In the Spring, AISJ (the kids' school) always does a play which primarily stars the secondary kids, but which appropriates most of the elementary kids for chorus and crowd scenes. This year's production was Oliver! and Mary and Isaac got to play orphans. They complained about the practices (all two of them) and having to learn the songs, but they did a great job. Mary particularly seemed to take to being on stage, and her teacher said Mary was disappointed that she didn't get a speaking part. Maybe theater will be a good outlet for her dramatic energies. . .
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| "All we ever get is gruel. . . " |
Here are some of the teachers:
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| Ms. Hass as Mrs. Bumble |
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| Secondary Director Lawrence Hilditch as the drunk magistrate. We thought his hiccuping was hilarious. |
Here are other Jerusalem Center kids in the production:
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| Amanda Judd |
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| Elizabeth Schade |
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| David Schade |
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| Carrie Judd as the maid |
AISJ Elementary Graduation:
No end of the year is complete without a token graduation ceremony. At AISJ that doubles (at least for the elementary) as the spring music concert. Linda's class sang a song by the Christian kids rock group "Go Fish" entitled
"Fruit of the Spirit". It was very cute, albeit a lot quieter without the band. Isaac's class sang "So Long, Farewell" from
The Sound of Music, including with choreography. Unfortunately, I didn't get a single good photo of Isaac (I was stuck behind a lot of people with a non-zoomable iPad), but I can vouch for him that he was actually there and did actually graduate from fourth grade.
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| The PrePrimary (Kindergarten) through Primary 4 (P4/4th Grade). Linda is fifth from the left in the front row, and Isaac is in the third row back (two people behind Emily Judd, who is in the front row with a blue shirt). |
Linda had a great year at AISJ. She's a natural student, loves to read and write and do the right things. She excels in the structure of a typical school day, and makes friends easily. She is reading at a third grade level and is most happy when she can write down everything she is thinking or saying. She loves to color and do crafts and finds book learning exciting. She also has an inherent talent with color and shading, and creates beautiful artwork. Her teacher, Miss Gandy, was delighted to have her in class.
Isaac complained a lot at home, but his teachers, Miss Dunn and Miss Paisley, always talked about how well he was doing. The high expectations for neatness and accuracy were quite difficult for him at the beginning of the year, and when he had to really work consistently at something like multiplication facts, he sometimes got discouraged. For a while he had to sit alone in class because he was so easily distracted from his tasks. But by the end of the year his teachers and his parents were extremely pleased with how well he had risen to the school's expectations. He consistently was turning in well-written and thoughtful work, and he was able to sit with his friends. Socially he fit in well with everyone and was well-liked among his classmates.
The fifth grade did their own ceremony complete with a scripted play discussing one of the most important concepts they studied this year: freedom.
The opening song of their skit, entitled "Freedom."
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| Mary is in the center section. |
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| Delivering some of her lines for the skit. |
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| Ms. Hass shared a story about a stonecutter who wanted to have more power, so he became the sun, then the clouds, then the wind, then a stone wall, and finally a stonecutter again. The moral of the story was to recognize the power that you have within you and do your best with it, rather than waste your energy wishing to be or have something else. |
Mary's academics in P5 were excellent as usual. Her teacher's only complaint was that Mary was incredibly smart but didn't necessarily want to take the time to present what she knew in the appropriate way. She sometimes fit the old adage about needing to "apply" herself. Ms. Hass was a great ally for Mary, helping her to grow socially and emotionally this year. There were only five girls in Mary's class (out of 15 total students), and unfortunately Mary didn't click well with the other girls. But Ms. Hass went out of her way to teach Mary important skills that would help her to interact better with others, as well as how to be compassionate and aware of others' feelings. Mary learned a lot of things that will help her as she prepares for the middle school years, and that she can take with her as we head back to Utah.
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| Mary receiving her graduation certificate from the School Director, Owen Hoskin, and the Elementary Director, Jo Holmes. Ms. Hass complemented each of the students individually as they came across the stage: she applauded Mary for being brave and courageous during this difficult year. Afterwards Mary said to me "I think she said I was brave because I kept coming to school even though I didn't have any friends." She and I both teared up a little, then hugged, then went down to enjoy the refreshments. Whatever Mary's faults or struggles, and however she needs to improve, I am proud that she is so tough, and keeps working at things that are hard. |
Al Mahaba Preschool:
Abby and Joe went to a Lutheran and Palestinian kindergarten (preschool to us) just up and around the corner. They could have gone every day, but that was too much for us, so I just took them a couple mornings a week, whatever days suited my needs the best. I think that frustrated the administration a little bit, partly because consistency is easier for them. But I honestly started to miss the kids when they were gone too much, and I didn't have that much to do to fill my time that was as important as taking care of my own kids. But the people at the preschool were very nice and accommodating, and Abby and Joe always seemed to have a good time.
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| Abby and Joe with Melvey, a Palestinian mother of three who works tirelessly at the preschool. She was always there, never took breaks, and was ever gentle and patient, |
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| Abby and Joe with Mary, the Friday caretaker. She had a wonderful smile and the kids were very comfortable with her. |
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| Margaret, the director of the preschool. |
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| Nathan, everybody's favorite. He was a German college student, living in Jerusalem for a year to study a little, but mostly to volunteer at the preschool. The children gravitated to his genuine, loving and gentle demeanor. He was the best at calming Abby when she would get upset. He will make a tremendous dad someday. |
