On a mission: Prize Giving & Graduation

This was a whirlwind week as the 2017 school year came to a close.

Tuesday was the Vaiola College (high school & middle school) Prize-Giving where annual awards were given for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place academic achievements in each specific subject area as well as overall. Prize-Giving also includes sports achievements, spelling bee, leadership awards, and scholarships. Certificates were presented along with brown-paper wrapped gifts like notebooks and such, as well as some trophies. It is at Prize-Giving that the Valedictorian and Salutatorian are announced. It was a huge event that required a lot of organization and preparation by staff. Parents and staff passed out many candy leis to students as they were awarded. Intermittently, students performed entertainment numbers.

Warming up the audience and students.

Friends lined up to drape candy leis on the Valedictorian just announced.

Valedictorian & Salutatorian Island Dance

Yep, Ron was called out to dance! Such a good sport---much laughter.

We assisted in presenting certificates.

Vaiola Primary School (Levels 1-6) Prize-Giving was held on Wednesday morning following the same format as the high school. Again, parents showered their children with candy leis.

Graduation Day was Thursday, November 30^th. Staff really worked hard to have rehearsal and to decorate and to prepare all the meals. It was an emotional time for parents, staff, and us, knowing that we may never see some of these youth again, especially the international students. It was a happy celebration!

Breakfast for guests & parents just prior to Commencement

Valedictorian

Salutatorian

Graduating Class of 2017

Lunch held after Commencement. Servers are in the Vaiola uniform.

Graduation evening was prom. The youth were dressed in their formal attire and really enjoyed themselves.

Mother/Son Dance

Father/Daughter Dance

Representatives came from the Auckland NZ Area Office to attend the Samoa graduations in Sauniatu, Apia, and Vaiola. It so happens that the representatives selected were the ITEP Area Coordinators that supervise us and the TVET manager over us as well. We loved hosting them here in Savaii.

Our TVET Manager, Ameet & Vaiola College Vice Principal

Elder & Sister Holbrook---ITEP Coordinators

On Friday the international dorm students waved a farewell as their bus transported them off campus for the return flight after 10 months away from family. Tears of sadness and happiness flowed freely. They will be in our hearts forever.

Late Friday afternoon staff got together for their Christmas party playing outdoor team games and volleyball. Then we ate oranges, rested, and dressed for a nice staff appreciation Christmas dinner that evening. At the dinner we were in groups and we had five minutes to create a TV ad and then perform them. There were lots of laughs. Following that four staff were called impromptu to lip sync to some rock and roll songs and they put on an entertaining show! The Principal gave a year end speech and acknowledged the three retiring staff with plaques. Two teachers are from the Primary School and one retiree is a bus driver.

TV AD

Three Retirees


Love these staff!

We celebrated Ron's birthday on Saturday, Dec. 2^nd, with a hike and truly it was in the jungle on the way up to the crater of Mt. Matavanu. However, the trail toward the final leg was not defined and we did not realize our goal to get to the rim. “Da Crater Man” (as he has dubbed himself) said he would go with us next Saturday to make sure we were headed on the right trail. He claims to have made over 600 signs; funny, there wasn't a single one pointing to the trail-head. “Da Crater Man” is a fun and unique Samoan who speaks great English. Elder Deffense drove the rough access road; it had rained the night before so the road was a bit slick in places and we finally just parked the car and hiked in. There were many kinds of orchids and ferns! Later that evening, we met at the Savaiian Hotel for dinner. It was an exhilarating day.