Back to School

As an educator I have a great understanding of the need to improve your knowledge through self study and extra classes.  At the end of March this year I was given the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia, PA and participate in the 2011 ASCD Annual Conference.

The conference provided a way for me to not only meet with other educators, but take specific seminars that will help me next year as Elementary Principal.  The encouragement and new ideas I received provided me with inspiration!  At the end of the conference I was excited to return to Vienna and begin to implement some of the technique and strategies I had learned about within my own 5th grade classroom.  I was also thrilled to begin to start planning how I would use some of these same techniques with my elementary staff during the next school year.  I love to learn!  I also love to share what I've learned with other educators and help them in any way I possibly can.

One added bonus to this trip stateside was the meeting up with my mother and sister, Sara.  Since I was in the US (and it's a lot cheaper to fly to PA vs. Vienna) they decided to fly out and spend as much time with me as they could.  Even though I was in seminars most of the day, we had one day of sight seeing and every evening to spend together.  I really enjoyed the opportunity God provided to spend time with family!  Philly would not have been quite the same without them.  :)

Austrian Flag in Philly :)

Cherry Blossom Season

Putting a Penny on Ben Franklin's Grave

Visiting a Graveyard...Sara's favorite thing :)

Waiting for a tour

Room where the Founding Father's discussed the Constitution

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

If a picture says a thousand words, then books add some more.  March is our annual Book Month.  One of the events during this time is the Character Costume Assembly.  Each student dresses up like a book character of their choice.  The creativity that goes into some of the costumes is astounding!  I'm always impressed when I see what kids are able to do when they put their minds to it.

Normal Boys??  NO, book characters :)

A Cricket in Times Square

Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I'm a Monkey and my mother told me NOT to jump on the bed. :)

Babar the Elephant (one of my favorite picture books)

This Year's Theme: Doctor Seuss

Zany Kids

My kids are a mystery...they surprise me EVERY day with how fun, silly, and zany they can be.  Don't worry, we do have serious moments, but some of the times I like best happen during "free time."

Yea for International Family Fun Night

International Family Fun Night is always a favorite at ICSV.  Seeing all the different cultures come together and educate each other about who they are is fantastic!  The ending Culture/Talent Show provide an opportunity for each student to share with their peers where they come from.  This year the elementary school ROCKED!!!!  We had the most participants in the entire show.  Check out the video below to see some of the highlights.

One of my favorite Korean dishes!

Two ICSV teachers enjoying the show

One Former and Two Current Students

Xtra Time Please!

Have you ever wished for several additional hours in the day?  For the past few months I've DESPERATELY needed a few extra hours each day.  I can't seem to find enough time with all the different things I want/need to do: teach full time, prepare to take over as Elementary Principal next year, try to have some type of a social life, find time to dwell in God's Word, clean my apartment, etc.

The human part of me wishes that God chose to create a 30 hour day, but knowing myself, 30 hours still wouldn't be enough time to complete all I needed/wanted to do.  I need to be content with the time He has provided.  God knew what He was doing when He created the world.  He provided just the right amount of time to accomplish everything in His plans.

The missions pastor at my US church has been studying the concept of the Sabbath (click here to read the blog).  Through his studies, he has come to a better understand of what the Lord commands in regards to keeping the Sabbath day holy.  His thoughts on the topic have really got me thinking about the need to rest and relax in the Lord.  Life will always be busy, but there are also times when God will speak to you in the still, quiet moments.  It's important to remember to take time to have those moments and listen carefully to the Lord.

Way to Go Girls!

At the 11th Grade Talent Show five of my girls decided to perform a dance routine.  They did a FABULOUS job!  Enjoy a short video of each dance.  :)

Two of the Judges (HS Teachers)

Various SEW Memories

~5th Grade Favorite Memories~

1. My favorite Jerry Jacoby saying is, “I have a bald spot because when I was a little boy I was such a good boy that my dad would pat me a lot on my head.”

2. My favorite thing is that Elmer was in love with Miss Howard and the songs and your jokes.

3. My favorite part is when you sang the songs in slow-motion.

4. I love Michaella’s violin with Jerry Jacoby’s guitar.  +Elmer & Popcorn’s cute Chicken Dance!

5. My favorite part about Jerry Jacoby is when he does other languages and when he tells jokes.

6. When Elmer kissed Miss Howard.

7. I love how Elmer danced with Popcorn the CHICKEN DANCE!

8. I like the time Michaella played her violin fast.

9. I like Jerryl because he is a Christian and he is very very funny.  PS-by the way your jokes are very funny.

10. I like the part when Jerry Jacoby do the slow motion and when Elmer tells jokes and Elmer and Popcorn chicken dance.

11. I love Elmer because he is in love with Miss Howard and is a chicken!

12. I like the part that you said about your bible verse the most.  Thank you for singing for us.

13. My favorite time was when Elmer kiss Miss Howard.

14. My favorite part was when Elmer kept on looking up when Jerry said “Jesus.”

15. I like the jokes and stories Elmer say about Ms. Howard.  I like Elmer and popcorn doing the chicken dance.  Jerry Jacoby is the funniest person of all.

16. I loved watching my students enjoy singing, doing motions, and hearing about God!    ~Miss Howard

Unlikely Crush

Last month I suddenly found myself with a boyfriend?!?  I know you're probably thinking...Who is he?...What are the details?...Why didn't I hear about this earlier?  Well...He's a chicken (puppet), we met at the ICSV Elementary Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW), and blurting out that I have a chicken puppet boyfriend is...well...strange.  :)  Elmer is the "son" of Jerry (SEW speaker) and Michaella Jacoby.  He fell in love with me and loves telling all the students about it.  He even kissed me a few times on the cheek!  Sadly I wasn't able to get pictures of any of those kisses. :)  Below are a few "family" photos for you to enjoy!

The Jacoby Family: Jerry, Michaela, Elmer, & Popcorn

Jerry & Elmer

Take it Away Mr. Janett

Part of our Spiritual Emphasis Week is a Thursday night concert where the kids and parents are able to come for a special concert by Jerry Jacoby (our speaker).  It's a fun night of singing, dancing, and for me...getting kissed by my "boyfriend" (check out tomorrow's post for details!).  Not only are the kids able to continue to enjoy Jerry's talents, the parents are also able to hear and see what we have been doing/learning about all week long.  One of the evenings highlights this year was a performance by several ICSV administrators.  Check out the video below to see all the action!

Spiritual Emphasis Week Theme

The theme for this year's Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) was simple, yet SO important...it was The Gospel.  Check out our speaker's, Jerry Jacoby, thoughts about this year's theme.

THE GOSPEL

(How’s that for a theme?)

          Religion is a lot more comfortable than The Gospel. Religion can tell us what we have to believe and what we have to achieve to win God’s approval. It gives us a list of standards so we can know when we’ve arrived and can be satisfied with our growth and achievement.
         The Gospel, on the other hand, is shocking: Perfect God creates autonomous beings with the right to choose. Longing for our love, He had to give us the choice to refuse His love so that if any of us chose to return to Him and love Him, it would be our own free choice - real love, like His.
          His pursuit of our love led Him to become one of us, identify with us in every way, but without sin. And in the face of total rejection by all mankind, He reveals His plan - He takes the punishment due us on Himself and dies. He defeats sin, death and satan and rises from the dead. Then he offers us the way back - not a self improvement plan or a set of rules, but forgiveness for all our sins. This Gospel is shocking because it is a unilateral offer - He did it all and we can only receive. He holds all the cards. If we try to have His offer under any other conditions we end up with …religion.
          Jesus did not come to make us nice. He came to make us alive. Without Him, we are dead and eternally lost. With Him, we are redeemed, secure and whole new creatures.
          Heavy stuff for kids? I don’t think so. Jesus said that with the faith of a child the miracle of salvation takes place.
          This week we’ll laugh, sing and hear wonderful stories but the theme is not religion - it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our Daily Chapel Themes

MONDAY: Who is God?
Exodus 2-3
Moses, as a shepherd in Midian, looks back over the design of his early life and wonders: “Why?” And then, in a burning bush, he meets the Great I AM!

TUESDAY: Sin
Genesis 3-4:16
God freely gave all things for Adam and Eve to enjoy except for one tree – and that tree became their consuming desire. Sin had entered the universe – but God has a plan!

WEDNESDAY: It is finished.
Matthew 4: 18-20; John 19: 28-30; John 20: 19-20
Peter sees God’s plan unfold – but what a roller-coaster ride of emotions: from embracing the Messiah-Leader with joy, only to lose Him on a cross, only to receive Him again, risen & victorious. The plan is accomplished!

THURSDAY: The Gospel
Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21
Today Jerry explains the Gospel in context of how he came to know his own sin, and trust Jesus as his Savior.

FRIDAY: More Good News: Jesus hasn’t left us alone.
John 20: 19-29; Luke 24: 35-53
Thomas relates how he came to grips with the Risen Jesus and then describes his Savior’s Ascension and promise that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter was coming. Good News!

The Crew with Jerry

One of our Worship Times