With our long summer in the States followed by their parents working every day prepping at school for the previous two weeks (and often requiring THEIR help), our kids had definitely hit the point where they were ready to get back into the school routine.
Of course, every new school year reveals lots of changes, one of which brings Mr. Ben, Melissa's protege from last year, into the position of lead teacher for first grade, with Mr. Mikenn by his side as an aide.
This change has freed Melissa to move to 3rd grade where she will be training a new teacher - Mr. Walnique, a recent graduate from Emmaus Biblical Seminary just down the road.
Familiar faces filed through a brand new hallway, created by the outer wall of my new classroom.
Another Emmaus connection: Ms. Rosa is an intern at EBS but will be joining us each Wednesday to teach Spanish to our students.
Of course, I have to include a photo (or two) of my favorite change around Cowman for the new year. Just look at how Johnny was beaming the first day! And he has quickly become a favorite of the 3 and 4-year-olds that he is working with each day.
Here's Mrs. Z, back for her 13th year of "retirement", helping her new 2nd graders get settled into their desks.
A major change for my schedule: with Ms. Valorie here to take on math and science for the upper grades, I am free to focus on Bible for 8th and 9th graders, Social Studies for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, and English for 5th through 9th. I've never taught 5th graders before - I might be calling on the Lord for extra patience and wisdom this year! ;-)
There are many VERY familiar faces among my 8th and 9th graders, seeing as how I have been with this group for two solid years now. But we are sad at the absence of some who moved away over the summer. On the bright side, it has left me with a very manageable-sized class (just 11 at the moment) as we head into the heavier academics oh high school.
There are plenty of new students enrolled this year, but none of them more precious to us than this little guy in the 3-year-old class. Believe it or not, this is "baby Sammy"! I won't go into his story here and now, but suffice it to say that the Lord has a great plan for this little guy's life.
Our first Friday of the new school year brought our first chapel and introduction of our year-long theme: "Let Kingdom Come!" For now, we are gathering under the shade of mango trees for lunch and chapel (where the playground equipment used to be), though it's a temporary solution at best since, among other things, the birds in the branches overhead have proven to have little self control over bodily functions.
Johnny couldn't escape one of his new friends during the introduction of staff members before chapel began.
It feels so RIGHT to be praising God together again!
Hannah joined some of the other students in teaching motions for a brand new worship song.
Even though Melissa is a full-time third grade teacher, she continues her role as full-time teacher trainer as well. Here's some after-hours practice for the preschool teachers on the proper way to lead the students in forming the letters of the alphabet!
As we were just beginning to settle into our new school routines, the crate arrived that we packed in Greenwood, Indiana six weeks earlier, jammed full of our new (to us) reading curriculum and various school supplies.
It all went against the back wall of my room until we had the chance to sort through all the boxes.
Here the three princesses are admiring some of the "prize box" items and water coolers that came from our friends at Shiloh Wesleyan Church of Spencer, Indiana.
Our second week of classes ended with a half day for students, followed by an evening Open House for parents. Which, of course, makes for a very FULL day for the teachers. Here our principal, Angie Bundy, gives instructions to the teaching staff regarding the Open House schedule.
We had a great crowd of parents show up a few hours later to meet teachers and to hear about what they and their kids can expect from the new year at Cowman.
I can't resist posting this picture of Samuel taken after our first few days back to school. This is pretty much how we've all been feeling at the end of each day ...TIRED!
But it's a GOOD tired!
(On top of the strain of starting back into routine and dealing with changes, it's been in the 90s every day and often not much lower than the low 80s at night. Lots of sunshine and precious little rain. It does take its toll over time!)
Again, we are so thankful to be here and I remember in my prayers often all of you who have enabled us to be here and who have supported us along the way. Cowman School is doing good work - Kingdom building work - and it's a privilege to be a part of it.
