Teacher conferences about the students are different at the shelter. The teachers meet with the house parents and child development team to talk about the academic progress of the children. I like hearing about the progress and growth of all the children. The teachers have great insights into the children. And of course they also have some funny and heartwarming stories to share. Here are a few for you.
This girl asks the teacher each morning, “What are the things we need to do this morning?”
She is a little teacher, helping explain the lessons to her other classmates.
The teacher says this boy “brings happiness into the class.” His house father gave him a math word problem on day, “I give you one banana and one mango. How many fruits to you have now?” He answers without missing a beat, “Fruit salad!”
Five students are in the pre-kindergarten class, getting ready to move into kindergarten next year. They are learning about animals and their babies. Dogs have puppies. Cats have kittens. Pigs babies are piglets. One of the kids asked the teacher, “What are baby fish called?” This boy answered the other student, “Fishlets!”
This student remembers previous topics and connects them to current topics, sometimes interrupting the teacher. He tries spelling out new words to himself as the teacher is explaining the meaning. He is enthusiastic about learning and knowing things.
She does not like holidays because she likes school.
The teacher says, “Her presence makes class enjoyable and challenges other students.”
He is kind-hearted and caring toward his classmates.
She is eager to share her ideas and answers, sometimes before the question is read. It is hard to answer correctly when the question is not known.
Many days he can be heard offering help to a classmate, “Let me help you.”
“Her interest in everything in school helps her tackle difficulties.”
The reading challenge just finished and this girl did not win. Her teacher overheard her say, “The winner, she reads so fast. I will win next year.” She is striving to improve.
Science class started learning about natural resources. This student raised her hand concerned, “What are we going to do when they run out?” She knows the right question to ask from the beginning.
Here is some of the students' work from the first quarter. Enjoy!
Workers' Christmas Party
Check out these pictures from our workers' Christmas party on December 1. It was a great night of fun, gifts, prizes and recognition of the great contributions of our workers.
Trust His Heart
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
-From a song called "Trust His Heart" by Babbie Mason
The view out of my classroom window on a recent rainy day.
Human as we are, we have lots of worries in life. As we worry, some questions come up in our minds. What will my future be like? Will I be able to sustain the needs of my family? What kind of life will my children have? How do I meet the needs of my students, especially those who are struggling? How will I deal with the difficult situations I will be facing in the future? Do the things that I strive to do matter? Am I making a difference in my workplace? Am I on the right track? Is this the will of God for me? I don't understand God's plan for me, what should I do?
Upon worrying and doubting, we sometimes forget that there's someone up there who is bigger than our worries. When our mind is clouded with worries instead of trusting the One who is sovereign over everything, we see the uncertainties. May the message of the song above encourage both you and me to put our full trust in Him who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient amidst uncertainties.
May we hold onto His promise and command from Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV that says, "
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
40 Years of Hope and Blessings at CSC
CSC will celebrate 40 years of ministry in Cebu City in June of 2019. Our friends and supporters are warmly invited to attend the festivities in Cebu on June 28 and 29. Everyone is invited to see historical videos, pictures and accounts from the past 40 years here on this website and on our Facebook page.
This is from Christmas 2007:
One Great Afternoon at CCHS!
The United Nations Day celebration is one of the exciting activities at CCHS. It is always fun and informative. Children and teachers look forward to this event every year.
The day before the event, all the teachers put in great effort to prepare lots of things for the kids. Everyone stayed late that night just to make their country booth really captivating. There was the sharing of minds on what to display and how to arrange things in the booth.
The celebration started with the singing of the Philippine national anthem at the shelter followed by a parade heading to school. After the parade the children visited the the different countries: Belgium, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands. Each group was given twenty-five minutes to stay at each booth and learn about the country. There was important information shared by the teachers, crafts to do, and food to eat.
After the country tour was the jeopardy game. Questions were asked to each group to test how well they remembered the things that were shared earlier. It was really fun to hear the students help each other think of the correct answers.
The event ended with a surprise thank you program for the teachers prepared by Teacher Eunice. It was indeed one great afternoon at CCHS!
Habitat Turnover
Habitat Turnover 60 homes for our workers were turned over to the homeowners on October 2 7 in an emotional ceremony in Talisay, Cebu. After many delays this project was completed and our workers will soon be moving into their new homes. All of these workers will be owning a home for the first time, a dreams that would have gone unfulfilled if not for Habitat for Humanity and Paul Reasoner, who led the fundraising.