Staff Blog

SubscribeRSS FeedEmail Subscribe
Categories

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.

media overlay

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!

Bright Future Ahead

Jun. 1, 2015By: Jinkee Reasoner

As an adult, we wonder what the future will look like.  Too often, we are afraid of it, not trusting.  It is funny.  Even though we are more experienced than little children they often teach us to keep calm and have faith.  The future is in God’s mighty hands.

Kids arriving at CSC are unsure, uncertain and sometimes doubtful.  They have been through a lot at a very young age, but they never waver about the future.  At CSC they learn to trust again; to know that they are provided for and do not need to worry if they will have another meal.  They look straight forward with hopeful hearts.  They rest in God’s knowing hands that they will have a bright future ahead.

bright_future_ahead

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  --Jeremiah 29:11

New Faces

May. 28, 2015By: Shari Reasoner

Just as the kids are finishing up summer activities and heading into the last three weeks of their summer break, the school staff is getting geared back up to kick off the new school year.  Whew!  Summer went by so fast!  The staff reports back on Monday, June 8 for two weeks of planning and preparation.  Six new people will join our staff this year, so we have lots to do to get ready for the kids on June 22.  Five of the new members are from Cebu or someplace nearby.  Each will bring a fresh set of skills, one is an elementary major, another is a math major and yet another is a special education major.  The sixth new person, Amanda, is from the US, just having completed her studies in science education.  It’s been a couple of years since we have had a teacher from North America, so we are looking forward to having a native English speaker on the staff full time. 

Amanda

Amanda

More news of fun and learning will follow from the school halls in the weeks and months to come, but as we get ready for the kids, think of us and pray especially for the six new teachers, Alfie, Micillent, Lyrah, Amanda, Ethel and Ivy, who have committed to teaching at CCHS this year. 

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

May. 26, 2015By: Sandy Swanson

Logos5Logos1Today we had a few Staff  members  from the LOGOS HOPE ship visit us here at CSC. Their ship is docked here in Cebu City for the month of May. It was fun for our kids to interact with young Christians from all over the world,  We had people from Europe, from South America and one young lady from Florida.  It was good for our kids to hear the accents and to learn a few words of other languages, but most important it was good for our kids to see the light of the Lord shining it the eyes and beaming from the hearts of each of these young people. One of our kids was surprised to learn that someone from another country already knew about God....he thought that CSC was the only place that told people about God. Logos8That conversation that I overheard really brought home to me the staggering responsibility that we have, we are telling kids about THE GOD, the creator of the universe, their creator.  WOW, what a blessing and what a responsibility we have! All I could think of was the children's song;  "He's Got the Whole World in his Hands".  That HE does,  and I am thankful for that fact.  We all need to be reminded of these simple truths from time to time. Thank you to the amazing young people of the Logos2Logos Hope for helping to bring this simple truth home to me today! Logos3Logos4Logos7Logos6

A Wet Responsibility

May. 21, 2015By: Peter Arneson

Jerry Salgo is one of the many people behind the scene making everything go smoothly. He is in charge of the CSC facilities, along with the maintenance and security personnel. While classes have been out on break, his team has been working to repaint and restore the school so that it will look as good as new when the students return near the end of June.

Pool_1One of the projects they were working on was removing a whirlpool from the therapy room. Cebu Children of Hope School acquired the whirlpool several years ago and it was a great asset, meeting some of the physical therapy needs of our kids. It has since worn out its welcome and is no longer being used. The decision was made to remove it and sell it if possible. Uncle Jerry, being the conscientious steward that he is, needed first to ensure that it was working properly. As a man of high integrity, no task is too small or too silly for him to oversee the details personally. It is one of the many reasons we appreciate his hard work.Pool2

Once the removal is complete a new project will begin. The therapists, Jinkee Reasoner and Marwin Abong, have begun developing plans for a sensory wall to be installed. This will provide different tactile stimulation and be part of the therapy treatment for kids at CSC.

CHS Graduation 2015

May. 19, 2015By: Joel Reasoner

Children of Hope School recently celebrated its graduation.

Preschool_graduatesThree students graduated preschool and are ready to move on to kindergarten.

 

Elementary_graduatesFive students graduated sixth grade and are ready to make the transition from elementary to high school.

 

It was a fun day to think back on all the hard work the students had put in over the past year.  Each student received an award from their teacher, highlighting their individual accomplishments.   Recognizing the hard work means a lot to each child.  The graduates enjoyed their big day and are excited for next school year.