Staff Blog
This past Monday some of our kids got to experience a music event at CSC. As I have mentioned in previous posts, for the past 4 months I have been teaching private voice and piano lessons to 8 talented CSC kids. All of their hard work culminated into a special music recital. For the past month or so, the 8 students had been working hard to make their 2-3 songs performance ready. I had been working equally as hard to prepare the setting for what I believed would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some of them.
For the voice students (there are 6), Disney and Broadway songs have been the focus in our lessons. Some of the songs performed included: Part of your world - The Little Mermaid, Consider Yourself - Oliver, I Could Have Danced All Night - My Fair Lady, Colors of the Wind - Pocahontas, Do Re Mi - The Sound of Music, and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Phantom of the Opera. As you can see, we had quite the selection! Considering the fact that most of their pieces were very theatrical songs, I decided that I would gather costumes for EACH of their songs. I really wanted the kids to have the chance to get in character, and perform in a more dramatic and theatrical way. In all honesty, the costumes actually helped them become better performers, because it helped them use better facial expressions and actions, so as to match their costumes.
The piano students (2 of them) performed a mix of classical and contemporary pieces. Some of the selections included: Somewhere Over the Rainbow - The Wizard of Oz, Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven, Carol of the Bells, and A Whole New World - Aladdin.
There was a lot of action building up to the performance. Besides finding all the costumes and fitting the kids, I had to coordinate helpers, set up the stage, create a picture board, make snacks, prepare a slide show, and coordinate group practices. Normally individual lessons take place after school each day, but the week before the performance all of the students stayed after school every day for group practices. It was a bit chaotic at first, trying to pull all the acts together, but at last I could see the big picture. On the Friday before the performance we had dress rehearsal. This was really fun for me (and the kids) because we could at last see all of our hard work coming together. It was also really exciting to see the songs put together with hair, makeup and costumes!
The excitement of the kids was clearly building, both for the performers and for the other kids at CSC. This recital was a bit different than other recitals, because it did not include every child at CSC. The performers were each given 3 invitations to pass out to friends, so that in the end there would be a total of 25 children, along with house parents, teachers, counselors, staff and other outside guests (making the total around 80). The kids at the shelter could not wait to see what we had in store for them!
The day of the recital finally arrived, and the performers headed up to school around 3 for some last minute notes. At about 4:00 we started doing hair and makeup (without lipstick), because at 5:00 we had 2 3-foot pizzas delivered for dinner. No I am not joking, these pizzas were 3 feet in diameter!! It was crazy! After chowing down, we finally got everyone into their costumes in time to go out to the music room for warm ups before the show. The kids expressed that they were nervous, but very excited. After a short prayer we headed out to start the show.
Everything about the recital went just as I had planned - maybe even better! The kids really came through in their performances, and truly showcased how hard they had been working in the past 4 months. It was exciting to see the performances come to life as the kids added their actions and personalities to the songs. I was particularly impressed by one of my student's performance. All throughout practicing and lessons she had quite a hard time learning and memorizing the words to her songs. Even all the way up to the day of the performance I was worried that she would not have the confidence to sing her songs completely. I had been working with her so hard on building her confidence in herself, so despite my worries, was feeling hopeful for her performance. Boy was I surprised what she would bring to the floor! Not only did she say the words better than she ever had in practice, she had strength in her voice and sang with confidence and accurate pitch! I felt so proud.
We ended the recital with our surprise number "Let it Go". Once we finished, I felt instantly relieved, and I know the kids did too. It was a complete success, and I have never been more proud of my students!
Boomerang
boo·mer·ang
/ˈbo͞oməˌraNG/
noun
- 1. a curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower, traditionally used by Australian Aborigines as a hunting weapon
verb
- 1. (of a plan or action) return to the originator
Over the last few years, former CSC children have been returning for visits with increasing frequency. Some families have brought their children back to the country of their birth, and to see one of their first homes, for a heritage tour. Other children---actually young adults now---have made the journey on their own, for a more independent experience.
One former child, who was the youngest ever to leave for adoption (at age 9 months) requested to celebrate his 10th birthday with the kids of CSC; it was his birthday wish! Another young lady, who was adopted as a toddler, was here this past October. She is now a senior in college, studying Early Childhood Development, and wanted to return to CSC to see firsthand how the children of CSC are cared for and loved on, since she was one of them too! Last month, CSC was happy to have one of its very first children return for her 3rd visit back to CSC; this time she and her husband were excited to show their little girl where her mom came from. And most recently, about 2 days ago, CSC welcomed back a young boy who left as a toddler exactly 4 years ago. His family brought him back to once again play on the playground with some of the same kids he used to play with (though he made plenty of new friends too!) and to spend time with his former houseparents.
For each returning child, their story is of course uniquely theirs. They all have different circumstances that bring them to CSC and they all have different life experiences once they leave CSC. However, there is a pull, like that of a boomerang, for many kids to return to CSC. To see a place that they might only have pictures of but for which they have no vivid memories. They want to see first-hand former caregivers that put band-aids on their skinned knee, read stories to them or rocked them to sleep at night.
CSC is happy to welcome back former kids because really, once you are in the CSC family, you are always in the CSC family!
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
KCC
Kurume Christ Church, hence KCC, is a church in the city of Higashi Kurume in the greater Tokyo area in Japan. KCC is significant for a number of reasons, but one reason is that it is the only church in Asia that supports CSC on an on-going basis. Kurume Christ Church became aware of CSC many years ago through the friendship of Paul and Shari Reasoner and Taizo and Kimiko Morimoto. Taizo is the pastor of Kurume Christ Church. Pastor Morimoto wanted his church members to broaden their experience of helping people in need, so he suggested a team of people go to Cebu to see the shelter. Since that initial trip, a number of people who attend KCC have visited and volunteered at the shelter. A nurse came to help the nurses at the shelter, t-shirts were given to all of the workers and children at the shelter, a high school student volunteered in the medical department to enhance her pursuit of a career in medicine, and the church sponsors CSC children through the Foster Friends program. So KCC has been creative in its involvment with CSC.
Next week the Reasoner clan in Cebu (Joel, Jinkee, Ethan, Shari and Paul) is heading up to Japan to visit friends, family, Morimotos, and KCC. It will be great to update and thank the church people in person for their continued support of the shelter.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | General News |
We're baack!
We are back in Cebu safe and sound. It has been a joy to see the kids and staff and re-learn how to navigate here. Lots of changes, but the ministry remains the same. Thanks to all who prayed for us and gave encouragement during our extended furlough.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment |
How Does My Hair Look?
“How does my hair look? Does it look cool?” As I turn around, I see hair standing straight up, styled with gel, and filled will many different colors. Underneath it all, there is a young boy’s smile staring up at me. Many of the boys at the shelter enjoy styling their hair (sometimes even more than the girls do!). It has been fun to see all the “cool” hairstyles at the shelter. Even more than the hairstyles, the smiles on each face are priceless. Enjoy these pictures of some of the coolest hairstyles here at CSC!
Coloring and styling each other's hair
Purple hair!
That hair stands up so tall!
Look at those orange streaks!
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment |
The Dream Class
The school days after Sports Fest have been filled with preparation for third quarter tests. Teachers are busy preparing for the exams and pupils are busy studying their previous lessons.
During one review session, one pupil told me, “Teacher, I am so excited to know who will get the highest score on our exams in all the subjects and, hopefully, it will be me.”
I smiled and told her, “Oh, that’s good. Maybe you will get the highest score or maybe one of your classmates will get the highest score. All of you have a great chance of getting the highest score if you listen to the teachers during the review and study hard.”
This conversation
happened in Level A-1 (kindergarten). The Level A-1 pupils are very amazing. We call them “the dream class.” These eight little girls follow instructions,
listen attentively, and they are adorable. It’s stress-free teaching. They’ll do a great job on their quarter
tests!
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | School News |
