Staff Blog

Sometimes I am called upon to step in and help diffuse a situation happening in a classroom.  Yesterday that happened again.  A student who was bothering his classmates needed some help.  This was someone who had had trouble complying with rules and expressing frustration appropriately when he arrived at the shelter.  He was having trouble again yesterday. 

After leaving the classroom, I had him cool down while sitting in a chair near me.  After a few minutes we talked.  He said he was angry and why.  He told me what he had done to his classmates to tell them he was angry.  We figured out what he should have done differently to tell his classmates he wanted them to stop.  He said he’d try that next time.  In the world of counseling and school, it was textbook stuff for learning social skills. 

As we walked back to his classroom, I marveled at how much he has learned about how to express himself in positive ways when he is frustrated or angry.  I thought of the people (counselors, house parents and teachers) who have coached him and modeled this for him. 

As we entered the classroom together, he apologized to his classmates and sat down in his seat.  Class continued. 

A little miracle in the midst of a busy day.   

Click on the team icon for pictures of that team participating in the 2014 Children of Hope School Sportsfest held on January 24 at the Shelter playground. 

                “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139: 14). This verse reminds me of how God created us perfectly and of Him being the master of all creation. As I was looking at my students doing artwork during E.P.P. class (Daily Life Skills and Home Economics), my heart began praising God for the gift of art and the love of kids. I personally am not very artistic, but thanks to technology, I can find creative ideas for projects.  The kids love artwork and they do their best from the heart!        

Proud of their finished artwork, E.P.P. students display their “Shepherd Toilet Paper Roll Craft”, “String of Leaves” ,  “Personalized Stars” and “Plants of the Bible Wreath”

              Teaching the kids through crafts takes a little bit of effort and sacrifice, but it is worth it! Both the kids and I learn! The kids learn with teachable hearts through art and I learn to love art because of the love for my students. It really takes a BIG heART to love and learn ART.

-Glorivic Omac, Level B Teacher

As students engage in putting projects together, creating crafts, and using familiar materials in new ways, they are constructing meaning. These are particular times of learning when students are stimulated to learn as much as possible. In our school, we support the many varied opportunities available to our children.

In one of my respective science classes, we were learning about ears and sounds. I decided to culminate the lesson with making drums out of recycled cans and wooden sticks. As the children worked, I took time to stand in a corner, totally captivated watching the kids paying careful attention to their craft. It was a wonderful sight. My little kids were like a different group of children in an instant. They were working happily with their busy hands and thinking out loud with their creative minds. It was amazing.

This is Group 2A Science Class applying their favorite paint and adding designs to their drums.

Here they were putting on the finishing touches before turning in the project.

Finally, after all the hard work, we had a parade around the backyard of our small school. Of course, we played our drums!

On a separate occasion with my SRA Reading class, we were reading the story Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran. It is a story about an imaginary town children created to play in. My students got excited and asked me if they could have their own Roxaboxen. Why! Yes, absolutely! Although I was not sure if it would be fun for the boys in class, it was actually adorable and exciting to watch them all work together. After all was said and done, my doubts disappeared. For one entire day, our classroom became a totally different, special place.

Here in our special place, the children were busy creating their rules and regulations – currency, industry, and a little bit with government. Two children helped manage a fine restaurant.

There were two stalls at the rear end of the town, a bookstore and their own version of Toy Kingdom with all the toys, games, and puzzles one could want.

Since it’s fun to have a lot of people in town, we invited some friends to visit our place. We had so much fun!

Again in the corner where I stood, I thoughtfully watched my kids. I could see the children thinking differently and in creative ways. It was not only fun, but practical and would benefit them in the long run. I positively, absolutely believe my kids are heading toward bright futures.

Our school is a place where the hands, the heart, and the mind are collectively regarded as one. In days that turn into weeks and months that turn into years, in school our children are learning more than paper and pencil. They are learning hands-on as they grow.

Just a glimpse of one of our exciting days at school…

-Zel Templa, Level B Teacher

Last Friday was the Level A 2 students’ morning meeting. Since it fell during thanksgiving month, each presentation was all about being thankful. The boys shared verses about thanksgiving and they performed a thank you dance. The girls interpreted the song, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart. A video of the bible story, The Ten Lepers, was shown which reminded everyone that, like any other giver, God is also happy when we give Him thanks.

It was a nice morning meeting. I was so happy to see some of the boys perform well. They looked so cute doing their movements to the song. I know it wasn’t easy for them to focus for such a long time, but they did a great job. The girls were amazing. They performed each step of their dance without looking at someone else to follow. Watching them move their bodies to glorify God was just so wonderful. It was a great performance from the little girls of CCHS. The students really gave their best effort sharing the message about being grateful in everything and to everyone around. Praise God!