Rugby National Championship

This week our teaching responsibilities included a review for the midterm exam and administering the SLEP test.  SLEP is a Secondary Level English Proficiency test and is a standardized test required for international Samoan applicants to BYU-Hawaii. 

A highlight was the banquet Friday evening to honor the teams from Vaiola College who won the boys' Rugby Samoan national championship and the girls' Net Ball championship that took place in Apia the week before we arrived.  As you can imagine, this is a source of pride to this school.  Every effort was made to arrange a grand celebration. To give you an idea of the effort, they decorated the "hall" with fronds and draped cloth.   One teacher with the help of others stayed up most of the night sewing chair covers.  The meal was catered and every detail planned.  Parents came with their athletes; presentations were awarded and accolades given of deserved praise.  It was really nice seeing how dressed up mom and dads were and how they beamed with their son or daughter.  It was our privilege to be invited.