She makes me laugh!!
This is the 5th grade teacher's mother. She came out and was dancing while her daughter danced. The previous video is her daughter. Both previous videos and the next one are year 5 kids. I love the boys in these videos! I'm not sure who the men are in the next video.
This is a kindy boy and his brother. They did this dance for the grandparents and then again on Cultural Night. This is the most impressive and amazing dance of all.
Year 6: you can tell they were really enjoying themselves.
Principal Meisi and her niece.
I Pledge... Friday's Assembly
Sister and Elder Poll, the guest speakers.
I was asked to announce the winners of the poster, poem and book contests. The students brought t-shirts and the school made a shirt for everyone. We had one made as well. And then they gave us this sulu. So fun!
I LOVED this girl's hat that her mother made for her. Woven palm leaves.
Elder and Sister Blackburn cutting their cake.
They also made them woven fans with their names on them. We are really going to miss them when they're gone.
School Dance. Good way to end the week. It was a great one!
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