Teacher Training and Retreat

After school closed for the year on November 15,(this is a bit late in coming!) we had 4 days of teacher training with the faculty members from both the Primary School and the College.  Kim taught a class on Essential Curriculum.  Michael Carthew came from New Zealand and taught a class.  Michael is the Director Head over all the schools the church owns in the south Pacific.  There are schools in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Kiribati.    We had some typical discussions on essential curriculum for the first two days.  On Tuesday, they announced that the Primary School would meet separately from the College.  I talked with the Principal to see what she had planned for the primary school and found that she didn’t have anything planned other than the grade levels meeting together and working on their “essential” curriculum.  So, Kim and I asked if we could take the morning on Wednesday.  We told her what we wanted to do and she said we could have the time.  That night I wondered what were we thinking!!! But Kim wanted to talk to them about the “extended day schedule” that we have back in Utah.  Some of the teachers had already heard of it and had been given permission to try to implement it next year.  He wanted to present it to the rest of the faculty so they could do the same if they so desired.  The first grade and fifth grade classes are talking about starting 30 minutes earlier (8:00) and having half the kids come with the rest of the kids coming at 9:30.  They loved the idea of having a small group to teach reading.  They have really been struggling with reading which is why I taught a reading workshop once a week.  I will teach the upper grades when school starts again in January.  Anyway, he wanted to talk more about the split starting and ending times.  I wanted to present a class on guided reading.  They have no idea how a guided reading class works or looks like.  So, quickly I prepared ideas I have had running through my head the past month or so.  I think it went well…both of our classes did.  There is a lot of work that goes into guided reading and setting up centers or stations.  Some of the teachers were very interested and I hope I can help those that are willing to put the work into setting it up to do just that.  I’m not sure how a split starting time will work when the whole school isn’t on the program.  We were hoping the whole school would adapt it but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen.  We’ll see. 

After 3 days of trainings and workshops and classes, we had a day of more relaxation.  They started with a Christmas Program…singing etc.  They did a really nice farewell for two teachers that are leaving.  One is retiring and moving to France to help her daughter with her family and the other is moving to the United States.  She lived there three years ago and her husband went back about 6 months ago with some health problems.  She’s sad to say goodbye to her homeland even though it was always in the plans.  They’re just returning a couple of years earlier.  She is very excited to reunite with her husband.  After a nice program, we were treated to lunch at the restaurant at the Holiday Inn.  It was a very very nice lunch.   Save(pronounced So-vā) got Una and Naome to dance.  Then others joined them.  They all laughed and had a great time.  When Save came and pulled me up to dance, I was a little reluctant but I had to join in their fun!  It didn’t take long before Kim joined us as well.  Save has been in our technology class Kim has taught the past 2 months.  He is a great man and brings a lot of energy and fun to everything. 

The next morning, we were invited to a special meeting hosted by Elder Rasband.  Yes…THE Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the quorum of the twelve apostles.  He has a grandson serving his mission in Suva and Elder Rasband came to visit him.  He spent the day before working with him and his investigators.  He had a special meeting for the ward he serves in and a meeting for all the missionaries in Suva.  Our meeting was for all the teachers at the schools and all church employees at the Service Center.  This is the distribution center and other offices stationed next to the temple.  There were other senior missionaries there as well.  At our meeting Elder Rasband  was joined by the area authority, Elder Johannsen and the area Seventy, Elder Ardern.  We know Elder Johannsen and have been with him several times on more informal events.  Dinner to be exact. He’s a very friendly and nice man.  We enjoy being with him and his wife Martha.   Elder Ardern, we met while in the MTC in New Zealand.  He is a very impressive man.  Elder Rasband simply opened up the meeting for questions.  Most of the questions involved the young adults, their education and how we can better help and serve them. Some of the things I wrote down were that we need to teach the youth to have self control and to have courage.  I've thought for a long time that self-discipline and self-control are core to keeping commandments and progressing on the path to eternity.  He also said we should ask the youth what they have questions about and what's on their minds and what bothers them.  We need to give them opportunities to ask.  We need to strengthen and protect our youth.  He also spoke about the importance of education.  "Education is the key!"  It really is.    Afterwards we were all invited to come and meet Elder Rasband and shake hands. 

When the meeting ended, all the faculty was invited to a retreat at a resort about 1½ hours outside of Suva, The Naviti Resort.  Here we had lunch and were welcome to the beach and facilities for the rest of the day.  Those that wanted could stay the night on their own dime. There were many that went home that evening and about 10 people stayed the night, us included.  Beautiful resort, beautiful beach, good food, good company. 

The next morning, it was low tide and we found that the water was so low you could walk clear out to the reef, which we did.  I don’t have words to describe it.  I only had flip-flops on which wasn’t the best shoes to be walking out that far on the rocks so it was difficulty but beautiful.  Full of sea creatures and bright blue star fish and coral and fish.  BEAUTIFUL! 

Kim's training for both schools.

Kim's training for Primary School.

My training time.

Holiday Inn Luncheon and FUN!

Christmas Devotional and farewell to teachers.

Saying Goodbye to these two great teachers, Maria and Ifamere.  They will both be missed immensely. 

 

Elder Rasband with his grandson.  This was definitely a highlight of our mission so far.

Kim was asked to start the luncheon at the Naviti Resort since Brother Ratusaki hadn't arrived yet.  We found out later that he was giving Elder Rasband a tour of the college!

 

Faculty playing "net ball"

The waves crashing on the wall were amazing.

Catching Dinner!

The next morning at low tide.  We walked out to this reef. It was quite a ways out and the water was mostly ankle to mid-calf deep.

Pictures don't do these star fish justice.  So bright and beautiful!

See the waves way out in the background.  That's how far we walked.

So many colors!

We had a great week.  I forgot to add that the morning while at the beach, Kim was buying some souvenirs in a shop and it was taking quite awhile so I went out and was just walking around this small village on the beach.  A man in one of the shops called me over.  I went over and he asked me about the church.  He obviously could see my missionary name tag.  He asked me what we believed.  That's a loaded question!  He told me he is a preacher in the village.  We had quite a nice conversation.  He asked me a few more questions and I answered the best I could.  Then he asked me if I would pray.  Never had anyone done that before.  So I prayed and as I prayed he prayed as well.  It was definitely an interesting experience and one I will not soon forget.  The one thing we love about Fiji is that it is filled with people of great faith and they are accepting of all religions.

Year Six Graduation and Prom

End of the school year means graduation.  At the Primary school we not only had the Kindergarten graduation but there was also a Year Six Graduation.   AND A ‘PROM’.   I really loved experiencing both of these.  Kim was asked to be the guest speaker for the graduation.  He decided he wanted to share the book “The Dog Poop Initiative,” but was a little worried about it…just hearing the title can you see why?  If you know the story, you know it’s about a man who allows his dog to poop at the park and walks away from it.  When the kids come to play their soccer games, all the parents, coaches and kids try to avoid the poop.  Finally, a father comes and finds something to clean up the poop so the game can be played properly.  The point of the story…to teach initiative, responsibility and accountability.  When we see a problem, do we take the first step to solve it or do we stand back and let someone else take charge?  Do we take accountability for our actions?  Do we take on responsibilities and be responsible for our actions?  In any case, he read the story and I think it was successful.  We heard comments for several days afterwards.  Are you a pooper or a scooper?  At least we know they were listening.

The kids were so cute at graduation.  They were all dressed up.  They marched down the isle with pride.  The parents had made sashes with the kid’s names sewn onto them. Wow!  They looked awesome.  They were so  proud of their accomplishments.  It was fun to see the head male and female students turn the “baton” over to next year’s head students. That is a ceremony we don’t participate in in the US.  Then they gave a DUX award.  I don’t know what DUX means, but the award goes to the top academic student.  I’ve seen this boy around campus and he always appeared to be the kid who is friendly to all and is reaching out to everyone else.  He was also the head male student-so obviously a great kid.   He appeared very humbled and honored to receive the award.  Then they gave an award for the best all-around student.  This award went to a girl.  When she came up to receive the award, she just sobbed.  Sister Bidesi, who was conducting graduation, came up and tried to comfort her.  So cute! 

That evening they had a dinner and dance for the students which they referred to as their Prom.  They decorated the cultural hall with an emoji theme.  It was done in blue and yellow and super cute.  One of the mom’s had made a big cake with a bunch of emoji cupcakes all around it.  The parents had prepared a traditional Fijian Feast.  We were invited as the guests of honor.  We sat at a head table and the students all sat at tables  throughout the room.  Parents were invited but they didn’t sit and eat with their children.  As they introduced us they asked us to come up and say a few words.  I am NOT an impromptu speaker!  I said something to the effect that at Kindergarten graduation I made the comment that I remembered my first day of kindergarten.  But I didn’t remember the ending of my 6^th grade year and leaving primary school.  But that they would probably always remember this day.  What a great send off for them as they leave Primary and head off to the college.  The LDS College is 7^th grade -13^th grade.  So, it’s a big deal.  And what a great way to help them remember this great accomplishment.  Kim spoke to them about the privilege they have of attending this great school where they are not only taught secular knowledge but they are spiritually fed as well.  You look out the window of their classrooms and there is the angel Moroni standing above them on the spire of the temple.  It’s an everyday reminder of who they are and how blessed they are to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Then we ate.  And then the dance began!  The Fijians love music and love dancing and they love their music loud!!  So, lots of loud music and dancing and fun went on for the next hour.  We loved being there and being a part of their celebration.  They are great kids with a bright future!

Year 6 Teachers: Juliet Toro and Save Batisaresare

Turning over the "baton" to the new male head student.

He will take charge of assemblies and other activities.

 

Year 5 singing a song for the Year 6 students.

Elder Roper delivering his graduation address.

I love all of their salusalus.  Parents provide the salusalu for their child if they desire.

The principal, Mereisi Talemaitoga, helped tie a candy garland on each graduate.

Elder Roper was given the honor to hand out diplomas.

 

 
The College principal, William Ratusaki and last year's outstanding student presenting this year's outstanding student with her jacket and trophy. 


Sister Bidesi trying to comfort her while she gave her acceptance speech.

The DUX recipient coming to give his acceptance speech. He was the Head male Student this year.

And then there was PROM...

Between Kim and I are the year 6 teachers and to Kim's left is the librarian.

 

Maria Tamanalevu is not only an English Teacher at the college but a mother of one of the year 6 girls.  She helped with the decorations and was the MC for the Prom.  She has since left Fiji and has moved to Utah with her husband and 3 children.  She will greatly be missed.