FW: My last day

Hi Boys and Girls! I'm home! I can't wait to see you at school
tomorrow and hear how your week went. Here are some pictures from my
last day.
1. We read Harry the Dog and made dog ears in kindergarten.
2. The children had a closing assembly for me on Friday. They lined up
the way we do in big chapel...pre-k on the front, then by grades, with
4th grade in the back. They said a prayer, thanking God for all that
you and I did for them this week. It was really sweet. Then they sang
some songs for me. I videoed it and will show it to you. It made me
happy and sad all at the same time!
3. This is the daughter of a friend of mine, who goes to an Episcopal
school in San Pedro Sula. They met us at the market before we went to
the airport on Saturday. She had just played a soccer game for her
school.
4. This was a science experiment that Ms. Brannan sent for us to do.
(You know...with the water and Alka Seltzer? The top explodes off. The
children loved it!!

I'll see you tomorrow!! Xoxox Ms. M.

FW: Thursday in Honduras

<<1-29-09 022.jpg>> Bu <<1-29-09 029.jpg>> en <<1-29-09 067.jpg>> os
Dias, Amigos!
Today was another fun day at school. I re-inacted "Little Red Riding
Hood" with the first graders. They already knew the story, so it was
easy for me. The children made puppets when I got through and were able
to re-tell the story. Thank you, Ms. Touchstone for giving me all the
materials for this activity!
Second graders worked on writing a letter to you. Some of the children
will be writing back in Spanish. They were so cute. Some wanted to
find American children who like art. Some wanted a letter that said
soccer, and others wanted to find American children who like animals.
You know you are all alike...you just live in different parts of the
world.
I gave the second graders an addition mad-minute. Most of them finished
ahead of time! Guess what I taught them to do on the back? You guessed
it...Ms. Marshall's famous doodle! They even colored it.

Later this afternoon I went with my friends from Jackson to the
dedication of a water purification system in a nearby village. Now the
people there can have clean water to drink and will have better health.
We also dedicated a house that John Spencer's dad helped to build. The
family was living in house made of sticks. (just like one of the 3
little pigs!).

Guess what I saw today? Two huge (and I mean HUGE) hornet's nests! I
also saw a tiny (and I mean TINY) hummingbird's nest. I took picturs of
both to show you when I get back.

Now - I have a challenge for us all. Roberto and Bertha (the owners of
the resort and the bilingual school) invited me to their home for dinner
last night so that I could give them suggestions for making the school
better. The school does not have a library, and the chilren really need
to take books written in English home to enjoy. I think that we can all
collect our used books and create a library for them. What do you
think? I know I have lots of books in boxes that belonged to my
children. There are only 130 children in the school. I KNOW we can
gather enough books for a library for them!

I miss you! I received the email from Dr. Harth with all of your
questions. I'll answer your questions tomorrow. OK - maybe a few now:
The donkey's name is Clementine. Clementine is so friendly, and once
walked in someone's cottage!
The food is FABULOUS! I'll show you pictures later.
The lake was once the crater of a volcano. (That's why the soil is so
rich.) Some children have neat handwriting...others have messy...just
like American children!

Take care...I hope that you all do great on your Wordly Wise test.
Happy 100th Day of school!

Xoxoxo Ms. M

FW: Social studies in Honduras

<<HPIM5299.jpg>> Bo <<HPIM5302.jpg>> ys <<HPIM5304.jpg>> and girls -
Today the children made the same world with a styrofoam ball that we
did. Their ceiling is too high, so we are going to hang it in their
window. They loved it, and followed directions beaufifully! They all
knew the land masses and oceans. (in other words, they didn't color any
oceans green!
I miss you! Ms. M.

FW: Letters

<<HPIM5294.jpg>> Bo <<HPIM5297.jpg>> ys and girls - Today many of the
children read the letters that you wrote to them. They loved them, and
wanted to read every one. They are writing back to you...probably in
Spanish because it will be easier for them. Senora Interiano can help
you translate them. When Eric (in Honduras) read Toryn's letter, he was
so excited to know that they both like the same soccer team - Manchester
United. That's Eric on the front row on the right, reading Toryn's
letter.
Xoxo Ms. M

FW: School helpers

<<HPIM5289.jpg>> Th <<HPIM5291.jpg>> es <<HPIM5292.jpg>> e
<<HPIM5293.jpg>> are a few helpers at the school:

1. There is only one chef/cook. He is like Mrs. Dupree and Mrs. Ward.
He is a great cook and the food is delicious!
2. This is the security guard for the school. (like Mr. William Brown,
except he doesn't have a golf cart!) The gate stays locked at all times,
even though we are out in the country. In fact, another guard comes in
the evening and stays all night!
3. This is Senora Marguerita. Her job is Mrs.Cloud, Mrs. Owens, and Dr.
Penick all in one! (It's a small school of 130 students.)
4. Today we had a choice of chicken or fish, Spanish rice, salad, and
fried tortillas for lunch. Yum! Cost: around $2 (40 lempiras)

FW: First grade today

<<1-27-09 027.jpg>> To <<1-27-09 029.jpg>> day in first grade we talked
about the letter D. I read Harry the Dirty Dog in English, followed by
the teacher reading it in Spanish. Then we made Harry with construction
paper and also painted dots on the letter D. Thank you, Voula for the
activities. The children LOVED it!! Once again,, when I walked in the
room, the children stood and said, "Good morning, Ms. Marshall". When I
got to the fourth grade today the first thing they wanted to do was play
"Around the World". I've got my list going on the board and on Friday
we'll have the finals.

When I got back to the resort, I went for a marathon nature walk...I
took pictures of ducks on the lake, mountains covered with clouds, many
colorful birds, pineapple plants, orange, papaya, and avocado trees,
coffee plants (I even picked some beans to show the SA students),
bananas and plantains in the trees, bright pink and red ginger, huge
bromeliads growing up the tree trunks, and horses (and the friendly
donkey) grazing in the pasture. I decided that the best thing about
coming this time of the year is that there are not any flies! However,
there have been some mosquitoes!

Although the classrooms have over head lights, they don't waste
electricity. Most of the time the lights are off. At first I thought
it was rather dark, but after a few minutes you get used to it. The
school has a metal roof. Both days I thought raindrops were falling on
it, but I didn't see any rain. Today the children told me that it is
the crows walking on the roof!

I have given several classes the letters that we wrote and they are
starting their responses.

Take care! Ann

FW: Physical Education today

<<1-27-09 002.jpg>> Go <<1-27-09 004.jpg>> od evening! The children
have physical education for 40 minutes several times a week. The
children wear their P.E. uniforms to school on that day. The class
today started with some calisthenics, a period of jumping rope (thank
you, Andy Till for the jumpropes!!), and then some timed relays. I must
tell you what impressed me with the children today. When it came time
for us to give out the colorful jumpropes from St. Andrew's, the
children waited patiently in line while we untangled them, and not one
child specified a particular color that they would like. AND, they
certainly know how to say "please" and "thank you" in English!

FW: School's out!

<<HPIM5203.jpg>> It <<HPIM5204.jpg>> 's 1:30 and time for all God's
children to go home!

FW: Lunch time

<<HPIM5192.jpg>> He <<HPIM5193.jpg>> ll <<HPIM5195.jpg>> o again! The
children have 30 minutes for lunch. They can bring their lunch from
home or buy it in a cafeteria that is a separate building on the
playground. One of the pictures shows the children lined up to buy
lunch. They get a hot lunch (today was chicken, rice and salad) for $2
(40 lempiras). They eat "picnic style" anywhere on the grounds.
However, there are plastic tables on the breezeway between the
classrooms. In the 3rd picture some children are showing me Honduras on
a map that I brought.
Teachers - I hope that if you have time you will read these emails to
the chilren.
Parents - I hope you don't mind my sending you pictures every day.
Please show them to your children.
Jim - xoxox Mom

FW: Unpacking the goodies from St. Andrew's

<<HPIM5179.jpg>>
<<HPIM5181.jpg>> T <<HPIM5194.jpg>> he Delta Airlines lady was in a
good mood because she ignored my overweight luggage! I told her that it
was school supplies for Honduras. The teachers truly felt like
Christmas had arrived in January. They had everything on display all
day to enjoy. The children walked by and just couldn't get over all the
stickers! Thank you, everyone!
Their school day starts at 7:30 and ends at 1:30. Most of the children
are car-pooled in from nearby towns. As I said, we are in a remote area
with one near-by town, Pena Blanca.
Supplies are scarce, and the teachers buy what little crafty things they
do with their own money. The children are adorable, and really do quite
well with their English. Most teaching is done in English.
Ann
.

FW: Early morning

<<HPIM5174.jpg>> He <<HPIM5175.jpg>> ll <<HPIM5178.jpg>> o everyone!
First of all, you must realize how beautiful this place is. We are
located on Lake Yohoa, which has mountains on one side, and coffee,
banana and sugar cane plantations on the other. Our resort is on a
coffee plantation, and hosts many mission groups as well as vacationers
from other parts of Central America. Unfortunately, there are many
poverty-stricken villages in the area.
The owner of the resort started a bilingual school for his own children,
as well as children of more affluent families. (tuition at $65 per
month...with some scholarship children) Most of our food is grown right
here...tilapia in the lake, bananas,chickens, beef,fresh vegetables,
fruit (papaya, avocados, pineapple, oranges, etc.)and coffee, to mention
a few. My favorite food at breakfast is what I call "chocolate
grits"...actually it's beans.
The temp. today is high 70's, no humidity.

I'll be sending you lots of pictures each day, internet and computer
willing.
I think I just need to send a few at a time. I'll tackle the video
later! Ann

Sunday in Honduras

Good morning! I'm
getting ready to go to my frist day of school. I'm attaching a few
pictures to experiment with this internet. I took them at last night's
church servies. (except for the donkey, who wandered up on the front
porch of the hotel) I hope I can send my videos. These Honduras really
know how to have a church service!! Ann