On a mission: 4th Term

This past week began a new term, the last term of this school year which runs February through November. Students are subject to internal final exams as well as external (government) exams and so stress plays out for students as well as teachers. Additionally, some teachers are required to proctor external exams in government schools. A devotional this week focused on how to alleviate stress and how to cope. Elder Kinghorn made his presentation animated and it was well received.

We finished grading all 400 SLEP tests that show English profiency through listening and reading assessment. Ron has developed a partial data analysis that we hope to track next year to show progress by advancing grade levels.

In addition, our staff development courses resumed. We teach a class on Wednesdays from 3:15-5:00 p.m. and another from 6:30-8:15 p.m. On Thursdays we teach from 3:15-5:00 p.m. We attend administration leadership meetings with department heads every other Tuesday after school. Faculty meetings are on Fridays at 6:30 a.m. Hopefully this gives a glimpse of our ongoing labors.

On Friday a steady downpour of rain was substantial lasting two to three afternoon hours---5-8” during that time throughout Samoa. Yet, during the downpour, the dorm boys were playing ball, sliding and splashing in the water puddles covering the grassy area; and continued playing volleyball. We saw fords where the overflows were evident.

Even so, the rains let up about 7:00 p.m and we were able to hold movie night with the dorm girls, showing Chronicles of Narnia.

The everyday activites were conversations about school, visiting teaching a friend, seeing another friend hurting while caring for a dying family pet calf named Nancy, receiving a gift of fresh pineapple and mangos, assisting with a requested download, picking fresh green beans, cleaning, laundering, grocery shopping, etc.

Below are some random pictures of the past week: