tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43959405361756583092024-03-05T13:42:32.257-05:00Kuglers in South AfricaEileen and Larry Kugler volunteer
in A.V. Bukani Primary School
in rural South Africa to improve literacy through professional development for the teachers and family engagement programs. Their daughter Sara has joined them on several trips. In 2010 they created a school library of 23,000 books which impacts the entire community. They returned in 2019 for their 6th trip. Contributions through the Kugler Education Fund at South Africa Partners support this wonderful school and community.Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-13061662742077960812019-05-25T22:32:00.001-04:002019-05-26T14:53:49.050-04:00A Trajectory of Progress<div class="Default" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The third week is always the hardest for us. We know our time is limited, but we become critically aware of what we can and cannot accomplish during our last week.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span default="" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEFm8OVwBMykwQU6qfTJoIrjuusJTZyQrYcJurGuagZ_26v74qq7TnTDGSe5TpmsdHxGvHcWHXSory3IRoAoNmoSSKGshMuSeHnMx5MKRjoxb0NlLy4ue_G70Y1cWc0Cd3LyG9VnVXXs/s1600/IMG_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEFm8OVwBMykwQU6qfTJoIrjuusJTZyQrYcJurGuagZ_26v74qq7TnTDGSe5TpmsdHxGvHcWHXSory3IRoAoNmoSSKGshMuSeHnMx5MKRjoxb0NlLy4ue_G70Y1cWc0Cd3LyG9VnVXXs/s320/IMG_0822.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The school is also aware of our impending departure and tries to make the most of our time. The last week Larry observed six teachers he has been working with as they do a Read-aloud or a Big Book lesson. </span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Other teachers came by asking for his feedback on their lessons – and students in classes where he hasn’t sung this year stop him to voice “</span><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 14pt;">a complaint,</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">” asking him to sing in their classes. Of course, he made time in his schedule!</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr9ahzNId3Nw4hcRAkwhZ7nDiJ5oHt0FUSpX0qW4dZtRmV8cVbJ8SuNhMvdiIVSg5uqRQ6Lj8G4lhbXwgb-0S3hc8FkGu43SCXpSEwReASefamsyEECBMKH5Sgdad_7W2KcAuX4FdCWA/s1600/IMG_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr9ahzNId3Nw4hcRAkwhZ7nDiJ5oHt0FUSpX0qW4dZtRmV8cVbJ8SuNhMvdiIVSg5uqRQ6Lj8G4lhbXwgb-0S3hc8FkGu43SCXpSEwReASefamsyEECBMKH5Sgdad_7W2KcAuX4FdCWA/s320/IMG_0791.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Eileen continued reading stories to learners in Grade 1. The joy in their eyes as she read books like “Hop on Pop,” was overwhelming. The teachers joined in the fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">And then there were the poignant moments. After reading “Brown Bear, What Do You See?” Eileen asked the children to close their eyes and imagine what they see. During the share time, one girl said with a smile, “I see my mother.” The teacher later told her that the girl’s mother had passed away last week. Sadly, that is not uncommon there.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Partnering for Progress<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">We were in many meetings to try to finalize ways that we can support the school through the Kugler Family Education Fund, continuing into the future. These are always collaborative discussions with the school leaders and staff. <b>Our goal is to support their efforts and their priorities.</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This has been one of the most productive visits we’ve had, and the collaborative work has not ended now that we are home. One of the major factors impacting this year is an improvement in electronic communication. All the teachers and the community leaders communicate through WhatsApp and email on their phones. In past years, email was spotty and the basic phones were hard to use and limited to local calls; communication basically ended once we left. But this year, we have been able to clearly communicate electronically with contacts at the school and in the community while in South Africa and now that we’re home. This enables us to constantly stay in touch with the principal and to start some efforts in S.A. that we are continuing to develop in the U.S.</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><u>Increasing Access to the Library</u></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0bppEnHBxXd-Tx1qzigJTdqQ11ht16RlgC-KHJueh4oNIQrU2XFvukgCLQuhfkD1muXFxY97GCYlitmoFTCYcyE587JvSXRS1Cxm544PAtHn7U-gv90D7O9iPD6mkGZcgRj4sUM0524/s1600/IMG_1284.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0bppEnHBxXd-Tx1qzigJTdqQ11ht16RlgC-KHJueh4oNIQrU2XFvukgCLQuhfkD1muXFxY97GCYlitmoFTCYcyE587JvSXRS1Cxm544PAtHn7U-gv90D7O9iPD6mkGZcgRj4sUM0524/s320/IMG_1284.jpeg" width="272" /></a><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14pt;">We</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14pt;">’re excited to report that <b>we’ll be supporting a librarian-in-training</b> for three days a week at the school! It is challenging to find qualified librarians for township schools, so the municipal librarians have undertaken what we call a “grow your own” program in the U.S. – empowering someone from the community with training and support. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14pt;">We met with Sinoxolo Jack, a young woman from the township who is eager to take on the librarian role. Sinoxolo has already read to learners at Bukani as part of a weekly program sponsored by the municipal library to build a love for reading with the younger learners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14pt;">We are in the process of developing a joint agreement between the school, the Municipal Library, and our Education Fund to provide a stipend for this position. Sinoxolo will receive training and be mentored by the established librarians as well as the teachers on the Library Committee at Bukani. We'll get regular reports on the progress - and keep you posted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Parents Get to Sing, Too!<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T-kIIMQNiJ2BVzMovoO5R7Dssqfzlbh-P5V4umIdTmymLLkqzssIzjl5JLtvTpIdzy6c5ablHE2rABzwKhm2V9hvHzIHthYQEAIawUOMa-A9482nomoO6BqdTn_oARAioOiBQWU5Ar0/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T-kIIMQNiJ2BVzMovoO5R7Dssqfzlbh-P5V4umIdTmymLLkqzssIzjl5JLtvTpIdzy6c5ablHE2rABzwKhm2V9hvHzIHthYQEAIawUOMa-A9482nomoO6BqdTn_oARAioOiBQWU5Ar0/s320/IMG_1106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Over the years, we’ve built close relationships with families in the township, and mothers and grandmothers stopped Eileen to ask when the program for families will be this year. On our third week, we held an interactive family program. We wanted to <b>give the parents a chance to share in all the fun</b> we’ve been having with the students, building literacy through singing, Big Books, and Read-alouds.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPv0QJORg_NYow3vrvncOZY1R4a_oj-Aca7QiPMAsmIqijx_6-JGN0MpUXxpJSaNzyl8EKsNur-DN_59FcNq1bzwgOx7Dak86om_aeRqfFiV-pJqLp2siD_HPRwPRgJEPVaGue-S4imE/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a1e0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPv0QJORg_NYow3vrvncOZY1R4a_oj-Aca7QiPMAsmIqijx_6-JGN0MpUXxpJSaNzyl8EKsNur-DN_59FcNq1bzwgOx7Dak86om_aeRqfFiV-pJqLp2siD_HPRwPRgJEPVaGue-S4imE/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1e0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There was an overflow crowd of families for the after-school event. Acting Principal Lamani was happy to share some of the learning enhancements going on at Bukani. The families sang along to “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and loved the hand motions for “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” as much as their children do. A large group of students stayed after school to sing for the families and many stayed even later for special singing with Larry once their families left.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaab2TG8Ys3xlnUC_-W0QiO4hv2LjJst4ZAZN3rfGtgDoKfbT_VzJQXIdsw-XAE3I9f00CGQlbkpIdHIhrVgm6KPJYgvm8T2Wd_6FQewMlPGTHt3vYPHk1b7UU9-ze6o_yWFjnM0fE89E/s1600/IMG_1199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaab2TG8Ys3xlnUC_-W0QiO4hv2LjJst4ZAZN3rfGtgDoKfbT_VzJQXIdsw-XAE3I9f00CGQlbkpIdHIhrVgm6KPJYgvm8T2Wd_6FQewMlPGTHt3vYPHk1b7UU9-ze6o_yWFjnM0fE89E/s320/IMG_1199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDf4IrxdykwfEVMy-c2wdmyryUJvPnFPqDpDrtT34iNnP40ytSOptY6pcTaWUJLeqyt9BRgvCCU-x2Ku-KguXsehRjMI47JcqAgCuDY8oTbCjbyPE_FJ_2tjKrQFVuoX2E0ZNgF_JLYs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a3c3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDf4IrxdykwfEVMy-c2wdmyryUJvPnFPqDpDrtT34iNnP40ytSOptY6pcTaWUJLeqyt9BRgvCCU-x2Ku-KguXsehRjMI47JcqAgCuDY8oTbCjbyPE_FJ_2tjKrQFVuoX2E0ZNgF_JLYs/s320/fullsizeoutput_a3c3.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Eileen read from Eric Carle’s “From Head to Toe” as kids craned their necks like giraffes, waved their arms like monkeys, and beat their chests like gorillas. We encouraged the families to ask about the books their children are reading and sit together to look through the books and talk about the pictures. <b>The ability to read English is not essential to value and enjoy these books together.</b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: small;"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<u style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Larry’s “Ah Ha” Moment and The Joy Of Singing</span></u><br />
<div class="Default" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Larry’s been teaching Think-Pair-Share to the teachers since our first visit in 2008 and has watched as the learners have begun to talk more freely over the years during the pair time. Yet when he or the teachers ask them to raise their hands and share with the class only the same few hands go up. So this year he brought 3” x 3” stickies and he and a couple of the teachers encouraged learners to write after they talked with a partner. In Ms Breakfast’s grade 7 class and Ms Njenje’s grade 6 class the kids virtually leaped from their desks after furiously writing for a minute or two to post their thoughts on the board. In one class they even remained at the board to read what others had written. The change in energy from the previous experience of there not being a peep when they were asked to share verbally was amazing. The technique will be renamed “<b>Think-Pair-Write</b>.” Writing on stickies or small pieces of paper is less threatening than having a large sheet to fill. Hopefully this will be a springboard to expended writing and/or responding to each other’s writing. Now that we can communicate thru WhatsApp, Larry looks forward to hearing from the teachers about how writing is progressing. Both teachers, new to A.V. Bukani, have brought a positive and encouraging presence to English instruction. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAT_jEEQp4DmVzbfbS6huFzZgkyNQ3OQFzvCCphNDXYXmxiuLHWJZ280zvQl8UeVoJodzr4_gX8bMmzQ0scfvzKePpJh0ZGeczCamxoxNxZvRhqehAC8m_YtDDN3kmVbr9fD1xOmRoEOk/s1600/IMG_0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAT_jEEQp4DmVzbfbS6huFzZgkyNQ3OQFzvCCphNDXYXmxiuLHWJZ280zvQl8UeVoJodzr4_gX8bMmzQ0scfvzKePpJh0ZGeczCamxoxNxZvRhqehAC8m_YtDDN3kmVbr9fD1xOmRoEOk/s320/IMG_0843.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Something new, unexpected, and highly encouraging was two teachers having prepared c<b>omplete written lesson plans</b>. This had never happened in any previous visit. Ms. Nongongona, a grade 3 teacher Larry has worked with in the past, introduced her Big Book lesson by reading a poem that perfectly set the stage for the message of the book. She even developed three activities as a follow up, geared to the different capabilities of her students. Ms. Ntshoko, the head teacher for grades R (kindergarten) and 1, who Eileen had worked with, excitedly asked Larry to come observe a Big Book lesson. She invited her fellow Grade 1 teachers to observe and share comments. There was a desk set up with a printed copy of her lesson plan, a blank sheet of paper and a pencil (for Larry to take notes), all ready for him. Both teachers incorporated so many appropriate components of a lesson into their planning and both implemented very effective lessons that engaged their learners.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK2tODLUD6b0AFN64ORvFtBW6KQLR5MOmDVCh2NhK3Z__tbp5j8Y8pSfZXKKeqzOQjcvl2IxBmeJ48DTc4EIShWJKkdGwfuEgfERrRqO-61dnHuaKFhRhBnq7jT_Y_ROcaAg1xEyMGzw/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a308.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK2tODLUD6b0AFN64ORvFtBW6KQLR5MOmDVCh2NhK3Z__tbp5j8Y8pSfZXKKeqzOQjcvl2IxBmeJ48DTc4EIShWJKkdGwfuEgfERrRqO-61dnHuaKFhRhBnq7jT_Y_ROcaAg1xEyMGzw/s200/fullsizeoutput_a308.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vM-r6HgFLRnuPFT0RYYZ6K49IOHH3b2W8Hh9Hd904Pwb0zqmCSFSn-sv3VLmWMutnlK_CIxhNSDyK7H1hf16btU5nyQZCDExsDV-n1RaiRB3KW3drkrOwN-moPDY3jHEEdtlRZQJxWc/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a307.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vM-r6HgFLRnuPFT0RYYZ6K49IOHH3b2W8Hh9Hd904Pwb0zqmCSFSn-sv3VLmWMutnlK_CIxhNSDyK7H1hf16btU5nyQZCDExsDV-n1RaiRB3KW3drkrOwN-moPDY3jHEEdtlRZQJxWc/s200/fullsizeoutput_a307.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Finally, Larry continues to find teaching the learners fun and uplifting songs the highlight of each day. There is nothing like their unbridled joy as they learn the songs, begin to sway back and forth in their seats, and then break into clapping and dancing as they embody the words of songs like “This Little Light of Mine” and “Peace Like a River in My Soul.” It just doesn’t get any better than this! Can’t wait till we return next year!</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You are Making a Difference</span></u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">For those of you who have donated time and money to this project over the years, <b>we hope you have seen the impact.</b> Here is a summary of what we were able to accomplish so far this year through volunteer time and the resources provided by your continuing donations.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">* Professional development for teachers of English in Grades 3 - 7 on use of Big Books, Read-alouds and Think-Pair-Share/Write.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">* Professional development for teachers in Grade 1 on Read-alouds and Big Books.</span></div>
<div class="default" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.5pt;">*</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Donation of laptops which were equipped with new hard-drives, Windows and Office. (We appreciate our anonymous laptop donor!) </span><span style="font-family: , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="default" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.5pt;">*Purchase of memory to upgrade existing computers in the lab. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">* Donation of new big books and accompanying sets of classroom readers (Special thanks to Reed O’Brien of O’Brien Associates of Richmond)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">* Recruitment and support of a librarian-in-training for A.V. Bukani for three days per week, including mentoring by the municipal librarians and Bukani staff.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">* Support of comprehensive computer training for the entire A.V. Bukani staff in a 10-module program after school.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">* A family engagement program to build a love of books and reading. </span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-size: 14pt;">We</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">’ll be reporting on progress throughout the year and we are in touch with school leaders on additional needs that arise.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-decoration: underline;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><u><br />
</u></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A Lifelong Connection</span></u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">At our Farewell Party (there always is quite a party), Principal Lamani said, “Thank you for choosing our school.” As we sat there, we realized we didn’t just choose the school. It chose us, as well.</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8NdD-3NX9uCXP-wjlsZuYrzoGMxFboWsX6feYyju6ZyAY8FxJWf00YmBKTx86AorQ-Auyu4l-YCyiaXXNyElOEIwZSOQ8cpvd12fSKnPtMVBEt1bl8WdQH8dQRTxaEWyqgcGkHA1_PI/s1600/IMG_1380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8NdD-3NX9uCXP-wjlsZuYrzoGMxFboWsX6feYyju6ZyAY8FxJWf00YmBKTx86AorQ-Auyu4l-YCyiaXXNyElOEIwZSOQ8cpvd12fSKnPtMVBEt1bl8WdQH8dQRTxaEWyqgcGkHA1_PI/s320/IMG_1380.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You can read about the actions we took that ended up connecting us with A.V. Bukani in 2008, but that really doesn’t tell the story. In a much greater sense, we chose each other. From the first time we stepped foot in the school, the teachers and families in this community of deep Christian faith saw the hand of God in our finding this school in a rural area of a country far from our home. In our religious tradition, it was “bashert” – a Yiddish word that means “meant to be.” However it came to be, it is. <b>We are inextricably connected. </b>And always will be.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbtNyKYjTwakHI4FhG6_r7vdMkNdmBsHjNEfccgV1doss5LdN5IvVpcoNn4h2lsaR_fLix2yi0MqhN-pbms1l5N3mITNVeXPaS4vIYNvAHdT60q7sDcsB4jq5Rwpk0jzNRHC92EurQO0/s1600/IMG_1395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbtNyKYjTwakHI4FhG6_r7vdMkNdmBsHjNEfccgV1doss5LdN5IvVpcoNn4h2lsaR_fLix2yi0MqhN-pbms1l5N3mITNVeXPaS4vIYNvAHdT60q7sDcsB4jq5Rwpk0jzNRHC92EurQO0/s320/IMG_1395.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Teacher Mr. Tanato made a powerful statement at the Farewell. “When they write the history of A.V. Bukani, the Kuglers will be a part of it. You are a part of us.” And when people talk of us, they will always include our connection to this South African school.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>We</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>’re hoping to bring more teachers with us on our next trip</b>, likely August 2020. If you are interested, let us know. We're working on some plans for this and we'll keep you informed. </span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here's some of the fun from our Farewell Party. <i>Oh how we miss these kids.</i> (Let's face it - we miss everyone there!)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="Default" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kvY9PRZlEoo" width="480"></iframe></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-66645915526341088552019-05-11T16:02:00.004-04:002019-05-11T16:51:58.312-04:00Critical Connections <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<h4>
<u>Connections that Empower the Teachers and Learners</u></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
This was a week of critical connections that hopefully will support the work of the teachers for years to come. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The school now has significant material resources, many of which we have been able to supplement through generous donations to our Education Fund at South Africa Partners over the years - books, computers, copiers. The school has excellent leadership and committed teachers. But a total staff of 35 for 1160 students cannot possibly do everything that is needed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym5Cl8IiwU77qEcy-QU-62_ih5R6OF_8jehq0cvsnRtgBfjt6hq9mAgigRnHayE9h-VG6r69Ik8_JUNpAb4cr0rzTEfuDcNOv7em_5ktagWeNnkNNj_6kOjP4O8y0gt2GJqSB1pxm2q4/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym5Cl8IiwU77qEcy-QU-62_ih5R6OF_8jehq0cvsnRtgBfjt6hq9mAgigRnHayE9h-VG6r69Ik8_JUNpAb4cr0rzTEfuDcNOv7em_5ktagWeNnkNNj_6kOjP4O8y0gt2GJqSB1pxm2q4/s320/IMG_0963.JPG" width="320" /></a>The lack of time, and experience with choosing books for students, has led to underutilization of the library. There are books in most classrooms and there are some real bright spots (more below), but in general the school needs a librarian to support the teachers and learners. (We love that SA educators use the word “learners” instead of “students.”) Increasing outreach by the Municipal Library brings us close to making this a reality. </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzTF6KXxp_B3zhzX7oeEKcnpMmqAE-4TUrvoHtnxxJ1z8CixeEdLt5Xm_4sXPxzdR-aBxJnAJTyGYSxgyPBaEZcGXE_-TkVw8jxDmc7zy8zCp4PrH01K3Z7oivVRoGA5-oorju4k-nXc/s1600/IMG_0965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzTF6KXxp_B3zhzX7oeEKcnpMmqAE-4TUrvoHtnxxJ1z8CixeEdLt5Xm_4sXPxzdR-aBxJnAJTyGYSxgyPBaEZcGXE_-TkVw8jxDmc7zy8zCp4PrH01K3Z7oivVRoGA5-oorju4k-nXc/s320/IMG_0965.JPG" width="320" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The school’s library committee had an excellent meeting with the impressive new head librarian of the municipality, Mthandazo Desire Ntsham, (at right above) along with the retired -but still involved!- head librarian Isabelle Goosen (at left) and two local librarians who have been coming to schools to read with the youngest learners under a newly funded library program. They are brainstorming ways to bring a librarian to the school for a few days a week to help the teachers choose books, work with learners and do outreach to the families. Our SA Education Fund may play a part in this…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We also had a great meeting with Charlie Josephs, who is the connector of all connectors! Charlie previously worked for the government and has led many community development programs in this region. In a meeting with the acting principal and the deputy principal, he shared many contacts to move critical initiatives at the school forward. What a great partner!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u>Laptops Arrived!<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BS5-nhTIiMfscSW1bV-aUEixNSAGFm8tJueuEZ_TSWD_60svvQtVmKlwy_aMv7PDpAcy9I8cNwq50spTkbO7z3ILnH5GIk_XNoW_QP-gIWUn7kYneZCmlvRbGppSsIrv9GlXvp7hUvQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a1bf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BS5-nhTIiMfscSW1bV-aUEixNSAGFm8tJueuEZ_TSWD_60svvQtVmKlwy_aMv7PDpAcy9I8cNwq50spTkbO7z3ILnH5GIk_XNoW_QP-gIWUn7kYneZCmlvRbGppSsIrv9GlXvp7hUvQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1bf.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6su2fdvc3M5B1pydhLUIXkaKocFcePI0B_3YYaiEDLRymwV1mahNig7qnJnRNtZrjbdrJX7nbYw0rWm2vsdwNMaVFR9FeFaaVy5FQInq_9Qpvp_S5U-_YiSgh-SCwN5PizIFKHrp_pIU/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6su2fdvc3M5B1pydhLUIXkaKocFcePI0B_3YYaiEDLRymwV1mahNig7qnJnRNtZrjbdrJX7nbYw0rWm2vsdwNMaVFR9FeFaaVy5FQInq_9Qpvp_S5U-_YiSgh-SCwN5PizIFKHrp_pIU/s200/IMG_0987.JPG" width="200" /></a>The donated laptops arrived with new hard drives and software installed on Friday. These are a critical supplement to the updated computers in the lab. Now teachers can work with their learners on computers outside of the lab or have small group work, in addition to the scheduled time in the lab.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">There is wi-fi in the office and computer lab and hopefully the learners will begin using the internet for research in addition to the prescribed software that supplements their lessons.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI2hs46nqBVxoP_zx5JiIu6Wbclb8ozO8h3h6lZbpTiIP3iC3zYcoU-uhlFoHWCUaq0v7vcE9XXsHt9aIFY8ABcHfiBvgpBrh8ulF7b3S7eXUOotaYZP-bRdoYnt4wQfIP9BvPk9y4Rg/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a1a3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI2hs46nqBVxoP_zx5JiIu6Wbclb8ozO8h3h6lZbpTiIP3iC3zYcoU-uhlFoHWCUaq0v7vcE9XXsHt9aIFY8ABcHfiBvgpBrh8ulF7b3S7eXUOotaYZP-bRdoYnt4wQfIP9BvPk9y4Rg/s200/fullsizeoutput_a1a3.jpeg" width="200" /></a>Comprehensive teacher training is on the horizon! Another critical meeting took place with the acting principal and Sister Breda of the Sisters of Mercy, well known for her computer training. The Department of Education has provided each teacher with a laptop -- but no training. Computer skills vary greatly among the teachers, which also impacts how comfortable they are using computers with the learners. Eileen has provided some limited training, but much more is needed. In collaboration with school leaders, Sister Breda will soon provide a 10-hour course over several weeks after school, with teachers in two groups based on their current knowledge. This training will be at a very discounted fee, with the Education Fund contributing. (Your donations at work, again!)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<h4>
<u>Thoughtful discussions in the classrooms</u></h4>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Larry continues to work with the six teachers who instruct students in English in grades 4-7, their second or third language. he continued to demonstrate the use of reading stories aloud while interspersing thoughtful questions to engage their curiosity and thinking and provide opportunities for language development using the Think-Pair-Share technique. While still working with the teachers to get more learners to share their thinking, he and the teachers were encouraged and amazed at some of the comments made by the learners. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Larry asked one group to suggest ways in which animals were similar and different. To give <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFqIpU3IDTtH9m78hy_2wEvaPsaI_b3VHAWHIMOZd86peOMKmQzzAG9kw1YCQCprV80VVaXZ6YDiV4Vz0FxZ4QGrIh06tUlhf8yMyCYIIMh9ZV5qIsTyUhQ4mkJYai19GLvj7holUf5c/s1600/28154dd2-9bd8-4fcb-b2f5-9b257cf598ee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFqIpU3IDTtH9m78hy_2wEvaPsaI_b3VHAWHIMOZd86peOMKmQzzAG9kw1YCQCprV80VVaXZ6YDiV4Vz0FxZ4QGrIh06tUlhf8yMyCYIIMh9ZV5qIsTyUhQ4mkJYai19GLvj7holUf5c/s320/28154dd2-9bd8-4fcb-b2f5-9b257cf598ee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
an example of the wide range of language capabilities in this grade 7 class, some learners could only offer “dog, snake, butterfly, fish” to the question. However, another learner suggested they all move. While accurate, his suggestion led to a discussion of how they also were different in the way that they move. But what really blew us away was the learner who looked at the list and suggested that they were all the same (and animals in general) in that they were dependent on each other. This led to an even more interesting discussion of the food chain, my contribution injected into the conversation because this learner didn’t have the language (or the confidence) to share what most assuredly led to her statement. <b>The untapped potential of these learners is obvious. We continue to search for ways to have them express themselves and reach that potential. </b>One way we tried was to have each learner write a response on a sticky note and post it on the blackboard. In this way many more learners contributed their ideas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Larry also demonstrated the use of non-fiction big books. The purpose was to show teachers that these books could be used effectively with the entire class to teach skills. He focused on one book’s table of contents. The teacher in this grade 6 class was surprised to find out that many learners knew very little about the table of contents. She plans to teach more directly skills and concepts she had assumed her learners understood and were using. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL5s6bXmeK1SKoG6K-nYX_OXxYRiAKds_EySJVS-kQBf63gsI0wZirgzH3Oh6PqMQEWptEoKbboP1y9a6_noeGpEJRETJNP9dBF0F4lK0VxB7amHMIyxvzxsaSi8IjCGMocGIgF4Yo-s/s1600/IMG_0854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL5s6bXmeK1SKoG6K-nYX_OXxYRiAKds_EySJVS-kQBf63gsI0wZirgzH3Oh6PqMQEWptEoKbboP1y9a6_noeGpEJRETJNP9dBF0F4lK0VxB7amHMIyxvzxsaSi8IjCGMocGIgF4Yo-s/s320/IMG_0854.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznNLtFJlEC1Yq5Ud9bl7NUTN8Mj1zQzGin2-IQVKJUM3c0vWWxP0Bx-oOEO29usvRui0vaGa6lp3jpmv4SLzkoGjYPeOiQLKYcueX8SPAdHLZ_KwBIK0nJjOUc5VhBxRf0pL6q2rMiKM/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a1b6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznNLtFJlEC1Yq5Ud9bl7NUTN8Mj1zQzGin2-IQVKJUM3c0vWWxP0Bx-oOEO29usvRui0vaGa6lp3jpmv4SLzkoGjYPeOiQLKYcueX8SPAdHLZ_KwBIK0nJjOUc5VhBxRf0pL6q2rMiKM/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1b6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Larry also did a demonstration of reading a big book story for grade 1 teachers. Several of the teachers took videos so they could refer back to his techniques to engage the learners. We appreciate the many big books donated by O’brien Associates of Richmond, Virginia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Perhaps the most exciting moment for Larry came at the conclusion of the lesson in grade 6 as we talked about chapters in non-fiction and fiction books. It turns out that <b>the entire class had books in their back packs and that each week they return them and exchange them for new books.</b> This was the first time in recent years that we had seen evidence that the books in the library were regularly getting in learners hands! With the additional support anticipated from the public library staff mentioned earlier, we are hopeful this example will become the norm at A. V. Bukani Primary School. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf4Y1R9lalXRVNocZj74g2lqqB5dN9B4iVRu-UBXzUuH68B1hb5gn5EYcGsK63KS-k14ZGWkAuQR6vrO9uP1Rlb3nLkqEg0TSMmcwNcCKlo8sygVaI5oaoCeRJZYQycBd4yJnQgUmfxU/s1600/IMG_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf4Y1R9lalXRVNocZj74g2lqqB5dN9B4iVRu-UBXzUuH68B1hb5gn5EYcGsK63KS-k14ZGWkAuQR6vrO9uP1Rlb3nLkqEg0TSMmcwNcCKlo8sygVaI5oaoCeRJZYQycBd4yJnQgUmfxU/s320/IMG_0924.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gPzPe0oCbbLoaN6mVcejGPAJBxL1AcujvB4C1zv8IoZncffOLqViYiioTRd5Q9RBtBe1VMq-AnAyI9wdn_JSrJ7iZilh5c5Be_IIGWjYrRQkZ_FUg-J4YHF_i2UB35nkn-spcBFmRlA/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a1b8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gPzPe0oCbbLoaN6mVcejGPAJBxL1AcujvB4C1zv8IoZncffOLqViYiioTRd5Q9RBtBe1VMq-AnAyI9wdn_JSrJ7iZilh5c5Be_IIGWjYrRQkZ_FUg-J4YHF_i2UB35nkn-spcBFmRlA/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1b8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<h4>
<u>“It is better to do things for someone you don’t know”</u></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
One of the things that always strikes us here is how many people work tirelessly day after day to improve life for those with little. The country is in an economic crisis with about a 50% unemployment rate of people 18 – 34, so these efforts mean more than ever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Many individuals and organizations, both local and international, are collaborating on critical projects. Martha Cummings from Rhode Island has done extraordinary work to upgrade the facilities and provide continuing support to Vusumsi, the other primary school in this township, through a non-profit she started called Universal Promise. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Nowhere is the commitment of individuals more visible than in Langos, a nearby informal settlement – the poorest of the poor, living without basic amenities like electricity or water. Local resident Muffy Miller first became involved in the community when she saw children rummaging through trash heaps for food in the 1990’s. She has worked tirelessly since then, marshalling resources to provide education and a safe haven for the children there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAsaVQFpMWbZ4P18doW2Tvd-ydeCzzRuXysqi1nY3m4HEHvhaaOQmwlG6-AqNHY8jRR7ipfmB9zj2cHmcnqhEDI3jOfGL-n6hmg14zFMhKiUfxR_8Y9vidylo6_lG0ykpxuRr5m5s8ms/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAsaVQFpMWbZ4P18doW2Tvd-ydeCzzRuXysqi1nY3m4HEHvhaaOQmwlG6-AqNHY8jRR7ipfmB9zj2cHmcnqhEDI3jOfGL-n6hmg14zFMhKiUfxR_8Y9vidylo6_lG0ykpxuRr5m5s8ms/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momthandazo and the Langbos children</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
There is a beautiful preschool (called “crèches” in SA) serving 40+ children, led by <span style="text-align: center;">headmistress Momthandazo Pipe, born in that community. We are so impressed with her competence and vision. During the past 12 years, the project has grown to include a community center, playground, a perma-culture organic fruit and vegetable garden, solar panels and a wind turbine that powers the center which provides the only light at nighttime in the community. It has created eight jobs, hosts a soup kitchen twice a week, and is sending older students to study tourism. The Langbos Créche and Child Care Centre is a registered non-profit, under the auspices of the local Mayibye Ndlovu Development Trust, and the amazing Charlie Josephs is the Langbos project manager. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
But here’s what truly amazed us this year. With support and management from Intsikelelo Foundation (founded by two young American men), the community now has three “super-adobe” domes, built with paid labor from the settlement, with design help from architects who donated their services. In these extremely durable structures, there will be a library in the loft of the largest dome, a shelter for vulnerable women and children, meeting rooms and more.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlQNoXtI6zNw6hhqPWmy6Ho5uDgraJQo5H0DYONSatgtgz0E7GxCN0gCyaUUe502mui2gWGwlrQgJaAQAOjyVHn0w2gaj9fQ8_M7k7x_v5gsTzLcVs_ToekhTnohz4YpAt_Za8yluZtw/s1600/IMG_0875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlQNoXtI6zNw6hhqPWmy6Ho5uDgraJQo5H0DYONSatgtgz0E7GxCN0gCyaUUe502mui2gWGwlrQgJaAQAOjyVHn0w2gaj9fQ8_M7k7x_v5gsTzLcVs_ToekhTnohz4YpAt_Za8yluZtw/s320/IMG_0875.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The domes today!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr8qG9tZlI3lxGUmvrF32j1tj1EzNgdVWnS9ktbfs2HLDWbr8aNWClOr1aH5Q4lCeX6KwB8GyHqKDsFWg0urU1MZJuIqJ7zwXkhUrLt4BDlTQUQaN_Y1idAy0EY_VL4in0hZ4Hjccjp0/s1600/building+superadobe+domes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="603" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr8qG9tZlI3lxGUmvrF32j1tj1EzNgdVWnS9ktbfs2HLDWbr8aNWClOr1aH5Q4lCeX6KwB8GyHqKDsFWg0urU1MZJuIqJ7zwXkhUrLt4BDlTQUQaN_Y1idAy0EY_VL4in0hZ4Hjccjp0/s320/building+superadobe+domes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dome construction underway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhRTUmYuiqbva7fcKer7sRTRgb9RzgzZIdZEmOg2hViFKjaBR7ibD7DTB0O_ecRPgeYxCiDVEh-K_Gap5R2euaDOZl48OHanfcjoIontkeyBzw0ejDEpc_MHKX-k-PEs9xp2LD07JbDQ/s1600/building+adobe+structure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr8qG9tZlI3lxGUmvrF32j1tj1EzNgdVWnS9ktbfs2HLDWbr8aNWClOr1aH5Q4lCeX6KwB8GyHqKDsFWg0urU1MZJuIqJ7zwXkhUrLt4BDlTQUQaN_Y1idAy0EY_VL4in0hZ4Hjccjp0/s1600/building+superadobe+domes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMafZFAj-N5OlCHKKv5ZQOnzPZBM83GW06fxomGeZ9p3RvXiOIJ5Q_fPViYICBIK408bfSRSQhriKkR8KWnalaW38Deic_qjhh3aWa_tkuyZM-7BbN1AdRLeZ4dsGH8LbXBqMCSNOw6IE/s1600/building+adobe+structure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="530" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMafZFAj-N5OlCHKKv5ZQOnzPZBM83GW06fxomGeZ9p3RvXiOIJ5Q_fPViYICBIK408bfSRSQhriKkR8KWnalaW38Deic_qjhh3aWa_tkuyZM-7BbN1AdRLeZ4dsGH8LbXBqMCSNOw6IE/s320/building+adobe+structure.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing construction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
T<b>hese are the largest super-adobe domes in Africa, and possibly the world</b>. A visit to Langbos is a must-see stop if you travel to South Africa! It is near Addo National Park, which has extensive wildlife including elephants, lions and more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1j5o_akzrh1z-C6H8InwZbpl8pVnhU1eFCRY5LrPuTfzH_82VML4D8YueuB9JHHXEFw8Af-1K3fS6VZGVer00nR9std11EtX6Ktsi2lK0VCRqZ-I6897Ziu3oq8AeKpMhrKNavRtHGs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a1a4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1600" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1j5o_akzrh1z-C6H8InwZbpl8pVnhU1eFCRY5LrPuTfzH_82VML4D8YueuB9JHHXEFw8Af-1K3fS6VZGVer00nR9std11EtX6Ktsi2lK0VCRqZ-I6897Ziu3oq8AeKpMhrKNavRtHGs/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1a4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric and the Soul Food delivery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>We visited Langbos on Workers Day (think Labor Day) and met Eric from Soul Food which delivers free food to communities. “I woke up with a free day and could not sit around,” he said, as he dropped off food. <b>“It is better to help someone you don’t know. Your pat on the back is not from a friend, it is from above.” </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We could not stay away, and came the next week after school to sing with the children, staff and families at Langos. What an amazing time we had there! We are hoping to return next week, although our last week here is a busy one. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3HYynkvt3A87-LygEFeeAgwhqJ8Id0hCB2W4N2H88CDy859VcjlGJUOAZOlV7FgJKvDJFgqzg1yes5k_PCEeyQLNXMVxSrg67d-y5ur4ymKahT8I_AuZetJiIBAOAXTJTx1LnU2xFXo/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3HYynkvt3A87-LygEFeeAgwhqJ8Id0hCB2W4N2H88CDy859VcjlGJUOAZOlV7FgJKvDJFgqzg1yes5k_PCEeyQLNXMVxSrg67d-y5ur4ymKahT8I_AuZetJiIBAOAXTJTx1LnU2xFXo/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4a39GPSLrl8_GxR6XSDIfXQ88XtPqOMI66jYzWlGrZjV3CpfThaGuXr3gpvtdYlf2u7f5MxPs19CkuqVii5ztGhi3yWpvsAS65wfoqrBN-bpWNDFPHxh1SvPvdug27tloYkemm5jezw/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4a39GPSLrl8_GxR6XSDIfXQ88XtPqOMI66jYzWlGrZjV3CpfThaGuXr3gpvtdYlf2u7f5MxPs19CkuqVii5ztGhi3yWpvsAS65wfoqrBN-bpWNDFPHxh1SvPvdug27tloYkemm5jezw/s320/IMG_0974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLyQkIhT2EftYlbqWF-62MQzvhUFLhPenY42ORapaC09ig4WAYRrIw8kBRp_jexBWqkV30_hsGG2naQ0JssFBdNYDO1zLSxJnBwlGmorCbWj_3Uep6givz3HEwD55V8QuIHStNHjCDyc/s1600/cc55a5f3-a16a-48e8-963d-df7563589d9b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLyQkIhT2EftYlbqWF-62MQzvhUFLhPenY42ORapaC09ig4WAYRrIw8kBRp_jexBWqkV30_hsGG2naQ0JssFBdNYDO1zLSxJnBwlGmorCbWj_3Uep6givz3HEwD55V8QuIHStNHjCDyc/s320/cc55a5f3-a16a-48e8-963d-df7563589d9b.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRu0H7TIQCazVieaAq-YfQX0JLv-xyFnJnwYKg-YLfq-0pVXOV1w9t5UIJVMH1Xyt1ipcymR4VP0pYUrdsd-2qf6pGZAx-AfifaTVtGO8eddruuPFSWfDLcIfIw_2keHCm8PhyPh5LQg/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRu0H7TIQCazVieaAq-YfQX0JLv-xyFnJnwYKg-YLfq-0pVXOV1w9t5UIJVMH1Xyt1ipcymR4VP0pYUrdsd-2qf6pGZAx-AfifaTVtGO8eddruuPFSWfDLcIfIw_2keHCm8PhyPh5LQg/s320/IMG_0925.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<br />Sharing English stories and rhymes with grade 1</h4>
<div>
The grade 1 learners love hearing the stories and rhymes in English. They are becoming familiar with the sounds of the language, and beginning to associate the word with the concept. The grade 1 teachers jump right into the action. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisECasGGWJh3qR7ZUOiWhdls4QD2h-KQo5kmezcaG4aflfRuTIE7ZAxuLA_CCvJc-VUw6lSnJ5HlwZWUUgdskakxu-JBj6RrnUA33RtZ35wh4m-Zf8BaG0AyphUg87534aclQM5kEX4Ss/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a1a8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisECasGGWJh3qR7ZUOiWhdls4QD2h-KQo5kmezcaG4aflfRuTIE7ZAxuLA_CCvJc-VUw6lSnJ5HlwZWUUgdskakxu-JBj6RrnUA33RtZ35wh4m-Zf8BaG0AyphUg87534aclQM5kEX4Ss/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1a8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB0mnbjmmSnGx4f3qqQkLJWa5kAaQrTiQE44xKRZqxygPcaOUnhA2LwuyhMpNmZF3yReekKSldlITLdav_MVwBHZ-hv9eUFgk8BeG6C79xZoA1mgEC3zRd6W4N1u6yFor1wRt-nNT6a8/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB0mnbjmmSnGx4f3qqQkLJWa5kAaQrTiQE44xKRZqxygPcaOUnhA2LwuyhMpNmZF3yReekKSldlITLdav_MVwBHZ-hv9eUFgk8BeG6C79xZoA1mgEC3zRd6W4N1u6yFor1wRt-nNT6a8/s320/IMG_0796.JPG" width="240" /></a>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-69155491874170314172019-05-05T13:07:00.001-04:002019-05-05T15:51:54.893-04:00Inspired Anew<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
It’s been four years since we stepped foot in A.V. Bukani Primary School. In many ways, it felt like four months. There is such a comfortable familiarity with the township and with the school. There are faces we remember, with lots of welcoming hugs. And there are new faces whom we are excited to get to know. Within ten minutes of arriving, there is a meeting with the teachers and we begin our work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsb1bo7hWTf_XTII1Gr6_EF6qO5H2eTiznd2Fjjh9CeudnVADfs7yo_aNwNXNoUhhTnBFgzzvN4ll4NLumooW5ehRiJvSjnmCoQpuatiFuybRLK7H2ZUzLEq6L9fmyeyd0UL0ljXaTJY/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsb1bo7hWTf_XTII1Gr6_EF6qO5H2eTiznd2Fjjh9CeudnVADfs7yo_aNwNXNoUhhTnBFgzzvN4ll4NLumooW5ehRiJvSjnmCoQpuatiFuybRLK7H2ZUzLEq6L9fmyeyd0UL0ljXaTJY/s320/IMG_0565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Truthfully, our last visit in 2015 was challenging. The day before we arrived, one of the teachers with whom we had worked closely passed away from breast cancer. It was a sad and difficult time for the school. The school had several other teaching positions open and the Department of Education was dragging its feet to permit hiring of new teachers. (As it turned out, those openings lasted for months after we left.) The library was barely used. One bright spot was the work on writing that our friend Randi Adleberg was able to do with some of the older students. But the lack of political leadership nationally and in the region was also evident in the school and community. Nowhere was it more visible than the road to the township – the only road – which was dangerously more potholes than tar. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
So we did not know what to expect when we returned this year. <b>But what we see has inspired us anew</b>. As we drove into the township, the first thing we noticed was a beautiful new road, with sidewalks even! At the school, we saw that the returning teachers, near to our hearts, are bolstered by many new competent teachers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1QT0mesDZYxXTkWqcywsA64WgXsaVGkpUyNaQf6APveDvsS-igkOec-82MFIzPNMQfw5HvwNPk12yICwF5O-kW9FbbV_qREy5TfBZdH3KUTLqYTm6JrzZsjjnSQY7ac6z18dQNj8C8A/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1QT0mesDZYxXTkWqcywsA64WgXsaVGkpUyNaQf6APveDvsS-igkOec-82MFIzPNMQfw5HvwNPk12yICwF5O-kW9FbbV_qREy5TfBZdH3KUTLqYTm6JrzZsjjnSQY7ac6z18dQNj8C8A/s200/IMG_0722.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Lamani (r) <br />
and Mr. Matyana (l)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The beloved principal, Mr. Z. Thambo, has moved to a supervisory position in the district. While we miss him, we are so pleased to see Ace Lamani as Acting Principal. Mr. Lamani is a gifted educator who has worked with us since 2008, first as a teacher and later as Deputy Principal. He lives in the township and cares deeply about every child. He wears the mantle of leadership with a seriousness of purpose. We are very hopeful he will become the permanent principal. He is supported by an excellent Deputy Principal, Andile Matyana. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Mr. Lamani has worked hard to build on the strengths of the existing staff and bring in committed new teachers. He has high standards and communicates them to the teachers. He asked Larry to work with teachers in grades 4 -7 to review techniques introduced in grades 1-3 in previous years -- Think-Pair-Share, Big Books and Read-Alouds. The goal of all three techniques is to engage the learners in developing their thinking and English skills, starting with hearing the language (Read Aloud) and speaking in English (Think-Pair-Share). Big books help develop an understanding of print and can be used to support content in other areas.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u>“I saw my learner do something I never expected”<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Several of the teachers Larry is working with are new. One noted, “As a teacher, you know your learners. But today, I saw my learner do something I never expected from him.” Noting the student is not disruptive, but can be “playful,” she saw him engaged and participating in new ways with think-pair-share. The teachers are all looking for ways to get their learners to speak more, even the “shy” ones. <o:p></o:p>In addition to classroom work, Larry has led professional development to work collaboratively on the issues. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8vnoS2UgrdnZ9XFkNgtlLIA2bcX2OWwBCscLmJukz0i_wsG6jipAzH98qb9JISHfcUE9l8VnYDd5qOAoqjVndqFAqLIS3Ig_kIj-fqaswc39l2-84EsqMEw55kCd71YTKynyS1cOXYQ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_a03a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8vnoS2UgrdnZ9XFkNgtlLIA2bcX2OWwBCscLmJukz0i_wsG6jipAzH98qb9JISHfcUE9l8VnYDd5qOAoqjVndqFAqLIS3Ig_kIj-fqaswc39l2-84EsqMEw55kCd71YTKynyS1cOXYQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_a03a.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Larry was extremely pleased to hear more learners this year actively participating in Think-Pair-Share. When talking with their “Pairs”, they were using much more English in a more sophisticated way. AND, they were more likely to share with the whole group. Great progress attributed to the teachers since our last visit! However, the teachers and Larry all agree they will seek ways to get more learners actively engaged in the next two weeks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUK6mf2yTIqVtUQjry212_hEwR47sslQL1CguizAFcK1mthuxzzjtXPAJ9mtjshmztiEg5SIKNK07r1sN4qWDOX46lI9-ZZAlIg54MdBjjUGPnx077RV5igW9sxRLGSJdocxg0TIkq094/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUK6mf2yTIqVtUQjry212_hEwR47sslQL1CguizAFcK1mthuxzzjtXPAJ9mtjshmztiEg5SIKNK07r1sN4qWDOX46lI9-ZZAlIg54MdBjjUGPnx077RV5igW9sxRLGSJdocxg0TIkq094/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Larry also saw that the upper-grade learners were better able to express themselves in writing. He passed out sticky notes to each learner after asking a question during Read Aloud, and was impressed that many immediately wrote responses and posted them on the chalk board. This short form of writing seemed well within their comfort zone. Next step will be to engage them in longer attempts (which he knows they can do because of the success Randi Adleberg had during the last visit).<br />
<br />
This next week Larry will continue to demonstrate for the teachers in the classrooms, including using Big Books to introduce science content. Then the teachers will take over the teaching during the third week while Larry observes and coaches them. <b>BTW, there is no school on Wednesday. It is Voting Day and it is a national holiday -an idea the United States should and must adopt. It’s called democracy. </b><br />
<br />
Larry continued to share his passion for singing with the learners, who exceeded his own excitement. This year he created two Big Books to support the singing of "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain" and "He's Go the Whole World in His Hands. (<i>Read the blog next week to hear about a new adventure in singing with local children!</i>)</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNd9kiAt16aeew2-60KeaqhAGUG8Ty28SZGiSku-fdIp4a2TE91f5EX1hD0kdlGmNBOJrLOt7RygfxCh_HftAA18__H-8Jmtz3s3JLE_cHXQ7Wxh__rm4AndnIZpdqXhtIXGNa_9lw70/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNd9kiAt16aeew2-60KeaqhAGUG8Ty28SZGiSku-fdIp4a2TE91f5EX1hD0kdlGmNBOJrLOt7RygfxCh_HftAA18__H-8Jmtz3s3JLE_cHXQ7Wxh__rm4AndnIZpdqXhtIXGNa_9lw70/s320/IMG_0673.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTTAiHZzT9RdihRhZHx-PHAbPFasoJHKmTTRO-o_s6fgf-5G9S9vUUeMqSHTyqdqiyB5Hdt6PpfeF19ldQ4-Z5WzEpsGxku5OD_hLfbNb44BYJuLbMyUhVIzdi5zzUDRtk7Cf-Ys55ys/s1600/IMG_0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTTAiHZzT9RdihRhZHx-PHAbPFasoJHKmTTRO-o_s6fgf-5G9S9vUUeMqSHTyqdqiyB5Hdt6PpfeF19ldQ4-Z5WzEpsGxku5OD_hLfbNb44BYJuLbMyUhVIzdi5zzUDRtk7Cf-Ys55ys/s200/IMG_0674.JPG" width="200" /></a>Eileen has been working with Grade 1 learners– so much fun! They know “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” in Xhosa, and she’s teaching it to them in English. They did A LOT of jumping this week, as she read “Jump, Frog, Jump” by Robert Kalan. It is valuable for them to see that English can be fun, and start connecting the language to words and phrases. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u>An updated computer lab</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The computers in the lab have been updated with the additional memory we were able to purchase and bring with us, which means they can run the programs that the students had been using in previous years to supplement their regular classes. The donated laptops we brought with us have had their new hard drives and Windows installed, but we are waiting for the Department of Education to provide the school-wide license for Office so that can be installed, as well. While the wheels of the Department grind slowly, school leaders are pressing them to get this done. We are very excited about the prospect of a fully functional computer lab for the learners. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Eileen is also working with the teachers on computer skills. She led an initial workshop for all the teachers on using the official laptops provided to each teacher, and she will work with small groups on particular skills.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
A bright spot in the school is Alex Nowala, who supports the computer lab and helps with finances. Despite Mr. Lamani’s efforts, Alex doesn’t yet have a paid position in the school, only receiving a small stipend from the SGB (similar to a PTA but with much more authority). He lives in the township and has two daughters at the school. He is often the first one there and the last one to leave, with many in the school depending upon him for his skills and knowledge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
There is another “volunteer” in the school who works more than full-time for a small stipend, Mr. Spokter, the caretaker (custodian with responsibility for everything inside and outside the school). In an area with few jobs, these men don’t wait to find one that suits them. <b>They work tirelessly to support the school their children attend. </b>What a gift they are.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">Alive With Music and Joy</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The school is always full of music, but especially this year. The choruses were rehearsing for a competition and we had the treat of watching them. Such exuberance - so full of life. It is wonderful to see the teachers encouraging the students to show their personal style and enthusiasm. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QFwTy2stlyQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QFwTy2stlyQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We often remark that everyone sings here. It is a part of life, not a separate endeavor. In our first year, I asked one of the teachers if a child is ever told not to sing. She looked at me with a perplexed look, sure she must have misunderstood what I was asking since English is not her first language. <b>How could they ever tell someone not to sing?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u>Reconnecting with Family<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
One of the hardest parts of being far away is not getting to see the Mofu family, with whom we lived for our first three visits. It was wonderful to visit them and catch up. Our first year, Yanga turned 7 – He is now 17 and in high school in the nearby city of Port Elizabeth. He is such a confident and caring young man. He loves his science classes and we are excited for his plans to become a paramedic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The two younger boys in the family are now in middle school, sweet and fun-loving. To the delight of all, there is a new toddler, Pam’s daughter Luminjano which Pam told us means “God's love stands with us through thick and thin.” We were eager to meet Pam’s husband and were impressed with his warmth and caring. And we saw their home, a few blocks away from her parents in the township. They are fixing it up room by room, with their hard work paying off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65sY5fk_a6Uef-8WbuTMCkmkwyk9IYP_BOWx9PfMmF18DFMvHwX26ZicElIXuxRouiUr2a6KkhLJjiGc4IcEWx8kYTUVAujDkXu7Nyb7uoidejl1uSL11wMhKyASmqPab5pgJwuT2cPw/s1600/Mofu+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="686" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65sY5fk_a6Uef-8WbuTMCkmkwyk9IYP_BOWx9PfMmF18DFMvHwX26ZicElIXuxRouiUr2a6KkhLJjiGc4IcEWx8kYTUVAujDkXu7Nyb7uoidejl1uSL11wMhKyASmqPab5pgJwuT2cPw/s400/Mofu+Family.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u>What a Birthday!<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Friday happened to be Eileen’s birthday and the teachers worked hard to cook up a surprise. As she entered the meeting room, the whole staff boisterously sang, “Happy Birthday,” dancing with balloons, and presenting her with a birthday sash and a cake. Such love and joy goes into everything they do. At the end of the day, all 1100 students sang Happy Birthday in English and Xhosa and another favorite song of Eileen’s. It just doesn’t get any better.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8P-Bc45Grt8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8P-Bc45Grt8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
And those teachers!!!! What a surprise:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c7KmFh3fvM4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c7KmFh3fvM4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>A Beautiful Fall</u><br />
<br />
It’s been very hot here even though they are going into winter. Well, hot for us, anyway. Two days went into the mid-90’s. It’s amazing how cool buildings can be when they are built to keep cool. It only hits those temps for a few hours mid-day, and we wear light sweaters in the morning and evening. Fall is a beautiful time of year here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu6HKkpRZ-rZNv5nnZCbTem5yBHhawhqs3-LwQ-OtDyQzgccDWcYuoNFIpFLbp9GCdOXD15DBZ1k6MUgJ4F6eKbTeEQvBAluwnJHJc_4aysJjRwo_IEbamWLQyDhtqG0bXCN-a3Rsz5s/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu6HKkpRZ-rZNv5nnZCbTem5yBHhawhqs3-LwQ-OtDyQzgccDWcYuoNFIpFLbp9GCdOXD15DBZ1k6MUgJ4F6eKbTeEQvBAluwnJHJc_4aysJjRwo_IEbamWLQyDhtqG0bXCN-a3Rsz5s/s640/IMG_0745.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surfer in Port Elizabeth </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6QPZCIOWJHEfVS78IUatuKrtamVePW2dWs4mFeAz7Vj8eVlr3fqpCxBEmdKWZuUMztwldv1eCmUMuUBi9NxtuZ1q27FatAUivCM7NdgQO1DJqryjoqArrRxg-gF3_YTOOHtegwjLt0I/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6QPZCIOWJHEfVS78IUatuKrtamVePW2dWs4mFeAz7Vj8eVlr3fqpCxBEmdKWZuUMztwldv1eCmUMuUBi9NxtuZ1q27FatAUivCM7NdgQO1DJqryjoqArrRxg-gF3_YTOOHtegwjLt0I/s320/IMG_0760.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84QH9QPrbirjRKDqxguVIXZDZGuOP-F4QfYw4VTHykblwpn1BJOQc8GfT7Qdbpu9fq6wVh9tD7Hp3PvKKdYSgMIW9X-pjE1665LvzhyphenhyphenGwHQ_jKh3Z_sSx4Y497YY3-hpGGirzCCUNzDM/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84QH9QPrbirjRKDqxguVIXZDZGuOP-F4QfYw4VTHykblwpn1BJOQc8GfT7Qdbpu9fq6wVh9tD7Hp3PvKKdYSgMIW9X-pjE1665LvzhyphenhyphenGwHQ_jKh3Z_sSx4Y497YY3-hpGGirzCCUNzDM/s320/IMG_0765.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqgk8bIrvLiBRcAOGzRmzDkWEIIkpYVfH6HspyhkJ7GC-rgo3j-CSncRddGuFyxrIuPruxaTWTj-v8IHFwaWHIT67o5m_iMMkipYqHtwXU-PnZ6LpzKri8CJM4BRTJzqWjWsLdH8MCH4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_9fcd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqgk8bIrvLiBRcAOGzRmzDkWEIIkpYVfH6HspyhkJ7GC-rgo3j-CSncRddGuFyxrIuPruxaTWTj-v8IHFwaWHIT67o5m_iMMkipYqHtwXU-PnZ6LpzKri8CJM4BRTJzqWjWsLdH8MCH4/s400/fullsizeoutput_9fcd.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AIkAJxrRJzoEFmruxBJHOO0-ZnwwHmv1PzWGmEi-FY5yKndKt6HobSxoQfxR29zgxdO2VSY8UDZCozRT_guY4BM8BrvtjJY4eORM2QAL6fORlSBvfwtLK9TMorFfvGOqxFWDjfnW3yA/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AIkAJxrRJzoEFmruxBJHOO0-ZnwwHmv1PzWGmEi-FY5yKndKt6HobSxoQfxR29zgxdO2VSY8UDZCozRT_guY4BM8BrvtjJY4eORM2QAL6fORlSBvfwtLK9TMorFfvGOqxFWDjfnW3yA/s400/IMG_0648.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-77611188198309722762019-04-25T22:05:00.002-04:002019-04-26T10:24:29.969-04:00Books and Computers and Lesson Plans - Oh My!Well, we have brought resources with us, but never quite as much as this time! We are pushing the limits of the luggage requirements and sure hope our scale is correct.<br />
<br />
In our luggage are nine lightly-used laptops for the Bukani students, thanks to the generous donation of a business. When we get to Port Elizabeth, these will be equipped with new hard-drives with Windows and open source Office installed, thanks to donors to The Kugler Education Fund. We've also been able to purchase new memory for some of the older computers at Bukani. It's been a bit hectic the last few weeks, but so well worth it.<br />
<br />
We're also carrying Big Books and associated readers. This includes two Big Books that Larry created himself, with words of songs that the students love to sing with him -- "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." Of course we are also bringing Larry's guitar! How could we be there without singing with the kids?!<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, we are also carrying on 4 car shock absorbers. We have friends who are indeed like family there, and they need shock absorbers so they can drive their car. Since the part would have to be imported from the U.S. (and far too expensive), they asked if we can bring them in. Sure!<br />
<br />
Do we have room for clothes, you ask? We're just lucky the weather is warm and our clothes are light. Eileen, a chronic over-packer, had to learn to really assess what is necessary.<br />
<br />
Our trip will take 33 hours, including an overnight stay in Johannesburg. It's all worth it.Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-83839389908736728862019-04-12T11:23:00.001-04:002019-04-26T10:21:53.528-04:00RETURNING TO BUKANI!<br />
It's official! We leave on April 26 for three weeks at our beloved A.V. Bukani Elementary School in Nomathamsanqa Township, Addo, South Africa.<br />
<br />
Larry is busy preparing professional development for the teachers on big books and accompanying little readers. Thanks to the donation from O'brien Associates in Richmond, we have a selection of big books and various small books for early readers, to be used in classroom instruction.<br />
<br />
<u>New computers a priority</u><br />
Eileen's focus is on helping the school replace the aging out-of-date computers in their lab. Donations to the Kugler Education Fund (see "<a href="http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/p/how-to-donate.html">How to Donate</a>") this year will support that effort. We're also working with potential donors of new computers both from the U.S. and in South Africa.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1TmcU2m9P2_YeBZngNfM_Jg3OZywYj18dTH43YUftb4LP4bpOn9_to674p3bsG4V3492nI55GPyUVJOSbaKVxu26CZ0EuVCKx4zU6cvfQVlN4fwCUn5f8UhqlleA4ViEvz6SHgJXTvI/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1TmcU2m9P2_YeBZngNfM_Jg3OZywYj18dTH43YUftb4LP4bpOn9_to674p3bsG4V3492nI55GPyUVJOSbaKVxu26CZ0EuVCKx4zU6cvfQVlN4fwCUn5f8UhqlleA4ViEvz6SHgJXTvI/s320/IMG_0525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoRngGeawPc_TpLCIIViRL2yn5FlPkMvWG9ZhWXCbAM39PGl9EgNJXaxR836E50y9RnRp65tKX953pLFIDZTUUKLAOYRtDVsJlDNJ-UuPISXJH5lthswaKGTAK-mN5rNJtgTcHBkIt6Q/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoRngGeawPc_TpLCIIViRL2yn5FlPkMvWG9ZhWXCbAM39PGl9EgNJXaxR836E50y9RnRp65tKX953pLFIDZTUUKLAOYRtDVsJlDNJ-UuPISXJH5lthswaKGTAK-mN5rNJtgTcHBkIt6Q/s200/IMG_0526.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UMpuac91qfSwE4xVkYhVWTl7HVMDL8N1UUjCHUB8uIBNI9GI1oD0XFCwTLhRn739JERMjPnI0bsnXZfSajpYUieCJiesDkS8QfJiqSdA-gST7SmQYQ1mWqwCm9RrThueNPQ02XPSWlc/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UMpuac91qfSwE4xVkYhVWTl7HVMDL8N1UUjCHUB8uIBNI9GI1oD0XFCwTLhRn739JERMjPnI0bsnXZfSajpYUieCJiesDkS8QfJiqSdA-gST7SmQYQ1mWqwCm9RrThueNPQ02XPSWlc/s200/IMG_0527.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-39581898503653850492015-09-16T14:43:00.005-04:002015-09-16T15:04:56.011-04:00"I am the product of what you have brought here"<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were definitely supposed to stay the fourth week. So many
wonderful things took place at school that week. So much came together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Farewell party was an extraordinary day that we will
never forget, a surprise that the teachers and students worked on all week. The
students displayed their academic prowess in a way we could not have imagined a
few years ago. There are exciting details and pictures later in the blog, but
first, we’ll report on so much else that happened this week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iO6j6coI0FAkYmjeE91sJ1Tdk4ZaiIe1025OAVxeELWcwipSSO-FYa1dUBxZKB0RpCidbsLjE4y9M6GTDOVdaTW92ZD4hyphenhyphen_nY0HnUXM5DiG0oIJCgljJ-CCJBdLH_ZCwMdbwggsa7Zs/s1600/Spelling+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iO6j6coI0FAkYmjeE91sJ1Tdk4ZaiIe1025OAVxeELWcwipSSO-FYa1dUBxZKB0RpCidbsLjE4y9M6GTDOVdaTW92ZD4hyphenhyphen_nY0HnUXM5DiG0oIJCgljJ-CCJBdLH_ZCwMdbwggsa7Zs/s200/Spelling+bee.jpg" width="163" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a week of great achievement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the school’s Grade 3 students won the
area spelling bee!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teacher Nomhle Gada
was over the moon when she came in to give us the news.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY25Lv1rxxZj7zUzPAeEvFYH79Wm9ug1BylByc4AXs3hqm95_LqCKFuciV0WZks7RRSdxgy0_rWlLgctVItiJKAD-KUZrKWbBJHNnNt1FnkLABBHhvb_hyphenhyphen2w5cOs7EaeNXbMUj6jFs6YE/s1600/Entrepreneur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY25Lv1rxxZj7zUzPAeEvFYH79Wm9ug1BylByc4AXs3hqm95_LqCKFuciV0WZks7RRSdxgy0_rWlLgctVItiJKAD-KUZrKWbBJHNnNt1FnkLABBHhvb_hyphenhyphen2w5cOs7EaeNXbMUj6jFs6YE/s200/Entrepreneur.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the older students took part in a successful
Entrepreneur’s Day, under the mentorship of teacher Ben Tenato. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3FHTpOy-livK-mTHThIvgUaYlw8rgoMYs3G0xjZqh4a9uo9b-dA43AWMaL1SZI5t5Drqh_-LHSX63gzDCkuNrAIeIAQj0PaiTJbcVWrsyMsTsY_4Xm38pHLlQhfaDArJ8TT-TSfVO4U/s1600/Entrepreneur+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They had to
make something to sell during the mid-day break, advertise it, set out, sell
it, and then figure out how much they made after accounting for all their
expenses – an economics lesson. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much excitement at the school for this great
event!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Library<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the school truly appreciates the library, there have
been a number of obstacles to getting it functional. This, unfortunately, is
the case in many township libraries with over-burdened teachers and no budget
or staff to run it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were committed
this month to trying to “crack this nut,” as our volunteer coordinator Paul
Miedema said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through some contacts Eileen made in the broader community,
she connected with a professor at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, Dr. Laetitia Greying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the professor’s many specialties is
library education. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dr. Greyling met with Eileen in Port Elizabeth on the
weekend and then agreed to come out to the school in the township. It could not
have been a more positive experience for all involved. She talked about
building a love of reading in the community. “Reading has such power. You can’t
be mad at your child when you are sitting together reading.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She met with Principal Thambo and several teachers who are members
of the library committee, including new teacher Nombulelo Lamani who had worked
at the municipal library. Dr. Greyling toured the school grounds, including the
new Reception (kindergarten) areas under construction. She was impressed with
the commitment of the school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEEUPhfiTEV5qn9yVCz2sasGmxV25PIN-dpUQpnjlVaQLQgoaj4wAr-zx0d_XjqTrD2OuKPc610hx0DrCE_7U6gNQ4u9Kf4oawx4_d-0x6zjDHpcrg3_mdey-GofTyTqUa909Xtsbbpc/s1600/Laetitia+and+Ace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEEUPhfiTEV5qn9yVCz2sasGmxV25PIN-dpUQpnjlVaQLQgoaj4wAr-zx0d_XjqTrD2OuKPc610hx0DrCE_7U6gNQ4u9Kf4oawx4_d-0x6zjDHpcrg3_mdey-GofTyTqUa909Xtsbbpc/s200/Laetitia+and+Ace.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ace Lamani and Laetitia Greyling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the most fortuitous part was that when Dr. Greyling came
to school she recognized Deputy Principal Ace Lamani from his Honors program
where she had been one of his professors – one of his toughest, and one of his
most supportive, he remembers. They were both happy to reconnect. She is eager
to become involved with the school’s efforts to effectively organize the
library and train community volunteers and teachers as library aides. She will
also be a great resource for teachers interested in furthering their education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>351</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2002</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>16</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2349</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The school still has work to do to move the library forward.
The library committee stated it is committed to having boxes of books back in
classrooms, something that hasn’t happened widely since there have been unfilled
teacher positions in the school leaving some students without teacher oversight
for many hours a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there are
organizational elements that need to be completed before Dr. Greyling becomes
involved. But we are all hopeful these steps will be taken to take full
advantage of the wonderful books in the library. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq5Y-m2RPAD_9Ir0_wW0PFxvWAsgmvhpuFe0fF3-t4ZW_e0wJxURc3K9_HC0fw7bvZMqBEVX1zCAbrSBDOeJUvs1H7Y4JD873MnU2wRr9QuMFzl1EIy7g9seFwKnVJkmjiofGPhglnKA/s1600/back+of+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq5Y-m2RPAD_9Ir0_wW0PFxvWAsgmvhpuFe0fF3-t4ZW_e0wJxURc3K9_HC0fw7bvZMqBEVX1zCAbrSBDOeJUvs1H7Y4JD873MnU2wRr9QuMFzl1EIy7g9seFwKnVJkmjiofGPhglnKA/s400/back+of+library.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Seuss on the back of the library</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guided Reading Continues<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06upRZwJL6ZM5wYjHvSwpW2P8XiBUquXgEl4dNt7I9lBUkhSsX-RJExYR_jm908MlGT_BAcapcQEaqv52klcr-A5mP223xtkzSdr0SvmTtnFWDdKx6b81MXXbkR1yF-u7zDZqVZ1F5zo/s1600/Guided+Reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06upRZwJL6ZM5wYjHvSwpW2P8XiBUquXgEl4dNt7I9lBUkhSsX-RJExYR_jm908MlGT_BAcapcQEaqv52klcr-A5mP223xtkzSdr0SvmTtnFWDdKx6b81MXXbkR1yF-u7zDZqVZ1F5zo/s320/Guided+Reading.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larry concluded his work with the six teachers he worked
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They included one Grade 2 teacher,
three Grade 3 teachers , and two Grade 4 teachers. During this final week, the
teaching responsibilities were completely turned over to the Bukani teachers.
Each of them selected a book to use and to lead the lesson. Every one of them
did a great job!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s obvious they were astute observers when Larry did the
teaching and their seriousness paid off. After each lesson, Larry provided
immediate feedback and gave them written feedback by the next morning. The discussions with each teacher focused on
what they had done well with one or two suggestions about what they could do to
improve during the next lessons and in the future. Overall, each of these
teachers made good progress during the month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Guided reading is by far the most complex technique the staff has undertaken
over our eight years and five trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much work is to be done to hone their skills, but, taking the long view,
they have successfully begun this journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmN_8u-tpbW3VMWPkqlQo0IQRrnS1-3_uzbbtrDLfikeJXWeHyoH6l_gBn1xg_GhKudlSKVPFLnEtE4Jl_N2L-5OGCRBOJ57i6GbHuDgZxKzJylNnGBNSaaDMtc_rQSEVjQ08QHSKnuc/s1600/Larry+singing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmN_8u-tpbW3VMWPkqlQo0IQRrnS1-3_uzbbtrDLfikeJXWeHyoH6l_gBn1xg_GhKudlSKVPFLnEtE4Jl_N2L-5OGCRBOJ57i6GbHuDgZxKzJylNnGBNSaaDMtc_rQSEVjQ08QHSKnuc/s200/Larry+singing.jpg" width="200" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, oh yes. Larry had great fun singing with many classes
on Thursday and Friday before departing. The learners at A. V. Bukani so
enjoyed learning these songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
smiling faces, the peals of laughter at some of the silliness in the lyrics and
Larry’s crazy renditions, and the absolute joyful dancing as they sang left
everyone exhausted, sweaty, and exultant (especially Larry).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>359</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2052</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>17</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2407</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parent Programs Build<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attendance at our parent meetings continued to increase
during our final week. Deputy Principal Lamani and Mrs. Lamani helped with the
translation and also worked with the parents and the learners, bringing joy to
all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQkASvXQAzrVs5uhVpP2nDPzycUx4qaDd0HT3vhOz3oWcJHiaXAPpL_0UVAh8sa7c37ZQVm9A03bpyUW6uWTqnx3CIZG_8lNbc0e3O1h9u2uX-dMYpPPB1QXzc0R9L1w0X_MPvlJeNa4/s1600/Parent+meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQkASvXQAzrVs5uhVpP2nDPzycUx4qaDd0HT3vhOz3oWcJHiaXAPpL_0UVAh8sa7c37ZQVm9A03bpyUW6uWTqnx3CIZG_8lNbc0e3O1h9u2uX-dMYpPPB1QXzc0R9L1w0X_MPvlJeNa4/s320/Parent+meeting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mothers and grandmothers continued to knit scarves for
students at the school and really enjoyed the opportunity to get together. One
of the community leaders is hoping to continue the knitting at the school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen also learned that there is an arts cooperative working
with women in the area, called Valley Arts <a href="https://www.blogger.com/(https://www.facebook.com/Valley-Arts-1650039228552566/timeline/">(https://www.facebook.com/Valley-Arts-1650039228552566/timeline/</a> coordinated by the Centre for the Community School at Nelson Mandela Metro University.
They are interested in working with the group that knits at Bukani. Currently
they make beautiful bead work and other jewelry along with items from special
cloth made only in that region. <span style="background-color: yellow;">**<b>Eileen
brought back some of the beautiful jewelry and other crafts from the cooperative for purchase if you are interested in
supporting these women.**</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But of course, the parent meetings were more than about
crafts. During the meetings, the parents
learned simple strategies to support their children’s reading and math skills.
The parents were given blank cards and a pen to take home to work with their
children. Early learners drew pictures
of words that start with a certain sound. Some added in the word. Older
learners drew pictures and wrote stories about them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One father asked me how to get his son to turn off the TV
because he gets angry when the father turns it off. I suggested that his son
probably wouldn’t mind turning off the TV if the father sat with him and worked
on words and stories. At the next
meeting, the father came with his son and the son gave me a stack of cards with
pictures and stories. They had truly enjoyed working on this together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DM_BOIyc2CDksetYj0mlSuAP65Dnez6nnSSKnZFRPDBs8McSp-XykgGIKH8tNRH7jnbwGJZly4UfmNBwVmw0049ywU372OgVHcOouJU2i2Tg4CPsoya0H8ul53vXXlQp1n7eEjt2un0/s1600/Parent+meeting+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DM_BOIyc2CDksetYj0mlSuAP65Dnez6nnSSKnZFRPDBs8McSp-XykgGIKH8tNRH7jnbwGJZly4UfmNBwVmw0049ywU372OgVHcOouJU2i2Tg4CPsoya0H8ul53vXXlQp1n7eEjt2un0/s320/Parent+meeting+kids.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
also encouraged the parents to use their regular daily activities as a way to
build math skills with their children. These included cooking, setting the
table, grocery shopping, and counting out change for purchases. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An increasing number of children came to each meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had books and word games out and they
quickly became engaged. The older learners read books to the younger ones. We encouraged
them to keep reading to their brothers and sisters, cousins, and neighbors. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>216</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1236</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1450</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visiting Our Family in the Township<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC52sBcuOX3ilNeTV7ldjQDSLWENcG9rY7QAn1wjwxktPM7EADvrg9nWMSlfZK7BfQPPeO_19cVv2f7UlR0cG5bxzmTv86wDdGf6gked5y63I-MA8O2ZHPwNn9WXBhmPYMOyEAk7k6YK8/s1600/Yunga+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC52sBcuOX3ilNeTV7ldjQDSLWENcG9rY7QAn1wjwxktPM7EADvrg9nWMSlfZK7BfQPPeO_19cVv2f7UlR0cG5bxzmTv86wDdGf6gked5y63I-MA8O2ZHPwNn9WXBhmPYMOyEAk7k6YK8/s200/Yunga+.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yunga is at tall as Eileen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We always look forward to spending time with the Mofus, the
family whom we lived with for our first three years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Grandson </span>Yunga<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who turned six on our first trip is now
14!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is still sweet and caring, but
definitely a teenager:). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rev. Lovemore Mofu has suffered from kidney failur<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">e the past few
years. He now goes for dialysis three times a week in a hospital about 50
minutes away. It is a full day’s trip for both him and his wife Nomsamo every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It’s quite a challenge, including the cost of a
ride there. One time he did not have the
money for transportation and he skipped dialysis. He became so ill, he was in
the hospital for 10 days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-istTQAf_vmSStL7DBTZS-ZEC3K63i0XSYZvkx7qTshsmX4GzJSbgOy1QHR_fnSgSUB3EeIAR25WeVP8o91fL0mbM_bZ4DEYK58ThfmCaiVud_Gdk2Ax8Qg8t55lPlJtmdSE3WT55wo/s1600/Mofu+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-istTQAf_vmSStL7DBTZS-ZEC3K63i0XSYZvkx7qTshsmX4GzJSbgOy1QHR_fnSgSUB3EeIAR25WeVP8o91fL0mbM_bZ4DEYK58ThfmCaiVud_Gdk2Ax8Qg8t55lPlJtmdSE3WT55wo/s320/Mofu+family.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They also care for their two young grandsons, whose mother
is working in a nearly town. Yunga and
the two little ones are the love of their lives. No one gives a hug like their
grandma Nomsamo! Pam, Yunga’s mother, works at one of the
schools in the township and is a tremendous help and support for her parents and all three boys.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>224</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1282</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1503</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had dinner at the Mofu home the night before we left. Pam
and Nomsamo had wide smiles on their faces and said they had a special gift for
us. They honored our family by giving Sara and Alex’s children Xhosa names! As
in the Native American tradition, Xhosa names have deep meaning and are a
treasured gift to those outside the culture. Maxine’s name is <i><b>Sinovuyo</b></i>, one who
brings happiness, and Elias’ name is <b><i>Sipho</i></b>, a gift. A great honor to our
family, indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am the product of what you have brought here since 2008”<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our farewell party is always fun and moving – but this year
it was something we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could not have
imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one of the most
powerful days of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The teachers wanted to create something completely different
from previous </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6iuw8A7fD-06FU1Ftm1-Wm3cr6RMfBYrexzMOCR3jcZZpBEjWCfSzSSceHdlhuvqDkL3TisKNVk9F-_571QxTSyGNGUtRlKZ9KwBfk4n1ngh-kGSu9YIk651lHLZ8_cvj4_s4Ke9RIQ/s1600/IMG_3216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6iuw8A7fD-06FU1Ftm1-Wm3cr6RMfBYrexzMOCR3jcZZpBEjWCfSzSSceHdlhuvqDkL3TisKNVk9F-_571QxTSyGNGUtRlKZ9KwBfk4n1ngh-kGSu9YIk651lHLZ8_cvj4_s4Ke9RIQ/s200/IMG_3216.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">years and they kept it a secret from us all week. The Farewell
showcased the Grade 6 and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>7 students who
were just starting school when we first arrived in 2008. All the speeches were
written and delivered by the students, the first time students were given an
important responsibility like that. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The official welcome was presented by a 7<sup>th</sup> grade
student:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>“<i>I am the product of what you
have brought here since 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am from
an unnamed family, but you taught me the strategies I needed so I could learn.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other students made similar remarks: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>“<i>Thank<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> y</span>ou for planting the seeds that helped us
grow.” </i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>“We will never forget the Kugler family.”</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larry and I were stunned. And of course, the tears started
falling and didn’t stop for an hour. The students displayed their reading and
writing skills, their creative poetry, and their knowledge of strategies that
Larry taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students performed a
fun skit about reading a Big Book, including discussing it afterwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKozO0VOuVzC1PLxqrQ3TKCxzoXUbgb2TIdPQgf2Ty-iBZYRR54qv7vTP59E4D_F6FZcObi2_zm9fbLJVGrwcH-mZK8TBhUspx_1dUP-0J7_sToKYTHKdAGsYUg6ebKrvMJy1vlfkkLCo/s1600/IMG_3223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKozO0VOuVzC1PLxqrQ3TKCxzoXUbgb2TIdPQgf2Ty-iBZYRR54qv7vTP59E4D_F6FZcObi2_zm9fbLJVGrwcH-mZK8TBhUspx_1dUP-0J7_sToKYTHKdAGsYUg6ebKrvMJy1vlfkkLCo/s320/IMG_3223.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The learners sang all the songs Larry had taught them, one
led on a guitar that a student made in a class where they each made a musical
instrument. The Grade 1 learners sang “The Penguin Song” which Eileen had
taught them, after her granddaughter, Maxine, taught it to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwsqsX-K6iRiXaYRVBHivftsbTB938kg87zNkJmjWT_r-iKELB2QHybyikibIa1qzrUYqUu2nXXnzotlT7tIgM0Rumju_uPu0AC1eUaJpgiRfwUKzs3hoNAaWofTEvYiItHefYvOSstI/s1600/kid+wiht+guitar+at+farewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwsqsX-K6iRiXaYRVBHivftsbTB938kg87zNkJmjWT_r-iKELB2QHybyikibIa1qzrUYqUu2nXXnzotlT7tIgM0Rumju_uPu0AC1eUaJpgiRfwUKzs3hoNAaWofTEvYiItHefYvOSstI/s320/kid+wiht+guitar+at+farewell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The older learners performed “This Little Light of Mine,” a
new song Larry taught this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards, choking back tears, Eileen spoke to the Grade 7students. Many will go off to a high school that has severe limitations. And
they will face racism and injustice in a country still breaking free from its
harsh history. She urged the students to “<i>Never let anyone try to put out your
light. If someone tells you that you can't, remember me standing in front of you telling you that you can. And share your
light with your younger brothers and sisters, cousins and neighbors. That is
how your teachers learned and it is now your
responsibility.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, there was great fun, too, with dancing and singing. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What would a party be without music?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLr_NdoZY-Nhuvz2EfUMgirNwclUwEvfFl7frS0SMAGxTYrSUaEbnZIrvhrcNiJ3zvliceaYAE9KURXeb1abi4XP-sfyE8FJpymzEKs0NKAiEyeSRaFtCXO_DuS5u6tcJpZ7VDtN3BDQ/s1600/young+dancers+at+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLr_NdoZY-Nhuvz2EfUMgirNwclUwEvfFl7frS0SMAGxTYrSUaEbnZIrvhrcNiJ3zvliceaYAE9KURXeb1abi4XP-sfyE8FJpymzEKs0NKAiEyeSRaFtCXO_DuS5u6tcJpZ7VDtN3BDQ/s320/young+dancers+at+party.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-2xBHtMcNpKsdZkgmyol6I42Qo9sq7LHNxq_D1lkizEkyzYb5XbkP-BROKlT4q9ZqQmCEUEDMHtLEA-4KEuJFAs6X1Hg4tQk25vxieQvkzM881uHewR6vs6w0t8sE9oaw7E5AtpgDnc/s1600/Dancing+at+the+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-2xBHtMcNpKsdZkgmyol6I42Qo9sq7LHNxq_D1lkizEkyzYb5XbkP-BROKlT4q9ZqQmCEUEDMHtLEA-4KEuJFAs6X1Hg4tQk25vxieQvkzM881uHewR6vs6w0t8sE9oaw7E5AtpgDnc/s320/Dancing+at+the+party.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>370</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2109</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>17</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2475</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSqrsqQ1Zn8se00rtsGO8w3Z0S_kGSoOVrrMdY9rSWk-V9pvwT0r5tft3Fqvzfb5-Qg_M3e10VDiMteRisiIZp3ic2wshUF-Gj7Eap73ohW2r5uct0UqBSUDsQof9Sn2veLixJ9c2rFM/s1600/gift+at+farewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSqrsqQ1Zn8se00rtsGO8w3Z0S_kGSoOVrrMdY9rSWk-V9pvwT0r5tft3Fqvzfb5-Qg_M3e10VDiMteRisiIZp3ic2wshUF-Gj7Eap73ohW2r5uct0UqBSUDsQof9Sn2veLixJ9c2rFM/s320/gift+at+farewell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This was a program that opened our eyes to the impact our work has had. And inspired us to continue. Yes, there are still challenges and we need to take the long view. But we can revel in a celebration of what these students have gained in confidence, knowledge, and skills. We could not be prouder of them.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It was a wonderful fifth visit, shared with friends who made their own impact on these deserving teachers and learner. We'll have more reflections soon...</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eileen and Larry</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>155</o:Words>
<o:Characters>887</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1040</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-51599590949781767782015-09-06T13:06:00.003-04:002015-09-11T05:54:32.567-04:00A "Family" View of the School Community<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaLPH0NBW1Qx4Hd8poTTmfBaZV_C8JpfG76lDgK937TXRehcBQM6-107piOWbogDhaKXZCF825gBilcowq3N_63TiKH8uNAM_ijo9X6rMYQlSYzWFLnC7kDN9Sgsks1Ga-YrsCUnp2o8/s1600/Larry+and+Lumka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaLPH0NBW1Qx4Hd8poTTmfBaZV_C8JpfG76lDgK937TXRehcBQM6-107piOWbogDhaKXZCF825gBilcowq3N_63TiKH8uNAM_ijo9X6rMYQlSYzWFLnC7kDN9Sgsks1Ga-YrsCUnp2o8/s200/Larry+and+Lumka.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The more time we spend at A.V. Bukani, the more we become
part of the fabric of the school and the community. Children call out to us across the school
yard with phrases from the books we’ve read in their classrooms or songs we’ve
sung with them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mothers welcome us as
<i>Nosango</i> and <i>Tando</i>, names they gave us in 2009. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers enjoy photos of Sara’s children,
remembering that on her last visit here in 2010, she was pregnant with her
older child Maxine. We wear the traditional dress that was given to us in 2008
on formal occasions like the farewell for Randi and Steve, and the teachers and
families hug us and want to take pictures with us. We are part of them, and
they are part of us.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNCPqR2_NoPaZApges_LTPfB-FFuALuUCkOjRnvZY2FHB4FxtNgPD7NMeTdbi0JlcAzRHUfZqkUVNPy15WQcNlilWGLRdqUusg8yvbTLDXi3egQ5pI-VAHjBuG6H9yqnp1za70WFVwpQ/s1600/Eileen+and+ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNCPqR2_NoPaZApges_LTPfB-FFuALuUCkOjRnvZY2FHB4FxtNgPD7NMeTdbi0JlcAzRHUfZqkUVNPy15WQcNlilWGLRdqUusg8yvbTLDXi3egQ5pI-VAHjBuG6H9yqnp1za70WFVwpQ/s200/Eileen+and+ladies.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNCPqR2_NoPaZApges_LTPfB-FFuALuUCkOjRnvZY2FHB4FxtNgPD7NMeTdbi0JlcAzRHUfZqkUVNPy15WQcNlilWGLRdqUusg8yvbTLDXi3egQ5pI-VAHjBuG6H9yqnp1za70WFVwpQ/s1600/Eileen+and+ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But just as we see the wonderful aspects of life here, we
also see the challenges more clearly because we are no longer treated as
guests, but as family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is hard here.
We are reminded on a daily basis, on an hourly basis, just how easy life is for
a white middle-class person in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our life here is certainly different than home, but still…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Muddy streets from overbearing, cold rain--</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For us: We scrape mud off our shoes and put on dry ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For them: Children in shoes a size too small, with no socks,
and threadbare clothes shiver or don’t come to school at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Municipal water that is unreliable--</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For us: We drink from the bottled water we always carry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For them: An hour, a day, a week with no clean water for all
your needs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Illness and death--</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For us: We mourn the teacher friend that we lost.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For them: Weekends are filled with funerals for family,
friends and colleagues of every age. This week, one teacher lost two young
cousins from illness, another lost a sister-in-law from an accident slipping in
the mud, and the mother of the president of the SGB (a parent board with governing rights in the school) died on Thursday. That’s just
the ones we know about. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Eye glasses-</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For us: A postponed eye exam because of our time here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For them: A school of 1000 learners with only a handful
wearing glasses. Others squint at the board or put their faces ½ inch from the
page of the book. How much could they be learning if they could see the words?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While on our first trip to South Africa, on a 2006 tour with
multi-cultural educators, we heard great optimism about the “new South Africa.”
Today, there is tremendous frustration with the lack of services provided by
the government. Fraud and embezzlement at every level are rampant, starting
with the president Jacob Zuma, whom a watchdog group found used <span style="color: #262626; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">nearly $18,000,000 of
taxpayers' money to turn his private home into a display of "opulence on a
grand scale." He just took on his 5<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> wife, which appalls
people of every culture we spoke with. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet Zuma is with the ANC – the African National Congress –
the party of Nelson Mandela. And the majority feel they cannot leave that party
or they will dishonor Mandela’s legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they don’t know how their children will feel when it is their turn
to vote…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #443e3e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a consistent disappointment in the services provided
through the Ministry of Basic Education. The Minister Angie Motshekga has
admitted the problems herself, issuing an open letter apologizing to grade 12
pupils in 2012. She wrote: "I know 2012 has not been an easy year for you.
I also understand that you may feel I ... have let you down. I apologise
unreservedly for all you have been through as a pupil." Not much has
changed. Just a few days ago, Motshekga stated at a public forum, “Things are
quite bad, I’m sorry to say.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #443e3e; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American-born filmmaker Molly Blank, who now creates compelling
documentaries about South African education wrote that Motshekga’s apology “devastated
me, not because of what she said but because of the fact that the government's
neglect of pupils compelled her to say it.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Molly went on to document high schools that work,
despite the odds of incredible poverty and few resources <a href="https://vimeo.com/schoolsthatwork">https://vimeo.com/schoolsthatwork</a>
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her book and videos, ‘How to Fix South
Africa’s Schools: Lessons from Schools that Work” (<a href="http://bookstorm.bookslive.co.za/blog/2014/04/04/molly-blank-and-jonathan-jansens-how-to-fix-south-africas-schools-launched-with-john-maytham/">http://bookstorm.bookslive.co.za/blog/2014/04/04/molly-blank-and-jonathan-jansens-how-to-fix-south-africas-schools-launched-with-john-maytham/</a>)
sends an important message, particularly about the power of school
leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As in the United States, the
power of a principal cannot be denied. And the “hidden curriculum” of the
“emotions and attitude” of the teachers is as critical as the “formal
curriculum,” a teacher at one highly successful school stated. Her project was
commissioned by Jonathan Jansen, Vice Chancellor at the University of the Free
State, an education champion in South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>977</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4475</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>89</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>18</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>5434</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBXgIKscKgWXeU8NKrFRr-nalSQy-9zrw_Mczdnq29lA7wXqYjXztAoMbEvbDochtnK8TzOwWp3ROI38bWK-VOeFLi5BQyeXzBoOHVUbSDd3nGD4aNJbNfGQi1CKI2zhAf1xJ7Zu0318/s1600/Morning+prayers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBXgIKscKgWXeU8NKrFRr-nalSQy-9zrw_Mczdnq29lA7wXqYjXztAoMbEvbDochtnK8TzOwWp3ROI38bWK-VOeFLi5BQyeXzBoOHVUbSDd3nGD4aNJbNfGQi1CKI2zhAf1xJ7Zu0318/s320/Morning+prayers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The educators and the families at Bukani teach us to take
the long view. Not everything can be done now, but progress can be made bit by
bit. We do see progress at A.V. Bukani.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We do see a strong leadership team of Prinicipal <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zilindile </span>Thambo and Deputy Principal Ace Lamani. We continue to
have hope this school will build on successes, despite challenges and
set-backs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">We come to recognize that we,
steeped in our privilege, don’t have the right to get frustrated when committed
teachers come to school, despite illness and loss, to better the lives of their
children; and students come to school through the mud and the rocks and
who-knows-what, eager to learn.</span></span><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Commitment<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larry has been working with several teachers that he had not
worked with before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their commitment is
impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One teacher buried two young
cousins within the past week, but still came to school, sat right next to
Larry, took notes on the guided reading process as she watched, and then planned
and did two introductory lessons herself. Another was sick all week but dragged
herself to school each day to make sure she was in class when Larry was
demonstrating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQQKSpLcj7L89j4ahLrCn7WoKT9iBQUz9xu47vGdy_Kx_kQqdZHtseXfT8in0xWo6nCHfedVTYS3Rzuds6TGBxFk-o-5vK3UCttE8OQpvE39-_D6iX0TVbQwe0n8U9gThIPt371P0NBk/s1600/Demonstration+at+PD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQQKSpLcj7L89j4ahLrCn7WoKT9iBQUz9xu47vGdy_Kx_kQqdZHtseXfT8in0xWo6nCHfedVTYS3Rzuds6TGBxFk-o-5vK3UCttE8OQpvE39-_D6iX0TVbQwe0n8U9gThIPt371P0NBk/s320/Demonstration+at+PD.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larry did professional development three days this past week.
He presented information about beginning reading development and guided
reading. After a full day of teaching under challenging conditions, the teachers
came and listened intently and were engaged in the session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hey asked some thought provoking questions, and only when their sole means of transportation was departing did some of them leave.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVo6oaTx84SySbXzrOYnQjy0fKYZ2U1Q__-hWyArlfrSViGAV6V01DA_TQrGd-A8quNv8gktK_7n0HdmETT73_MaFg7BE-YpN1NVNrz5ZiVq5SqjGs9qZh3FsdWrafcTEql8Una3edpk/s1600/Engaged+teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVo6oaTx84SySbXzrOYnQjy0fKYZ2U1Q__-hWyArlfrSViGAV6V01DA_TQrGd-A8quNv8gktK_7n0HdmETT73_MaFg7BE-YpN1NVNrz5ZiVq5SqjGs9qZh3FsdWrafcTEql8Una3edpk/s200/Engaged+teachers.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lumka , a grade-four teacher Larry has worked with since our
first visit, looked around the room of her peers and stated that they needed to
continue meeting like this, discussing teaching practices, sharing their
successes and challenges, and improving as professionals.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one disagreed.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heads nodded in agreement.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After another session on Thursday that ended with no
comments or questions after Larry’s presentation (maybe Larry wasn’t the only
one who was tired), one of the grade R (kindergarten) teachers, Yolanda, came
to talk to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted him to know that what he was sharing with them was “powerful," even for the foundation phase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At our weekly debriefing with Paul from Calabash, the
organization that organizes volunteers for Bukani and other township schools,
the teachers Larry works with spoke of the progress, although slow, they see in
the struggling learners Larry asked to work with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They see hope and so does Larry, both for
their learners and for the teachers. It will take time, but here in South
Africa, in the eastern Cape, in Nomatansanqa, at A. V. Bukani Primary School,
they are taking the long view and so are we.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parents Trek Through the Mud<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen’s parent programs continue to build, as parents trek
through the rain and the mud to make sure they are part of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mothers and grandmothers share some
drawings their children made with accompanying letters, words, or stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This coming week, the weather looks good on meeting days.
The principal sent a note home to all the families about the meetings,
highlighting that “parents are the child’s first teacher.” The orange picking season is slowing down a
bit so more parents may be available. Who
knows who we will see this week…</span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u>
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excitement at both ends of the scale</span></u><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Randi’s work with writing at the upper grades showed there
are some solid skills being developed in the language arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week we also saw evidence of other areas
of knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tEagri6C3lc0u2QcAzMLZ6ma3NfvQR1LNned9-ZM6ZVhW4_hI97LR551mDReP_R4voCuTf1lVw6-NxWkHaTPzGe2QAu5G12_5nRwjj91G9O5BgKNIeV9OlhdOh9S7GWhmcuT8_EBJDQ/s1600/IMG_2898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tEagri6C3lc0u2QcAzMLZ6ma3NfvQR1LNned9-ZM6ZVhW4_hI97LR551mDReP_R4voCuTf1lVw6-NxWkHaTPzGe2QAu5G12_5nRwjj91G9O5BgKNIeV9OlhdOh9S7GWhmcuT8_EBJDQ/s320/IMG_2898.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Principal Thambo teaches Natural Sciences to the older
learners and he came in beaming on Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave the students the assignment of building an electric circuit,
with the project due on Monday. One group completed the assignment two days early.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the other end, there is much excitement surrounding new
classrooms and play areas for Grade R next year. Three spacious
double-classrooms are under construction with three additional covered play
areas. They are already painted bright primary colors with built-in cubbies. The Grade R teachers at Bukani are loving and
full of life. We can only imagine the learning that will blossom at what South
African educators rightly call “the foundation phase.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ezKhsTEk2l9uT8GLPUOTCmVm6kGvWk-UZTp8sT6mkPATxKtjJ3e8kIpWJztizOhhZ-ThK5Oa58mVkm4WhCELl3_uGcYuDnSvQWoXyQCcg-6jNeGw4_J4pWx7s9FC5zk6_E5viTgsEF4/s1600/IMG_2903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ezKhsTEk2l9uT8GLPUOTCmVm6kGvWk-UZTp8sT6mkPATxKtjJ3e8kIpWJztizOhhZ-ThK5Oa58mVkm4WhCELl3_uGcYuDnSvQWoXyQCcg-6jNeGw4_J4pWx7s9FC5zk6_E5viTgsEF4/s320/IMG_2903.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>789</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3619</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>72</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>15</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4393</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEx-FS40UFbPBBR1j6GSzYnFwGASUsWsxpyNqZdCi7a0tmO2yQqHIb6VXzd80J7-NdNg-vLW7Hkzz39wB1J9x9GG_nMabQzc0s0AX23IMuRgKzb-NrFC351mcEmPG-N7LjAoZKamCJ-4/s1600/IMG_2900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEx-FS40UFbPBBR1j6GSzYnFwGASUsWsxpyNqZdCi7a0tmO2yQqHIb6VXzd80J7-NdNg-vLW7Hkzz39wB1J9x9GG_nMabQzc0s0AX23IMuRgKzb-NrFC351mcEmPG-N7LjAoZKamCJ-4/s320/IMG_2900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So how do we feel as we enter our fourth and final week
here? <span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life here is engaging, rewarding,
hopeful, frustrating, fascinating, inspiring, devastating, enriching, joyful,
depressing, emotional … and exhausting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Friday we packed up for the weekend in the nearby city, thinking we
are worn out and ready to leave next week. And on Friday, we sang with the
learners and tearfully wondered how we could leave next week.</span></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen and Larry a/k/a</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Nosango</i> and <i>Thando</i></span></div>
</div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-56845405150508418172015-08-30T11:47:00.003-04:002015-08-30T11:59:18.424-04:00Lessons We Learn<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">We come to South Africa not only in the hope of improving the lives of
others, but to be changed ourselves. Our work through Calabash Tours and their
international partner, People and Places: Responsible Tourism, is all about
respecting the values and strengths of the communities that volunteers work
with. With that overarching principle, we are taught lessons by the people we
work with and those we meet every single day.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Randi and Steve Adleberg, our friends and colleagues these two weeks, joined in the lessons. Here’s how Randi put it:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQNkTRrZDd97ViPbqACmtwzsrvG-FuWEQTXUQ36nlPVahdh7GHy4lucss4xTDbkGFRXWlP9ejBvHlRvUH5KLzGMatgFEJoaNL2jVmre8povxyTcDPJnPFTHBF4XEVjE901f-_dkzoSA4/s1600/IMG_3656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQNkTRrZDd97ViPbqACmtwzsrvG-FuWEQTXUQ36nlPVahdh7GHy4lucss4xTDbkGFRXWlP9ejBvHlRvUH5KLzGMatgFEJoaNL2jVmre8povxyTcDPJnPFTHBF4XEVjE901f-_dkzoSA4/s320/IMG_3656.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “When we went to Port Elizabeth last weekend I wanted to stock up
on TP, pencils, pens, crayons, poster paper, etc. Eileen pointed out, ‘So
you buy toilet paper for the school; it will last a week. Then what?’ Our
goal here is to make sustainable changes in education, not to provide
consumables. The students and staff are used to working with the supplies they
have. And the learning occurs--even without all the school supplies we, in
The States, find so necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “Do I wish the learners had supplies? Do I wish I could xerox
and distribute practice work instead of writing it on the board over and over
again? Of course I do. Would it speed things up? Undoubtedly. Does
it make a difference in what they learn? I don't think so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “Here are all the things they DO have. Ace taught a lesson on
electricity yesterday. He started with a web centered around the words,
electrical power. He asked the students to list all the things they could
think of that use electricity. ‘Fridge!’ ‘Stove!’ ‘Lights!’ ‘TV!’ ‘Cell phone!’
‘Computer!’ they all shouted. And the families do have most of these
things (although few have computers, and cell phones still need ‘minutes’ to be
purchased to make them work).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> "But more importantly, I think, they have free time! They have
two recesses at school, and time to run around, and play, and just be
kids. Several of the kids are on sports teams: soccer and rugby mostly. I
have at least one student who takes karate. (He has his yellow belt.) And
I have noticed older kids who run on the dry afternoons. But they do
not seem crazed with extra-curricular activities. Everything is at a
more comfortable pace. And people do not let lack of the best sports
equipment stop them from being excellent athletes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “I've learned many things from my two weeks at the A.V. Bukani
School, not the least of which is that <span style="color: #b45f06;">quality of life is not dependent upon
how quickly we achieve our goals, or on how many material goods we possess, but
on taking the time to savor what we do have.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lesson hit home on Thursday again, when the school community gave
Randi and Steve one of their grand farewell parties. As the teachers were
preparing for it, Randi said, "They don’t need to do this. We have such
little time with them and there is so much pressure on them already."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1qfxiavIGqP1GMsuYXCMGxL_BQNcazACfGt8vnmV3eZ0kk1sdyZrW8KbWSasYeam_YjDfTEb_W5CFOQ7cz2yZeVU3y5oVF0YuJkr4T1v_KeeC8Salmm5LBU7wnT6nfUtxDTLjsUWRr4/s1600/dancing+children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1qfxiavIGqP1GMsuYXCMGxL_BQNcazACfGt8vnmV3eZ0kk1sdyZrW8KbWSasYeam_YjDfTEb_W5CFOQ7cz2yZeVU3y5oVF0YuJkr4T1v_KeeC8Salmm5LBU7wnT6nfUtxDTLjsUWRr4/s320/dancing+children.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen responded that this is indeed what they want and need to do. What
we have learned is that this is an essential part of the school’s life – <span style="color: #b45f06;">Celebrations and showing of appreciation are not to be ignored for “serious
work.” They come first.</span> And oh yes, as much as they mourned last week, they
celebrated this week, showing appreciation for educators who come so far to
share their skills and their hearts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8H_rAyf_ibrPk8lMqiwPXykCquob4W0wuKaj3j9WoTZFIMfoAcDP77s6CKDdaktkPD_gfXhTUqrr2gBnO5mckD9UH19YVkdqTQG3II7TAp98TrETpNsBYPmQUGacKJsMjmmPjX46vbHo/s1600/Dancing+teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8H_rAyf_ibrPk8lMqiwPXykCquob4W0wuKaj3j9WoTZFIMfoAcDP77s6CKDdaktkPD_gfXhTUqrr2gBnO5mckD9UH19YVkdqTQG3II7TAp98TrETpNsBYPmQUGacKJsMjmmPjX46vbHo/s320/Dancing+teachers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The teachers, and some of the students regaled us in song and dance,
and prayer. "Thank you, God, for sending Steve and Randi to us. Thank you,
God, for giving them the skills, so that they could teach them to us." <span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_z5fi9gW0F1U2-iBWn11d5zCLHdJoywVtuEpM6bKG3CQwxqZStb6xmDAVEluTm_R8Fdko-sjzq3DLH2vk-yxUGsUfGu-NsbXRF8qV0FLW41Mi8BwmhKkGptBj9G1jn-EHbWbK7ad-X0/s1600/farewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_z5fi9gW0F1U2-iBWn11d5zCLHdJoywVtuEpM6bKG3CQwxqZStb6xmDAVEluTm_R8Fdko-sjzq3DLH2vk-yxUGsUfGu-NsbXRF8qV0FLW41Mi8BwmhKkGptBj9G1jn-EHbWbK7ad-X0/s320/farewell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Randi and Steve made a huge contribution in their time here. What
draws us back here year after year is the belief that the strategies and knowledge (and caring)
shared with the teachers make a profound difference in the school community. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We see that reflected in the teachers and students this year. Seven years after
our first visit, teachers at A.V. Bukani immediately trust people of another
race and another country in mutual respect, are engaged in strategies shared in
their classrooms, and request and attend after school professional development.
And, we see it in the READING and now the WRITING (!!) of the older students. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLHnybtZpZZhF3njU8CkkTlFfrg7byTqbGl_jy5oRo64il7Lx43SpIlYVGS8_XOBDr_V93IdF1o5dohCwH35mn3_LTNP2kgn8V4ef3IP6pQKYOUbiDId664Zb5iQWK_KS1U0EiStqrRs/s1600/celebrating+together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLHnybtZpZZhF3njU8CkkTlFfrg7byTqbGl_jy5oRo64il7Lx43SpIlYVGS8_XOBDr_V93IdF1o5dohCwH35mn3_LTNP2kgn8V4ef3IP6pQKYOUbiDId664Zb5iQWK_KS1U0EiStqrRs/s320/celebrating+together.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The volunteers with Principal Thambo and Ace Lamani.<br />
Eileen & Larry honor the community by wearing the traditional<br />
dress made for them by the mothers in 2008.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Randi came with fresh eyes, with high expectations for the older
students (higher than we admit we even had). They responded. She and her
mentor/mentee Ace Lamani, the Deputy Principal and teacher, learned a great
deal from each other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Steve came with a willingness to share and to learn from his
co-teacher, Ben Tenato, the upper grades math teacher and head of the math
department in the school. "Thank you for the honor of being part of your school community," Steve said at </span><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">their farewell.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Ben noted his deep appreciation for Steve’s openness
and support: “He did not come to judge me. We taught together and we were like
a team that had been together a long time,” Ben said. “Every time he
demonstrated a lesson, it became clear to me what I was missing, what I needed
to do to improve.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgZghjyrbnqo_0SLYnIzwGEEClVSD7OR23mjTmrTfD9psS56lMOmVwsjQdG9pQuKLvlXCV_ft1DWFZAWCZaLq4ua9muVnsfvo-fkL7rTC2P8zG4sZOAfj9s9L6BYcYxVh_eURCthAxCs/s1600/Ben+in+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgZghjyrbnqo_0SLYnIzwGEEClVSD7OR23mjTmrTfD9psS56lMOmVwsjQdG9pQuKLvlXCV_ft1DWFZAWCZaLq4ua9muVnsfvo-fkL7rTC2P8zG4sZOAfj9s9L6BYcYxVh_eURCthAxCs/s200/Ben+in+class.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben using techniques from Steve </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNw5it_TgFFXAZcJMPuNrh4Gw6ezNxAPOdYEBC9qkpsEfqQnJy69_njfKnp-fS5ivBSGIS69Xp_KQk_Sk-WgNY5Se0GgU1V4tcwDhQI6QwZFgiS1a4yCuvPMYSNVKceSFvf5oQ1E2FKk/s1600/Steve+teaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNw5it_TgFFXAZcJMPuNrh4Gw6ezNxAPOdYEBC9qkpsEfqQnJy69_njfKnp-fS5ivBSGIS69Xp_KQk_Sk-WgNY5Se0GgU1V4tcwDhQI6QwZFgiS1a4yCuvPMYSNVKceSFvf5oQ1E2FKk/s320/Steve+teaching.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve in the classroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Randi’s last lesson for her students was on letter writing. She wrote
this letter on the board. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tWmWKio8z2OICeA9ou914NJ7WnqoRPqmXqAjYmGGwiYA9Z2o228fX8LsAu-liESBOGdztLxQvL5opECevPd0nuKKkcRt5xx9f-VWkFBhALI4k9IKWdr-lGqd8s6LpVmxneFs5tO-aCM/s1600/Randi%2527s+letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tWmWKio8z2OICeA9ou914NJ7WnqoRPqmXqAjYmGGwiYA9Z2o228fX8LsAu-liESBOGdztLxQvL5opECevPd0nuKKkcRt5xx9f-VWkFBhALI4k9IKWdr-lGqd8s6LpVmxneFs5tO-aCM/s400/Randi%2527s+letter.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The students in each class wrote letters back to be mailed to her.
Some could not wait and handed her letters as she was leaving. They were all in tears (Randi, too). Here are
snippets:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Thank you, about everything
you have done for me, teaching me that education is important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t know how to thank
you. But thank you, Randi. It was nice having you around. I wish that God could
bless you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Thank you, for [teaching]
some things that we are going to never forget in our lives.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I have no words to say,
but I want you to always remember that you will always be at our hearts. Thank
you Randi. You were like a mother to us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I want you to know that you are one of the
people I admire and inspire me to do well and be great at work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK96pFzQdXYX1WisxfyqdAMx1HYkN0asB8Kr-wZLBsnAaJbgXNtPUhYazXRSRHUCGxpzZjhKhbtl7ZGAOrh9WW_8yDT7-D0GMOegYD8unk9bJwfTINGXen5e3MqtKJnlOgO6nb3t4pchA/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK96pFzQdXYX1WisxfyqdAMx1HYkN0asB8Kr-wZLBsnAaJbgXNtPUhYazXRSRHUCGxpzZjhKhbtl7ZGAOrh9WW_8yDT7-D0GMOegYD8unk9bJwfTINGXen5e3MqtKJnlOgO6nb3t4pchA/s320/IMG_2846.JPG" width="320" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You were a very supportive
teacher. You taught me to not laugh at another person.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
“I’m going to miss your smile.”</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Where else do you make a life-changing impact like that in two weeks? </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two More Weeks for the Kuglers<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have two more weeks to go and we appreciate the extra time we have
this year, grateful we decided to stay a month instead of our typical three
weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larry is in the midst of working with the teachers in Grades 2, 3 and
4 on Guided Reading. What Randi has seen and reported about the reading and
writing skills and excitement in grades 6 and 7 has inspired Larry in his
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since the last time we were here
in 2012, when grade 4 was the highest grade, we can now see the possibilities
and the fruition of the work that Larry, Sara, and Cecily began in 2008. Since
these grade 6 and 7 learners have had three additional years of opportunities
to talk, read, and write in English since our last visit, their potential has
been unleashed and many of them converse easily and effectively in English. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">t is important to note that English is not spoken anywhere in their
community, other than by the teachers during English class. This is not an
immersion into a language all around them. It is swimming upstream to learn an
essential and required skill if they are to continue in higher education and in
commerce in the broader South African society. It is the reason we all created
a library of quality books in English for this township.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lesson for Larry this year: <span style="color: #b45f06;">While progress may be slow, progress
is indeed taking place!</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8X5R8c_oBmiDTU_arkIB_Su6Ov5rFOFqmX9l5psfTDGBOzYoOZ70DFHmeN3V_F-Wx09gQPaZBku2VL4e8MFvpnMTkhBWYn5wpGhDGQKppVGyxOjsWHIOfym7_JPBZNVme6-HWf5DjmmA/s1600/IMG_3144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8X5R8c_oBmiDTU_arkIB_Su6Ov5rFOFqmX9l5psfTDGBOzYoOZ70DFHmeN3V_F-Wx09gQPaZBku2VL4e8MFvpnMTkhBWYn5wpGhDGQKppVGyxOjsWHIOfym7_JPBZNVme6-HWf5DjmmA/s320/IMG_3144.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This progress has fueled Larry’s commitment to provide small-group
guided reading to the teachers’ array of teaching techniques. The previously introduced
techniques of think-pair-share, read aloud, and the use of big books have been
integrated into the fiber of instruction, more effectively in some classes than
in others, but noticeably in most classes that teach English. The goal is now
to develop a small group approach that can be used to meet the more specific
needs of individual learners. Larry will continue to model the approach and
then transfer responsibility to the teachers with whom he works to help them
develop this skill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They can then share this approach with other teachers in the
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly but surely they have done
this with the other techniques and we know they can do the same with guided
reading. With two more weeks in the school during our current visit, we are
encouraged by the progress Nombulelo (grade 2), and Melene and Coke (grade 3)
have made and optimistic about the future</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Things Do Work Out</span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen continues her work to connect with the families in the township
and in the broader community. Her big lesson (which she learns over and over
again!): patience. Used to being able to see the big picture and strategize the
little steps needed to get there, Eileen finds that sometimes the little steps
don’t work here. Or sometimes you don’t know they are working. Or sometimes the
big picture is really years, not days away. But in the end, things do start to
work, at just the pace they were supposed to. <span style="color: #b45f06;">Patience. Patience and faith.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting parents together is a challenge this time of year. The main
employment in the township is in the orange groves, and this is the height of
picking season. Parents are working long shifts throughout the day and evening,
picking and packing the fruit. The frequent rain, unusual this time of year,
has made it even more difficult because the fruit can’t be picked when it is
wet. So when the weather is sunny, the shifts are long and may carry into the
weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVfmEBtLGuYrFTn59WRAax-X60APqQivHO96e7hQmg_jSjrwrXJTViSHlKEBMzkcOtgXr6jqMgOnEYoM1y5yuQmfKYqHbxWdH-6pehlBqfyCkarH7kJMgQGdxasDJC7MA2Mb6QV2ejMA/s1600/Parents+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVfmEBtLGuYrFTn59WRAax-X60APqQivHO96e7hQmg_jSjrwrXJTViSHlKEBMzkcOtgXr6jqMgOnEYoM1y5yuQmfKYqHbxWdH-6pehlBqfyCkarH7kJMgQGdxasDJC7MA2Mb6QV2ejMA/s320/Parents+reading.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite this challenge, Eileen held a successful parent meeting this
week, with twelve mothers and grandmothers there helping plan four more
meetings over the next two weeks. They were all women Eileen had worked with
over the years and they were very eager to reconnect. She worked with them on helping create a love of books with their children, and they indeed enjoyed having books in their hands.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo9XwaaCHVw_dOLeEKr3jIk296EEBoW3sUIWVCWq9DdsRh-Nvbm1JjhKit7b5-QTmrHIbmshYHyPF4-9fxo-oS0w81yrtqb7Rvpws9BS578JyOsLP57II7WFFmaYinj56jgXLxJORQPs/s1600/IMG_2819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo9XwaaCHVw_dOLeEKr3jIk296EEBoW3sUIWVCWq9DdsRh-Nvbm1JjhKit7b5-QTmrHIbmshYHyPF4-9fxo-oS0w81yrtqb7Rvpws9BS578JyOsLP57II7WFFmaYinj56jgXLxJORQPs/s320/IMG_2819.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen is going to share
simple ways families can support their children’s learning at home. In
addition, one of the leaders of the township is helping organize a knitting
program as part of the meetings, to knit scarves and hats in the school colors
for the students who don’t have them. Several of the women will cook dinners
for all the participants, so even workers from the grove can get off the busses
and come right to school. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Eileen also gets </span><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">the fun opportunity to read and sing in English with the youngest learners. Boy, do they love "Brown Bear"! They already know a few rhymes and songs in English as the school is working to introduce English as early as possible. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One other lesson Eileen learned was from one of the teacher leaders at
the school, a caring teacher committed to making the school a place where all
children can get the education they need. When Eileen told her how much she respect
the hard work Mrs. Sam puts in every day to make the place better, the teacher said, “If
everything is perfect, you never learn. You must make progress every day.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">So perfection is not the goal… learning is.</span> True words of wisdom.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen and Larry</span></span></div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-8161168077741632902015-08-23T11:11:00.000-04:002015-09-10T10:07:57.007-04:00It's oh so good to be back...<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are back in South Africa for our 5th visit and
it feels comfortable and right -- like visiting old friends or family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering this has been our 13th week here over the years, that makes sense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our first week back is truly one of contrasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were looking forward to the joyous reunion
with our colleagues at A.V. Bukani Primary. But Sunday, we heard the
challenging news. One of the teacher leaders at the school, Mandisa Mbande,
just passed away. Mandi was one of the teachers we were closest to. She lived
in the township and often spent time with us after school. Larry and Sara both
worked with her. It is a real loss to the school and to the community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So instead of hugs of joy, there were hugs of mutual grief. As
sad as we are, we are glad to be able to mourn together. During the week,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the faculty planned and took part in a prayer
service for Mandi’s family at their home and a memorial service at a church,
each at 1 p.m. on school days. The students were dismissed early and many of
teachers were working on the plans during the school day, also practicing hymns
with students. We attended the weekday services with them, and also attended
the funeral on Saturday. (More details later in this blogpost.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlB10CVJYIpvFmD0GNZ1PmB39udkyYvdEtg40-hUndIk0yxLVDn-ULCytbrzGIdq9x-KowFq0WZiOwkUORhfZvWYQV90UyzrrUPRAI4k2s6CzLN2Eito26i-qjSoyN7vr82jJnHfXgUl4/s1600/IMG_3500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlB10CVJYIpvFmD0GNZ1PmB39udkyYvdEtg40-hUndIk0yxLVDn-ULCytbrzGIdq9x-KowFq0WZiOwkUORhfZvWYQV90UyzrrUPRAI4k2s6CzLN2Eito26i-qjSoyN7vr82jJnHfXgUl4/s320/IMG_3500.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The school is also facing some shortages of teachers. For a
number of reasons, including serious illness, several of the strong teachers we
have worked with are no longer here, in contrast to previous years when the
school faculty was very stable from year to year. A.V. Bukani is also
transitioning to a R (K) to 7<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> grade school, as is the school on
the other side of the township which had been a middle school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there are some new classes in 5, 6, and 7<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> grade, requiring extra teachers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the teachers are literally doubling up their time,
going from classroom to classroom, getting one group started on some work and
then going into the classroom next door. If a teacher is out for a day or two,
there are no substitute teachers, so a class of 35-40 may suddenly have another
20 for the day while that class is divided among the teachers who are there. A
new teacher was just hired, with two more expected next week. But at the
moment, the teachers feel a great deal of pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even with the sadness, the schedule disruptions, and the
teacher shortage, the faculty worked hard to take advantage of our time. We see
some things that let us know real progress is being made.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNCvzo9oCr33Wymp2rb0fb04f-6ib7Wz5q0IpB1jtaQ82I4eqzVdpnbccvMjuUjygx-_1EZ3BE3B1FNp-o8Sw37cSYp-sUlPMyFWOgHOvw8PemAg5gF_dQqe8oYShAM6o7I889SnzxCM/s1600/IMG_1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNCvzo9oCr33Wymp2rb0fb04f-6ib7Wz5q0IpB1jtaQ82I4eqzVdpnbccvMjuUjygx-_1EZ3BE3B1FNp-o8Sw37cSYp-sUlPMyFWOgHOvw8PemAg5gF_dQqe8oYShAM6o7I889SnzxCM/s200/IMG_1895.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ace sharing some of the strategies<br />
he's learned on literacy </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are most excited about the appointment of our friend Ace
Lamani as Deputy Principal, with a focus on academics. Ace is a true life-long
learner. He is eager to hear about every strategy, every bit of information,
that can help him with his “learners” -- their word for “students” and one we
think is more appropriate.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He recently
finished his honors degree, including some of the strategies Larry and Sara
taught him over the years, which he incorporated into his thesis. He has
impressively stepped up to this leadership position.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Literacy in the Upper Grades<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have brought several priceless resources with us this
year – our friends and colleagues Randi and Steve Adleberg. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enjoy having colleagues to process the
day’s activities and brainstorm together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In addition to their duties throughout the school, Randi made numerous
contributions to this blog and Steve took many of the photos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Randi, who recently retired as a secondary language arts
teacher in Fairfax County has been assigned to work directly with Ace who still
teaches many classes for 5<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span>, 6<span style="font-size: x-small;">th,</span> and 7<span style="font-size: x-small;">th </span>graders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ace gave her full authority to
jump in and work with his learners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After observing his classroom for the first day, she quickly went to the
library, and pulled out some books at different levels. With all the stresses
on the teachers to teach “the required curriculum,” taking books out of the
library has become something of a luxury, unfortunately. But Randi has been
reigniting enthusiasm for the books with the students, and modeling how books
chosen by the students are essential to enhance literacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A key lesson that we learn and relearn in South Africa is flexibility.
Here’s how Randi described her first week to some close friends back home:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmV1WdqC1PJblvXJwZo2srpFca2Ui3MCoxvwAXNphFLRN6aYT9t0-FWuT3A7VdmrtrHZ5LoGIHRqEl376Lv7yOrp5jIXhtszpAO6JzadAtD-l2f_f2m679pTK_ySL7GBbEyVl_thSDgw/s1600/Randi+week+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmV1WdqC1PJblvXJwZo2srpFca2Ui3MCoxvwAXNphFLRN6aYT9t0-FWuT3A7VdmrtrHZ5LoGIHRqEl376Lv7yOrp5jIXhtszpAO6JzadAtD-l2f_f2m679pTK_ySL7GBbEyVl_thSDgw/s320/Randi+week+1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randi working with learners and **library books**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I think I am a very
different teacher here than I was at home. I have learned quickly not to worry
about time. At home, I carefully planned daily lessons so that I could fit
certain goals into the class time periods. Here, though, the schedule never
stays the same, so I am learning to start activities regardless of time
constraints. If I start something they can’t finish, no worries. We continue
the next day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am also learning to accept background noise. At home, I
was not shy about going into the hallway to ask other students to quiet down.
Here, I can’t exactly ask the cows to stop lowing, or the roosters to stop
crowing; so I don’t shush the loud students when they pass the classroom door.
The learners in the classroom are used to these noises and work in spite of
them.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Supporting Math <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steve Adleberg’s multi-faceted background as a teacher and
principal includes working as a math specialist, so he was assigned to work
with Ben, a wonderful teacher of math at the upper grades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are happy that Ben finally has some
professional development, as most of our work has focused on literacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnIKrY3ZMYe4qm_mTeIgDDriGra5KoI39HzmsVzPQ59Qc7TnYN8CA6yKKOTAPpw4CtQt0c0bhucFVkrIGVLQZTg7oEw5pLmpByAJI7df4EPpsifbG36sJJ8pQKjboO5oyBjpUj9HAU_8/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnIKrY3ZMYe4qm_mTeIgDDriGra5KoI39HzmsVzPQ59Qc7TnYN8CA6yKKOTAPpw4CtQt0c0bhucFVkrIGVLQZTg7oEw5pLmpByAJI7df4EPpsifbG36sJJ8pQKjboO5oyBjpUj9HAU_8/s200/IMG_2722.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and Steve and manipulatives </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
S<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">teve brought with him math manipulatives, thanks to mutual
friend Linda Braverman. He discovered that the school district had already sent
the school a box of manipulatives that had never been opened. (This just
confirms our belief that resources without training do not get used).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve and Ben spent some time learning to
work with the manipulatives and will introduce them to the lower grade teachers
next week.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steve also worked with Ben on strategies for solving math word
problems. When Larry taught the learners a new song – “Children, Go Where I
Send Thee” – Steve typed up the words, which build on increasing numbers. He
used it as the basis for some math word problems in Ben’s classes, integrating
math and language arts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Larry’s Song”</span><o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgwsDCZP7va3DZH2D44Z5w0Ohwoi_DyZ5vqfqQAepCVRkzdUpXN9tEz0y4ty1EEz4f2V-7zcbTOLc9VzqfOXCBpIE1J9FZbheIKjbDNwpAvNxffF6x-9t3do_uN6vOSGvq0OE_aV51EY/s1600/IMG_2691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgwsDCZP7va3DZH2D44Z5w0Ohwoi_DyZ5vqfqQAepCVRkzdUpXN9tEz0y4ty1EEz4f2V-7zcbTOLc9VzqfOXCBpIE1J9FZbheIKjbDNwpAvNxffF6x-9t3do_uN6vOSGvq0OE_aV51EY/s320/IMG_2691.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry accompanies a second grade class learning an<br />
English rhyme</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of Larry singing, neither the learners nor the
teachers have forgotten Larry’s guitar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The last time we were at the school three years ago, we finished our
volunteer visit with a school-wide sing-a-long of “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the
Mountain.” Larry came with new songs, ready to move on, but oh no, he will not
get away without singing what has become “Larry’s Song” in the school! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We laugh that younger learners who had never
met Larry before this week still call it “Larry’s Song.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larry is building on the groundwork he laid with Sara and
Cecily and in subsequent years when he carried on alone. This year he plans to
work on guided reading, with our luggage brimming with specialized books for
small group work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first week was
spent solidifying the previous strategies with the teachers he is working with,
some new to the school. It was heartwarming to see some teachers using Big
Books, think-pair-share, and active read-alouds.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNBNqtRkuDbEim1iJs71eJD9lKzXDMfbVLXxYeAmborCmzL1wlT4UXHcq5-WvbHFZ9ZOoRMc-7pcESLHAMvxmZ-9QmkLGio5dtzP_01EVxdykBUbZrCpBakKjCTavHMd9Xu5lTJbthTk/s1600/IMG_3540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNBNqtRkuDbEim1iJs71eJD9lKzXDMfbVLXxYeAmborCmzL1wlT4UXHcq5-WvbHFZ9ZOoRMc-7pcESLHAMvxmZ-9QmkLGio5dtzP_01EVxdykBUbZrCpBakKjCTavHMd9Xu5lTJbthTk/s200/IMG_3540.jpg" width="191" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While skill proficiency varies widely, we are truly seeing
readers in the upper grades. Ace has looped with a group of learners from 4<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> to 5<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> to 6<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> Their progress is impressive. Randi is
introducing writing, and revision, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
is enthusiastic about the engagement of the students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll be sharing these strategies with more
teachers next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eileen is slipping into a variety of roles. She read and did
finger-play rhymes with 2<span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span> graders. She reconnected with the
wonderful municipal librarian to gain guidance on setting up the new
computerized library system. And she began laying the foundation for parent
meetings on supporting their children’s literacy development. She also helped
the teachers with the memorial service, such as creating a slide show of photos
of Mandi that included a number with our family over the years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It Never Rains in Nomathamsanqa<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We told Randi and Steve to prepare for arid conditions, with
a warm sun mid-day helping with the cold weather. Ha! Climate change has hit
here and it has rained most of the week. Of course this area needs rain, so we
can’t complain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are few paved roads and the others are rutted and
covered with a combination of just plain mud and the occasional droppings from
the neighborhood goats or dogs, or cattle who roam along the side of the road. We were sure our ride back to the guest house
where we are staying was going to get stuck in the mudded road, but our driver
somehow managed to get his tires rolling through it. So glad WE are not
driving! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rain makes everything a bit more complicated, and
attendance drops when it rains all day. But most make due. The learners here
are often given responsibilities that they fulfill proudly. The day after the
memorial service for Mandi, Randi wrote: “Classes were delayed this morning
while we waited for students to bring back the chairs they had carried several
blocks to the church in town for yesterday’s service. The school children here
willingly take on chores. Every morning, as they walk onto the school grounds,
they pick up trash to throw away. When they get to their classrooms, they sweep
the sidewalks outside the door. During break, they sweep the rooms.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0hef58Z7gAQkqiFoxTSjAiyfljMPY67VU1OBTyNWQT1ebKAbiFWoji8j5e2PREVk9Osfe7-irTrufxgOHc1rREqUL3MEEyu6cO__JPyPCwLfwqOu6cqHA6VcfanesSQkms9GbHPGvUM/s1600/IMG_3529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0hef58Z7gAQkqiFoxTSjAiyfljMPY67VU1OBTyNWQT1ebKAbiFWoji8j5e2PREVk9Osfe7-irTrufxgOHc1rREqUL3MEEyu6cO__JPyPCwLfwqOu6cqHA6VcfanesSQkms9GbHPGvUM/s320/IMG_3529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This rain is a totally new experience for us here. Randi’s
words: “Due to the rain, the mud around the school is plentiful and slick!
Everyone’s shoes are coated. To stay clean, the main office entrance has torn
cardboard boxes for foot mats. Smells like rotted paper and cow dung. The mud
we all track into the classrooms dries by the afternoon. After classes, several
learners stayed behind to lift and move the student desks and sweep the
classroom floor. Every Friday, lessons end at noon so that the children can
remove all the furniture from their classrooms and thoroughly clean the rooms
as well as the office area.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With everything going on, there still manages to be
education. The principal is a true force of nature, a well-respected leader who
just knows how to get things done. “Most of my friends are politicians and they
tell me I should leave this hopeless job and go into politics,” Mr. Thambo
tells Eileen. “But I must stay here because this is important work. As Mandiba
said, ‘It is not enough that you were born, but what matters is how you have
used your life to improve the lives of ordinary people.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharing in the Grief for a Friend <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We know that there are many funerals in the township – far
too many. The day of Mandi’s funeral, there is another funeral for one of two young
men who died in a tragic car accident nearby - a brother and brother-in-law,
so one woman lost both a husband and brother. The young man buried that day had
just earned his degree and begun a job.
Many of the mourners wore a tee shirt with his picture on it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoUeHp5b_MzpS4FosiqnVzd77Vr3TVtsva-b2VmxRgLGRw0_NqPSUXV4syJGXvonycUkA5twBEgG5_zSMhvjdxZnHLH-EGfrrOOd1haAhJUjJwjYBYBC-DHAaTjE0sRoq2omCWUiSXPE/s1600/South+Africa08+348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoUeHp5b_MzpS4FosiqnVzd77Vr3TVtsva-b2VmxRgLGRw0_NqPSUXV4syJGXvonycUkA5twBEgG5_zSMhvjdxZnHLH-EGfrrOOd1haAhJUjJwjYBYBC-DHAaTjE0sRoq2omCWUiSXPE/s320/South+Africa08+348.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Mandi in her green sweater <br />
on our first visit in 2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sun came out on Saturday as we went to Mandi’s funeral.
The township looked refreshed, cleaned by the rains. The warmth of the sun felt
so good. The funeral is packed with mourners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The funeral service, as with everything here, is a cultural experience
for us. Hymns are not just recited, they are sung with enthusiasm, dancing, and
extensive harmonies. The “passing of the peace” is full of intense hugging and
singing. The service goes on for 3 ½ hours, most of it in Xhosa. The speakers
speak with their full body, so it is fascinating to just watch the body
language. In both the Memorial Service and funeral, Larry and Eileen are
recognized and asked to stand. We are made to feel welcome in many ways. We are
a bit embarrassed, but the family tells us that they are warmed by our
presence. We are honored to be part of the community. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Weekend Visit to an Informal Settlement<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Saturday, Randi and Steve took a township tour in Port
Elizabeth (PE) through Calabash Tours, which we strongly recommend. Before
Apartheid, many black people had good jobs and good homes on the PE
harbor. Under Apartheid, blacks were removed from their homes, some in
thriving multiethnic communities, and forced into isolated townships. The
blacks no longer had access to good jobs or employment at all. Today,
unemployment is still a major concern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The townships across South Africa today include homes of
varying levels, from the original small mud huts to middle-class homes. They
are often places with a strong sense of community and a thriving culture. In
addition to townships, there are informal settlements, basically squatter
camps, that house the poorest of the poor, as they do in other countries. Those
who can’t afford housing will create what they can in a settlement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all were dinner guests at a private home in one of the informal
settlements surrounding Port Elizabeth. From Randi: "The settlement we visited is on the
site where a hospital once stood. Children still find old needles in the
dirt. The houses are corrugated shacks. No indoor plumbing. (Just a few outdoor
pumps shared by many families.) No electricity. No bathrooms.
No paved roads. Definitely no sidewalks! The streets are all mud and
dirt. No trees. No playgrounds or fields."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our host told us that she and her husband came from a
northern rural area of South Africa to look for work in the city of Port
Elizabeth about 15 years ago. They created a two-room home in the settlement
for themselves and eventually their three children. Her husband has worked as a
security guard and a truck driver. She sells beaded jewelry that she makes. The
furniture was comfortable and the small home welcoming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Calabash guide told us that his family also had lived in
a settlement at one point. His father was involved in anti-Apartheid efforts
and their home was destroyed by those in power. His father was able to
eventually move their family to a large culture-rich township nearby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Apartheid, when Mandela became president, he ordered
the building of 1,000,000 free and renovated homes to improve the housing of blacks, many of whom were forced to live in mud huts under Apartheid. A fraction of these were built, and nationwide, tens of thousands still wait for homes. The
family we visited is "on the list" for one of these homes, but has been waiting
for years. Eventually all homes in the informal settlement will be destroyed once residents have new homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJnz1mt259j6chLgBJJ8LIyZHDoBjg4YITNpAXafaXpowEO2Pg9nl4bWJNRtdNnjdrku1S_2uyn1FpxLF1BIt3g2PvJjSAVYZ3Awk3EQ6N-yrEEtllup0prf5RQBPHGqYRRDcszHUsxg/s1600/IMG_3641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJnz1mt259j6chLgBJJ8LIyZHDoBjg4YITNpAXafaXpowEO2Pg9nl4bWJNRtdNnjdrku1S_2uyn1FpxLF1BIt3g2PvJjSAVYZ3Awk3EQ6N-yrEEtllup0prf5RQBPHGqYRRDcszHUsxg/s320/IMG_3641.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More observations from Randi: “Our hostess prepared a feast for us! Rice, green
salad, potato salad, bean salad, beets, fried chicken, and beef. It was
delicious. Although the settlement has no electricity, the people who live
there ‘borrow,’ or buy, it from neighboring developments that have electricity.
The house we visited had several electrical wires, and cables running from
outside and down the center post of the house. A TV was on the entire time we
were there, although muted. We also noticed a washing machine in a small shed
attached to the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The main house consisted of two rooms. In the main room, the
kitchen area is separated from the living room by a several large chairs with a
large low coffee table. That's where we ate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second room is the master bedroom. The three children (a
boy and two girls) sleep in a small room that is attached to the house, but has
a separate entrance, just outside the front door of the main room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"There are no indoor bathrooms. Each shack has a 'bucket
system' (a/k/a outhouse). The ‘system’ works like this: the family
fills the bucket with excrement and municipal trucks pick up the buckets once a
week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Despite these stark living conditions, the children play,
and run, and laugh just like the kids in our neighborhoods at home. The parents
worry about their children, as all parents do. And they want good education and
promising futures for their children. They are just like us.”<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The faces that greet us each day:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bXBHckMmWidCGokcqzZ5STaLVGA-uJWHC_I-pYFYYbRUTrSWnzqcFf9fFXXYtsZkQMIdfyq3bvqs3AUdpz7nlebTrFVuZiiCPvWiITFb0TuK8x_4qWsCjTrrokQXPJiv70hVi7Lm-MQ/s1600/IMG_3556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bXBHckMmWidCGokcqzZ5STaLVGA-uJWHC_I-pYFYYbRUTrSWnzqcFf9fFXXYtsZkQMIdfyq3bvqs3AUdpz7nlebTrFVuZiiCPvWiITFb0TuK8x_4qWsCjTrrokQXPJiv70hVi7Lm-MQ/s320/IMG_3556.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbqACSQXSS_2r48h1mdtkrSz7hWIDNKB_YOJfmXXZUZdRmue1sLM-BegSsy1XA2mSJZ6PAZYPoghct0C528gxo8aCv8e73FUOxCT9unMWI2xnSqltfI_OFluymG0_dHhyphenhyphenwXoPuyUx3E4/s1600/IMG_3557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbqACSQXSS_2r48h1mdtkrSz7hWIDNKB_YOJfmXXZUZdRmue1sLM-BegSsy1XA2mSJZ6PAZYPoghct0C528gxo8aCv8e73FUOxCT9unMWI2xnSqltfI_OFluymG0_dHhyphenhyphenwXoPuyUx3E4/s320/IMG_3557.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Eileen and Larry</i></span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>2349</o:Words>
<o:Characters>13395</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>111</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>31</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>15713</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-78073149420477053442015-07-01T12:25:00.002-04:002015-07-16T23:49:33.700-04:00Returning in August to Support Literacy!<div class="MsoNormal">
YES!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Eileen and Larry</span> are going
back to A.V. Bukani Primary School mid-August– mid-September. For the first
time, we will be going for an entire month. We always leave after three weeks
wishing we could stay longer. So we just did it! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoBKr391VOYi6XLvODTfP9WTFl67xtsBZbhg_em4sCP1i2q3oAX3WlCRUV-hQOioqln0q5TMeUmLm2d9FoQeMUaNF5rxeqcyW11Ksn153_8aQNLrL_aLNGle9pvCN-dAdqXjvQFqdM3M/s1600/Library+collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoBKr391VOYi6XLvODTfP9WTFl67xtsBZbhg_em4sCP1i2q3oAX3WlCRUV-hQOioqln0q5TMeUmLm2d9FoQeMUaNF5rxeqcyW11Ksn153_8aQNLrL_aLNGle9pvCN-dAdqXjvQFqdM3M/s320/Library+collage.png" width="320" /></a></div>
GREAT NEWS: Eileen was awarded the Art Berg Grant from the
National Speakers Association. This $4000 grant is awarded to one
technology-related project a year at a charitable organization in which an
Association member is involved as an active volunteer. We are very honored our project
earned the grant this year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This grant will help increase access to the library. Although
the library has become a source of great pride in this township of
15,000-20,000, availability of the books has been limited by an organizational
system with no technology. This grant will be used to purchase a computer dedicated
to the library and library software. Equally important, there will be funds for
training and continuing IT maintenance. With these improvements, we hope the
library can soon be available to the entire community. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>More Resources to Support Beginning Readers<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The South African Education Department recently implemented
new standards and it is exciting to see the practices that are imbedded in the
standards are just the things we have been working on with the teachers at
Bukani – including read-alouds, use of “big books” for shared reading, and most
important, guided reading, which is what Larry will be working on with the
teachers when we return this year. Since the teachers have been working on
these practices for several years, they have a great foundation on which to
build. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, so much is dependent upon resources. Who would
believe that after delivering 23,000 donated books to create a library for the
school, there would be the need for more! Well, there is. While the books we
brought are wonderful (THANK YOU!), <b>there is a great need for many very early
reading books.</b> That’s because the students at Bukani are learning to read in a
new language and the books that are needed are very short (as few as 8 pages
long). As you can imagine, once they get the hang of it, the students can zip
through an 8-page book quite quickly. Hence, the need for many, many books at
increasingly difficult levels for the students to read. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You, the supporters of this project, have been so generous
over the past few years. The funds have been used to create and support the
library, a computer teacher for the students, and so much more. We’ve spent it
all at the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you feel in your
hearts to make a donation now, t<b>hese donations will support the purchase of
these specialized very early readers</b> - Directions are on"<a href="http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/p/how-to-donate.html">How to Donate" tab.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Larry has already ordered
over 600 books from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pioneer Valley Books</i>
at a cost of nearly $3,000, including a discount from Pioneer Valley, to help
the teachers with beginning reading. The recommendation for this purchase came
from our daughter Sara, a literacy teacher who has come with us on two of our
volunteer trips and uses these books in her work. In addition, Eileen found an
on line 50% off sale for more early readers that has Larry’s mouth watering. (BTW
–A donation is a great way to mark a birthday, anniversary or other
celebration. We are happy to send a personal note in recognition of a special
day and we are grateful to have been a part of some very special
commemorations.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Whether you support
us with a donation or with your words of encouragement, know that we appreciate
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>The Adlebergs are Joining Us!!<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cDiaMCmTtbec8j6J7egfdcRcrRJD6keoPbUuemR5k61AhSYQGH8f8Tc-oXpl-PTpPuq21msvfA4T2BV3Y987LO1QnCKLbGwluIdu1AOIY1xafACTkSVAT0ETasMAN0Klrj8OO_T-RwQ/s1600/Randi+and+Steve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cDiaMCmTtbec8j6J7egfdcRcrRJD6keoPbUuemR5k61AhSYQGH8f8Tc-oXpl-PTpPuq21msvfA4T2BV3Y987LO1QnCKLbGwluIdu1AOIY1xafACTkSVAT0ETasMAN0Klrj8OO_T-RwQ/s200/Randi+and+Steve.JPG" width="200" /></a>One more bit of good news: Educators Randi and Steve Adleberg
will join us at A.V. Bukani for two weeks this year. We are thrilled to share
their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm. Both had long careers in Fairfax County
Public Schools, Steve as an elementary school teacher and principal; and Randi
as a middle and high school language arts teacher. We know the teachers and
students at Bukani will benefit from their expertise (and we will enjoy the
company of these good friends).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Eileen and Larry</span></h3>
</div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0Unknown location.-28.304380682962769 26.71875-90 -138.515625 48.288489317037232 -168.046875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-88950143396410764652015-04-26T16:42:00.000-04:002015-04-27T12:54:12.130-04:00We're heading back to South Africa soon!We're heading back to our beloved school in South Africa in late August! Although we haven't been back recently (Larry's -successful!- back surgery last September forced us to cancel our plans last year), we have stayed in touch with the principal and our volunteer contact. Through your generous donations, together we've funded a library aide who has helped keep the library organized and functioning. We're planning to go back this year with more books at an easy level and we'll be providing targeted professional development. Much more to tell you in the near future….<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3CWw5uuDc3nCbfAuOKD7NUjm40IW8nnb0wFKtIfX6z0JIpc9WU8TXlkiAGKgS_wjAcjyK3WS6CEkr6jRYEMBu01mVhyphenhyphenrHyu1bD6DFcXmEpV9elOqLdxYXLBj2S1k3qrVCOSr1wSHadw/s1600/kids+with+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3CWw5uuDc3nCbfAuOKD7NUjm40IW8nnb0wFKtIfX6z0JIpc9WU8TXlkiAGKgS_wjAcjyK3WS6CEkr6jRYEMBu01mVhyphenhyphenrHyu1bD6DFcXmEpV9elOqLdxYXLBj2S1k3qrVCOSr1wSHadw/s1600/kids+with+books.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></a></div>
Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-53616571956276883612012-09-14T16:39:00.000-04:002012-09-22T14:28:27.011-04:00Our hearts sang this week<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>924</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5267</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>43</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>12</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6179</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Larry was asked what he wanted to do after he retired
from full-time work, he replied he wanted to do something that would “make my
heart sing.” Well, our hearts sang this week at A. V. Bukani Primary School in
Nomathamsanqa township. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDJMB_i-O7qGiqTtj9zV7Ipc8fy3FSuUBKYrztuAJlZwcucecTVaG57aqX3ktEYOD-iBeM8BNKFGuTqI37FnFquGRS4vSa-mPg0MStSwGgagQZRCUukKhvFQKHngGdwuGt3Rw6BVuXNo/s1600/boys+in+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPIdtd4hJ-0yzSvGyisqc2K9EnqJUFZfkT98ojo4QEEC1kgEca2mUU2Stus0MNUvtHfqnrRC5aJblCEyAmdGOW8aiI41QfWDO_6ePsbKmNPYIXj14WEYcJp5-HSblghwZxbo7c2XCEQ0/s1600/choosing+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPIdtd4hJ-0yzSvGyisqc2K9EnqJUFZfkT98ojo4QEEC1kgEca2mUU2Stus0MNUvtHfqnrRC5aJblCEyAmdGOW8aiI41QfWDO_6ePsbKmNPYIXj14WEYcJp5-HSblghwZxbo7c2XCEQ0/s320/choosing+books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWvh77sIKCWz60rvdNknvrOYQb9VsYm2aK7iZUl10lxopZikoaqpze4g7iGQ-Mw3BY5Lh_CLjBLMoDG8_15EL-x6xMCwnx6ySUdpHoNDTWBgrgQzn93qRIoiZZs7t1zr4UDFISzcIy8s/s1600/my+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWvh77sIKCWz60rvdNknvrOYQb9VsYm2aK7iZUl10lxopZikoaqpze4g7iGQ-Mw3BY5Lh_CLjBLMoDG8_15EL-x6xMCwnx6ySUdpHoNDTWBgrgQzn93qRIoiZZs7t1zr4UDFISzcIy8s/s200/my+book.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Grade 4 teachers had taken Larry up on his offer to
train them on how to assist the students in choosing a “just right book” – one
that is neither too hard nor too easy for that child to read. Students packed the library, looking at the
cover, pictures and words of each book to see if it was something they wanted
to read and something they could read. One by one, they picked books to take
home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWvh77sIKCWz60rvdNknvrOYQb9VsYm2aK7iZUl10lxopZikoaqpze4g7iGQ-Mw3BY5Lh_CLjBLMoDG8_15EL-x6xMCwnx6ySUdpHoNDTWBgrgQzn93qRIoiZZs7t1zr4UDFISzcIy8s/s1600/my+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDJMB_i-O7qGiqTtj9zV7Ipc8fy3FSuUBKYrztuAJlZwcucecTVaG57aqX3ktEYOD-iBeM8BNKFGuTqI37FnFquGRS4vSa-mPg0MStSwGgagQZRCUukKhvFQKHngGdwuGt3Rw6BVuXNo/s1600/boys+in+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDJMB_i-O7qGiqTtj9zV7Ipc8fy3FSuUBKYrztuAJlZwcucecTVaG57aqX3ktEYOD-iBeM8BNKFGuTqI37FnFquGRS4vSa-mPg0MStSwGgagQZRCUukKhvFQKHngGdwuGt3Rw6BVuXNo/s320/boys+in+library.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And there they were. A group of boys in the back of the
room, busily talking with their friends about the books they had chosen,
passing them back and forth so they could share their excitement. That was the moment. That was when we knew
that the effort we put into this project, and the effort of so many people who
contributed books, and volunteered time, and donated funds, was well worth it. This was not a container full of books on
shelves. It became a living library that very minute. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6duAm2bSjaYhh7Za6D3eOLXhwhQCPrBWamlj9A-_yo9D0UUUafTT-KSyNzehqzFSMRML9pfq17QOl8RozDn94kZ6Pwt81QoTfQCdnu1CQRMKN_8jecj_iCC1f_arLjJrJIaipwFs5A8/s1600/Thembisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6duAm2bSjaYhh7Za6D3eOLXhwhQCPrBWamlj9A-_yo9D0UUUafTT-KSyNzehqzFSMRML9pfq17QOl8RozDn94kZ6Pwt81QoTfQCdnu1CQRMKN_8jecj_iCC1f_arLjJrJIaipwFs5A8/s200/Thembisa.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That day only got better. Eileen has had some loyal parent
volunteers helping to inventory the library books. Two of the mothers who truly
understand the importance of supporting the school said they would be willing
to help organize other parents to help with the library and other projects. A benefit of volunteering is that parents who
help out will get to take out books from the library themselves. Eileen helped
the parents find fun books for their children and the parents were elated. Their enthusiasm for the books will certainly
be contagious with their friends and relatives in the township.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, we’re witnessing the love of reading start early. Grade
R (K) and 1 teachers have begun taking books for their classrooms. The students
love the stories Eileen has read them. The great news is that the municipal
library will soon be providing regular story hours at the school for the young
students and their parents, with books in English and in their mother tongue of
Xhosa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8Yx7Vymyge1blm3ac6TGYL48ORyN0cPRPEnf3xRwEy-JWrN76HQ1QGYJHZLfBDHoo0rJqjYh8-_NB-Jy3UW8T2AobxwhT0LUc3HSgGOmcCbK8ka42lSuBlsuC5u6TGqbBjdJRQKCucg/s1600/IMG_1838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8Yx7Vymyge1blm3ac6TGYL48ORyN0cPRPEnf3xRwEy-JWrN76HQ1QGYJHZLfBDHoo0rJqjYh8-_NB-Jy3UW8T2AobxwhT0LUc3HSgGOmcCbK8ka42lSuBlsuC5u6TGqbBjdJRQKCucg/s200/IMG_1838.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of the day, there were visitors from the
provincial legislature with responsibility for education. They had just visited a school that was in
near chaos and were quite depressed.
They left A. V. Bukani with broad smiles. They were impressed by the
faculty, impressed by the resources like the computer lab, and yes, they loved
the library. We met with several of them after the meeting and have continued
the dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teachers sharing their strengths with their colleagues</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We feel this third week of our trip was the most productive
of any in our four volunteer visits. It all came together in many positive
ways. On this trip, we found that the teachers had been working to improve, and
Larry was able to quickly work with them on needs they identified. He was able
to help them use many of the resources that we had shipped with the library,
including beginning readers and professional materials. Eileen’s contacts in
the community, both within the township and beyond, have helped solidify
support for the school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbWjmkHEz3iM76Zgr9d2fmbfMbf-QU9smtsPg7MeAMqHtqg-DL65l_GxK1VuOfjMmqMmXm2w591rY1kKWNANnXOIJPFU9fCV12R9RNwLYbEpCo6b3r139vxtKPSSu2GR4mew9GoocpaE/s1600/Thandi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbWjmkHEz3iM76Zgr9d2fmbfMbf-QU9smtsPg7MeAMqHtqg-DL65l_GxK1VuOfjMmqMmXm2w591rY1kKWNANnXOIJPFU9fCV12R9RNwLYbEpCo6b3r139vxtKPSSu2GR4mew9GoocpaE/s320/Thandi.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A highlight of the week was the last professional development.
Larry noted that a number of the teachers had unique special strengths and he
asked them to share this with their colleagues. The faculty watched as Bella
talked about creating a warm environment for read-alouds in her second-grade
class. Thandi talked about helping the students retell stories by looking at
setting, character, and the problem solved in the plot. Ace discussed using
student work to create a mini-spelling lesson. Nomhle described the way she
uses sentence strips to improve student comprehension. It was very impressive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLhcRx5rDsTvZMpuXUVNCw1vDHk1-jX8d5I01b2Sh_5khyphenhyphenQih4YMqdX-XIjGOFjgTttZSWc1dvoro5nqSTHgMGQHrzbS-rx_lWbg4t7wiAUa-3PWy-Swrpeya5EWgyp6Bi1LJC7RpjEQ/s1600/ACe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLhcRx5rDsTvZMpuXUVNCw1vDHk1-jX8d5I01b2Sh_5khyphenhyphenQih4YMqdX-XIjGOFjgTttZSWc1dvoro5nqSTHgMGQHrzbS-rx_lWbg4t7wiAUa-3PWy-Swrpeya5EWgyp6Bi1LJC7RpjEQ/s200/ACe.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As each faculty member spoke, Larry gave them one of the
relevant instructional resources that was already at the school. Suddenly they
knew how to make use of these books. He ceremoniously handed each speaker one
of the markers for the whiteboard, saying, “Do you accept the responsibility of
‘the pen’ to keep this professional sharing going?” They each smiled and took
the pen. Other teachers talked about their turns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Improvements in other nearby schools<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We see hope for educational improvement beyond
Nomathamsanqa. The nearby middle school,
Vesumsi, had been floundering without a
principal for years. A new dynamic principal took over the helm last week and
everyone is thrilled. The entire community vows to support his efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another American who has fallen in love with Nomathamsanqa,
Martha Cummings, has focused her attention on the improvements needed at
Vesumsi. She hopes to raise enough money to renovate the school, which now
exists without electricity in many classrooms. You can read about her efforts
at <a href="http://www.universalpromise.org/" target="_blank">http://www.universalpromise.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An interesting note is that there was just word that both
A.V. Bukani and Vesumi will become R(K) – 7<sup>th</sup> grade schools, as the
national government does away with middle schools. Each school will gradually
take on additional grades. Bukani will include Grade 5 next year and many
parents are happy their children can stay. Parents are permitted to send their
children to any school as long as they can get their child to school and pay
the fees (which are waived in these schools). Vesumsi may add Grade R to its
roles next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On our last Friday, Larry led singing on his guitar for
1000+ students singing “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” We had taught it
to every class and the kids were primed. They – and we – had a ball. It was
followed by “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” which the teachers have
taught the students this year. The students then sang their traditional songs.
It was oh so hard to leave.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv1FjHbvmHkcZ0gi1wZ9jtWtCdkR4VXwy8c0enXy7IKdry_nnFqCG9dr58PxDRWw6vFu2B_7VXySgG7BlVCvNlIkvWZS66r69KOXuoCqVeFN0dME6DAJa6iYMN6Y5QMzJk4RmQhHXO-s/s1600/She'll+have+to+sleep+with+grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv1FjHbvmHkcZ0gi1wZ9jtWtCdkR4VXwy8c0enXy7IKdry_nnFqCG9dr58PxDRWw6vFu2B_7VXySgG7BlVCvNlIkvWZS66r69KOXuoCqVeFN0dME6DAJa6iYMN6Y5QMzJk4RmQhHXO-s/s400/She'll+have+to+sleep+with+grandma.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"She'll have to sleep with grandma when she comes..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is much more to say, which will do soon in future blog
posts. With the staff, we have identified some critical needs in the school and
we hope to raise funds to provide the much needed support. They are incredibly
grateful for all we have done, and by we, I mean all of you who have been
generous supporters of this project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More photos, movies, and stories soon… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-13197239089540224472012-09-10T15:14:00.003-04:002012-09-22T14:25:00.197-04:00Keeping Progress in Mind<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>2048</o:Words>
<o:Characters>11677</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>97</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>27</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>13698</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s the end of our second week here – two-thirds of our
visit is over. This is the point we always say that next year we’ll come for
six weeks or maybe two months. But we get home, and we only seem to be able to
carve out three weeks from our lives. But then again, maybe next year… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWUQlcHiAjRQxXqNF2hWmMAhsrnTs4zIFyWz-iibC0OHmblEmfrMML-S1SV5IMC5Vn-g4Cp7F1Bl7JeGbXwIwPiMWuv21tu89mOTItZiP4XeERr5Q6bX9XTZmtAFpjBK0urf5oIoQne0/s1600/Mrs.+Nyati+and+the+dictionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWUQlcHiAjRQxXqNF2hWmMAhsrnTs4zIFyWz-iibC0OHmblEmfrMML-S1SV5IMC5Vn-g4Cp7F1Bl7JeGbXwIwPiMWuv21tu89mOTItZiP4XeERr5Q6bX9XTZmtAFpjBK0urf5oIoQne0/s320/Mrs.+Nyati+and+the+dictionary.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s always gratifying to be reminded of the lessons we
learn from the incredible people here.
Mrs. Nyati, a grandmother who always teaches us about perseverance and hard
work, doesn’t disappoint. This year, her
English skills are impressive. Eileen asked her if she was taking English
classes. “No, I don’t take classes,” she
said. “So how did you learn?” Eileen asked. “Well, I like to read the paper,
and I watch television shows in English.” Mrs. Nyati repeated her request for
an English-Xhosa dictionary, something we finally found on the weekend. When
Eileen gave it to her on Monday, Mrs. Nyati is speechless, leafing through the
pages as if they were written with gold leaf. “Now I will be a professional,”
she says. Over the following days, she has reported that she reads it every
night. “It is such a wonderful book,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In many ways, this has been our most productive trip. There
have been no major interruptions, such as teacher strikes or public
holidays. We are working with the
teachers all day, every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet, for every thing we do, we see 10 more we’d like to
do. Larry has been working with the teachers in Grades 2, 3 and 4 on techniques
for improving comprehension by helping students retell the stories they are
reading. He’d like to show all the teachers other techniques, such as how to
use the students’ work to create spelling lessons and how to extend the
comprehension techniques, but he needs to focus on reinforcing the important technique
he’s teaching. Some of the teachers are very eager to learn everything they
possibly can, so Larry has been teaching them some of the other techniques. At
the final professional development session, he will ask some of the teachers to
share their particular strengths, of which there are many, with the charge that
they share it with their colleagues. We look forward to reports during the year
about how this collaborative approach is going. We do think the faculty is ready for this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc5fG2v396yPigJe90DLKg9MiFW7_qgjPfsVUFQXzKe5uS1AFnzRgU6PHTEwSrGpo4_bpLzL9mxw9xNFNOL0VHxXkQcEdKn2B-BIrip6Cejho9AAQQU67kpFaGSlrsrI4S-Pb2moRbzE/s1600/Grade+1+curriculum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc5fG2v396yPigJe90DLKg9MiFW7_qgjPfsVUFQXzKe5uS1AFnzRgU6PHTEwSrGpo4_bpLzL9mxw9xNFNOL0VHxXkQcEdKn2B-BIrip6Cejho9AAQQU67kpFaGSlrsrI4S-Pb2moRbzE/s320/Grade+1+curriculum.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GRADE 1 curriculum </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eileen has been going into the Grade 1 and Grade R (K)
classrooms and doing read-alouds and singing, sometimes with the older students
as well. The children love “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman, about a baby
bird who hatches while his mother is away getting food and he goes out to find
his mother. One of the Grade 1 teachers
showed Eileen that part of their curriculum involves matching baby animals to
their mothers, so the book is relevant on many levels. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The teachers of early
grades are eager to be included in the professional development, so this year,
Larry provided workshops on reading Big Books. We’d love to find good Big Books
in Xhosa for the younger readers and more in English for Grade 1 where they are
now beginning to teach English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gJkM6Xq6shxulKFLvVjNkOpvQyVCBUryCcFDGf4IvVTSOunyoZmbzbinJZWggiftYY_NwVHw1cc5m5IAJDIyD033IXyd9L6rt3OXst1-6kLm-xAcZQbeBlv47C85cpImZxPCfHxun50/s1600/toot%2521+toot%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gJkM6Xq6shxulKFLvVjNkOpvQyVCBUryCcFDGf4IvVTSOunyoZmbzbinJZWggiftYY_NwVHw1cc5m5IAJDIyD033IXyd9L6rt3OXst1-6kLm-xAcZQbeBlv47C85cpImZxPCfHxun50/s320/toot%2521+toot%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Toot! Toot!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found a book with the words for “She’ll be Coming Around
the Mountain When She Comes,” a song Larry sang with hand motions with the
teachers and older students when we were here last. The younger students love it as much as the
older students, and greet us in the street with “Toot! Toot!”, the opening hand
motion. We’re getting a kick out of the fact that an entire school on the tip
of Africa loves singing an old American folksong – as much as we love hearing
them sing songs in Xhosa during the morning opening . Interculturalism at work.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the lunch break, the teachers began singing some of
the songs Larry taught with his guitar two years ago – “He’s Got the Whole
World in His Hands,” “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea.” There hasn’t
been much time for singing with the guitar this year because of our other work,
but clearly the teachers (and students) miss it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keeping Progress in Mind<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We try very hard to keep our blinders on, so we focus on the
needs of this school in this community without thinking of all the other needs
around us. Even with that, sometimes we are overwhelmed by the incredible needs
and the obstacles the students face -- particularly as they are about to take
exams that will be compared to students from schools that are well financed
with parents’ money and who are taking the exams in their mother tongue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The school system is built to be unequal. Each school
requires parents to pay fees, set by the parents in that school. In poor
communities like ours, these fees are waived, so poor schools must subsist on
the barebones budget provided by the district education office. In our
township, if you’ve got the money to pay the fees and to pay for
transportation, you can send your child to another school a few miles away, but
few in this township can afford that.
Paul, our volunteer coordinator from Calabash Trust in Port Elizabeth,
was telling us that his three girls go to a school where parents pay about $100
per child each month and there are 1000 children in the school. So the school
abounds with resource teachers and extra programs. We wonder how the enormous inequities will
ever be overcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet we have to refocus and remember how far this school has
come over the past 5 years. The teachers have worked hard to implement the new
strategies that we and other volunteers have shared, along with training on new
materials and curriculum from the education department. Many work hard to
update their skills, taking courses and attending workshops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPP3TzrBRFRBJAX8A8kVSh93dvDecy8-qeaw6F5i8zKWD9WnFaDjmtcU4hr9qGvMbbdfRlUfWktTeujlP-afrTkgWyx2eey2CSJsEmpOXVz8joeG7M5VTlkOLgZssMBElk0QdB_DujLE/s1600/computer+lab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPP3TzrBRFRBJAX8A8kVSh93dvDecy8-qeaw6F5i8zKWD9WnFaDjmtcU4hr9qGvMbbdfRlUfWktTeujlP-afrTkgWyx2eey2CSJsEmpOXVz8joeG7M5VTlkOLgZssMBElk0QdB_DujLE/s320/computer+lab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are far more resources available to the students and
the teachers over the past few years. The computer lab, once dusty and
forgotten, now has up-to-date computers with curriculum-related software and
even some with internet access. Teachers
work with their students in the lab on a regular basis. There is a quality printer connected to the
computers through a network. We are
simply amazed at how far this computer lab has come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The impact of computers is felt throughout the area. Principal Thambo reports there are a record
numbers of students in Grades 1 and R.
“This is because parents have heard about our computer studies,” he says.
Other schools in the area are not seeing growth in numbers like this. In fact,
the education district thought Mr. Thambo was inflating his numbers to get
additional funds. “I told them to come here and count the children. They are
here. This is real,” he told me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are other resources – many purchased through the
generosity of regular readers of this blog. Five years ago, there was one
copier which rarely worked. Today there are two excellent copiers working all
the time. Can a school function without a copier? Of course. But it certainly
helps the teachers and administrators get things done efficiently. And, equally
important, it shows the faculty that their time is valued. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Families Volunteering the Library <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Principal Thambo asked Eileen to facilitate a meeting with
families, and she eagerly agreed. It has been challenging to get parents to
volunteer in the school, and there is a new group of parents who had never
taken part in the earlier parent meetings while Eileen was here last. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the meeting, there was a dialogue on the importance of
parents and teachers being partners in the children’s education, with everyone
giving what they can. Unfortunately,
there are many high school graduates in the township who cannot get a job. But
what they can do is read to the younger children in the afternoons. In that
way, they can gain self-esteem and use their time productively, while improving
the education of all the children. One of our hopes for the future is to
identify a parent who can coordinate parent involvement in the community. It is
always hard in just 3 short weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtwBOivSs6ApTSlLbOsoxlDneCUTV1wzbdlpX3_vA2o8c3GqmXjDFC5Blaprw0uJjxRSuIemKc99nvjZeo66RvGGlIhYYCx3PAEjcIzsP6tfs-f7zMe8ZFlLT7G5dz98foHIkfPEEqec/s1600/Parents+in+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtwBOivSs6ApTSlLbOsoxlDneCUTV1wzbdlpX3_vA2o8c3GqmXjDFC5Blaprw0uJjxRSuIemKc99nvjZeo66RvGGlIhYYCx3PAEjcIzsP6tfs-f7zMe8ZFlLT7G5dz98foHIkfPEEqec/s320/Parents+in+library.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eileen asked for volunteers to help organize and inventory
the library. Some of the boxes of books that were shipped were donated to the
municipal library and some of the more difficult ones were donated to the
middle school and high school. Mr. Thambo has been asked by his superiors to
determine exactly what books are in the library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following morning, several parents came to help. They
enjoyed taking the books off the shelves and checking them against the master
list, looking through the books and reinforcing their own English as they went.
The process had value far beyond checking off book titles. The parents couldn’t
wait to take books home and share </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">them with their children. These parents were given
permission to do that, but unfortunately there is no system for taking out
books beyond the classrooms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Increasing use of the library<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of our goals for the future is determining how to
increase utilization of the library. Even the classrooms are not yet taking
full advantage of the library. Grade 1 and R teachers want books in their
classrooms, but as yet that hasn’t happened. The teachers in Grades 2, 3 and 4
have boxes of books in their class for students to take home at night, but they
don’t visit the library to change out the books. Even more important, we don’t
see many books going home regularly. The teachers tell us there are other
priorities and that parents don’t read the books with the children. Part of the
issue is that the students need help identifying books that they can read
themselves, and Larry is working with the teachers on this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A key challenge in this school, and others like it, is there
is no funding for non-teaching staff. This seems to be an issue only in this
province’s education district, and there is hope that this will change now that
the national government has taken control of this failing education
district. In the meantime, every time a
new responsibility is added, it falls on the principal or the teachers. While
there is a library committee, they have challenges to overcome. Part of the
issue is that books have never been a part of the culture of the school or the
township. Another part is the desire to keep the books in good condition – in
other words, to protect them from destruction by not using them. We’re working
on this…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning to enjoy the natural resources<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we have enjoyed staying at Rosedale B&B, we miss
seeing our friends in the township every day, particularly our former host
family, the Mofus. The owners of Rosedale, Keith and Nomdumiso, are friends of
the Mofus and they invited them over for a brai on Thursday. We had a wonderful
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5dOUU3Ugs-qMAQw3_sid_LzIO-M6o3ntZ7CVMFfCPIPfjubobxKv2UnHJGo7p2Ux3pTYmlX1vDp13_JSMSLGc_uDDMSFXseg6ixAeWwqDJW4r0k3ZBgpFuhqjK6hu5mJ9zuyE_tVuM8/s1600/brai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5dOUU3Ugs-qMAQw3_sid_LzIO-M6o3ntZ7CVMFfCPIPfjubobxKv2UnHJGo7p2Ux3pTYmlX1vDp13_JSMSLGc_uDDMSFXseg6ixAeWwqDJW4r0k3ZBgpFuhqjK6hu5mJ9zuyE_tVuM8/s200/brai.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A brai is far more than a bar-be-que. It involves sitting
around the firepit as the wood fire is built, waiting for the coals to get hot,
cooking over the coals, and then enjoying the fire for hours afterwards. In the
cool weather, you enjoy the warmth of the fire. In the hot weather, the smoke
keeps the bugs away. It’s an entire evening of sitting out under the stars,
bundled up if you need to be. Compare that to an American bar-be-que where we try to light charcoal
as quickly as possible, pouring on chemicals to speed the process; then we cook
the food and retreat inside if the weather isn’t perfect. Sitting around the
campfire in cool weather is reserved for a camping trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The enjoyment of the outdoors no matter what the season is
one of the many lessons we learn on our visits here. We are always struck with
how wasteful we are at home. Here, cups and plates are washed, not thrown away,
even with a large crowd. We are very aware of the limited resources around us.
We begin to guard small bits of plastic wrap, keep our paper napkins for future
use (there are none at school) and view a plastic bag as a treasure. Yes, we
have been washing out our small plastic bags for sandwiches! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A weekend trip to the beautiful “Valley of Desolation”<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We always talk about traveling a bit on the weekends, but by
the time Friday rolls around, we typically are exhausted and need to spend our
awake time finding resources for the next week. Having the library at the
school has made a huge difference. There are books geared to teachers as well
as students that we can use in our professional development. Plus, this year,
we are on the same wavelength with the teachers and planning was much easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we decided to spend a weekend in Graaff-Reinet, a tourist
town about 3 hours north of Port Elizabeth, surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park. On Saturday, we hiked around the park on a
beautiful trail with spectacular views above the Valley of Desolation. It has
the feel of the desert southwest of the U.S., but with springbok (like small
deer), kudu, and ostriches running about. We get a true appreciation of wide
African skies, with views of mountain range after mountain range in the
distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIUVzGlG0_b5N4DGVTuDVoPPZBdBGLty99rf0XPYfRYGF_4If1zfXr44Fgfs3ZwXk-7jwCSfWubYso94zza7ADyiEX71nkFN4fQfIGQE0IyGFehvrFxRA1myCdadQorwWdB-HQFNcghg/s1600/Graaff-Reinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIUVzGlG0_b5N4DGVTuDVoPPZBdBGLty99rf0XPYfRYGF_4If1zfXr44Fgfs3ZwXk-7jwCSfWubYso94zza7ADyiEX71nkFN4fQfIGQE0IyGFehvrFxRA1myCdadQorwWdB-HQFNcghg/s400/Graaff-Reinet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stayed in a lovely B&B and enjoyed the local food.
The only downside was reading a book about the area that was in the B&B library.
Although published in 2008, you would have thought it was written under
Apartheid. The entire history was presented from the view of white Dutch
settlers, with the Xhosa tribe that lived in the area viewed as a problem for
the settlers without any recognition of their stake in the area. There was an
entire chapter on angora wool, a mainstay of trade for the whites; yet there
was no chapter on slavery, prevalent in that area. (Yes, it bore a striking
resemblance to books on American history from a generation ago.) I was told
that Graaff-Reinet is one of those communities that still hasn’t accepted that
life is different these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that wasn’t the only downside. We picked up a 24-hour
bug there which made the 3-hour drive home a bit dicey. But Larry’s didn’t hit
until after we were back in Port Elizabeth, so we were OK. We slept most of the
rest of the day. On to week three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-43927380958539877022012-09-01T10:01:00.000-04:002012-09-02T07:40:43.675-04:00A School With Serious Intent<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1201</o:Words>
<o:Characters>6847</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Embrace Diverse Schools</o:Company>
<o:Lines>57</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>16</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8032</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrive in the township for our 4<sup>th</sup> volunteer visit, and it all feels so familiar,
so comfortable. Our feelings are confirmed when we walk into school early in
the morning and the teachers greet us with powerful hugs and the words,
“<i>Welcome home</i>.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYXkeTB38Nb356raDBYpV_aSvcgMEXAxaAudFrobXrCsmN44kDl5KwBPeAzpeTcCgt0djDza_XFytvbKoSnh9igKsANVD5-gH0qHqVhWAnB5VkfeuCuVYlmkjSs0_qtYZkRbFlcLDnaI/s1600/Bukani+kids+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYXkeTB38Nb356raDBYpV_aSvcgMEXAxaAudFrobXrCsmN44kDl5KwBPeAzpeTcCgt0djDza_XFytvbKoSnh9igKsANVD5-gH0qHqVhWAnB5VkfeuCuVYlmkjSs0_qtYZkRbFlcLDnaI/s320/Bukani+kids+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a>There are no welcome parties for us, big or small; and that
is very fine with us. We all just get to work, recognizing that nothing is more
important than educating a child in a new democracy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a seriousness about the school this year. The
Eastern Cape, where this school is located, has fallen behind the other
provinces in South Africa in terms of education. The education district that
oversees A.V. Bukani is rife with corruption and the central government – for
the first time ever – has taken control of this district. There are still
questions of who is in charge of what, but there is no question that things are
moving forward. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In just a few weeks, all students at A.V. Bukani will have
to take national exams in math, English, and their home language (Xhosa in this
school). Prior to this, only 3<sup>rd</sup> grade took the exam. The teachers
are working hard to prepare their students, in content as well as test-taking
skills.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sample questions for the national exams were posted on the
internet and our school downloaded them last week. (Yes, the school does have
internet connection at a few computers! But as one of the teachers said to me,
“What about schools that have no computers? They cannot even see the sample
questions.”)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our students must take the same exams as those whose mother
tongue is English. The 4<sup>th</sup>
grade exam included a question about rhymes. It became clear to the teachers
that many of the students did not know the word “rhyme,” although they know
rhyming sounds. What other obstacles lay in wait in the exams?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Library!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfSY0iczcwGj8PtQ6C5Gp85rXhcG4YwM9CppWn8yiw8WsXEuCMicY6zcJU5w1ijwToLbIs7CXAUjJcU3c6WBMn-O9LRKwbg0lgDBYVoVvOFjqpSxbeRMyuQ9wMNP2aQ_zKzwdcmTN9Z8/s1600/Library+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfSY0iczcwGj8PtQ6C5Gp85rXhcG4YwM9CppWn8yiw8WsXEuCMicY6zcJU5w1ijwToLbIs7CXAUjJcU3c6WBMn-O9LRKwbg0lgDBYVoVvOFjqpSxbeRMyuQ9wMNP2aQ_zKzwdcmTN9Z8/s320/Library+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
What can we say about seeing the library at the school? It
is so powerful to see this amazing resource for all the students. Volunteers
over the last few years have helped organize it and further refine the
categories of books. Teachers in 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup>, and 4<sup>th</sup>
grade have taken boxes of books into their classrooms and the students can take
books out about two times a week. We’re encouraging them to have books go home
even more frequently.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is so rewarding to see the books in homes throughout the townships. One of our favorite sights was a glimpse of a 4 year-old laying on a chair in the kitchen, paging through the Berenstain Bears book that his older brother had brought home from school. Yes, the library is indeed having an impact!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgxczFi_wiKJsrisAApYSqL7qDF7GQEKxpjt_Efui_bXoyBQXz8epi9n2-_fuCnp-HOq3WKe_3CKGXGo3c_zKZb_q2duBZhr1mCMVj9V2DcVWmdskIXRNr-NaYXX2odJ9SjPoLuFNKug/s1600/Eileen+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgxczFi_wiKJsrisAApYSqL7qDF7GQEKxpjt_Efui_bXoyBQXz8epi9n2-_fuCnp-HOq3WKe_3CKGXGo3c_zKZb_q2duBZhr1mCMVj9V2DcVWmdskIXRNr-NaYXX2odJ9SjPoLuFNKug/s200/Eileen+reading.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grade 4 students enjoying the book<br />
"Are You My Mother?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are working to introduce the books at Grade R
(Kindergarten) and Grade 1.
English is now introduced in Grade 1, rather than 2,
and this is a new responsibility for the Grade 1 grade teachers. Most
relish it, but some don’t have strong English skills themselves, so it’s been
challenging. But they know it is what’s best for the children.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eileen has been going into all the Grade 1 classes, and some others, singing songs in English and reading some books. The kids are
incredibly engaged. They are so excited to be able to do something that was
reserved for their older brothers and sisters. And the teachers appreciate the opportunity to
see some new techniques they can use with their students. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Grade R (K) teachers have so far not been given any
books for their classrooms. One of the
new teachers, a bright young educator, said she’s been asking for books. “The
Grade R teachers feel neglected!” she said.
Eileen talked to the principal about the value of having books in the
classrooms for the youngest children, and that will soon be happening. Larry is
going to do some training for the Grade 1 and R teachers early next week.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyJGWugGwByXlTW-1Ci8AqoqKJ1hkKpHasjjS_0BGpVHgdXBIiB0pXCEfgVu5r85NZ_PVl6yDuk3IWW55t4pFEVssf8fCDhgd2vhh88OhXj5HeEQb0nqpByvkGSsNQAScJwchExBPDk4/s1600/Grade+R+teacher+singing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyJGWugGwByXlTW-1Ci8AqoqKJ1hkKpHasjjS_0BGpVHgdXBIiB0pXCEfgVu5r85NZ_PVl6yDuk3IWW55t4pFEVssf8fCDhgd2vhh88OhXj5HeEQb0nqpByvkGSsNQAScJwchExBPDk4/s320/Grade+R+teacher+singing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grade R (K) teacher singing with her class </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Increasing teachers’
knowledge of literacy strategies<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve been impressed with the work that has gone on in the
classrooms over the two years since we’ve been here. There is much more
interaction among the students, with the teachers encouraging the students to
“Think – Pair – Share,” a technique Larry and Sara taught the teachers during
our first visit. Some of the teachers
have excelled at this and the healthy buzz going on in the classrooms warms our
hearts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhznQ266TWkP6XQWKQFtAyAvv6srSTWgPHbdZGc7-M1o9Eo4rb7ytGoFEQndKixFnfvcGrG9c8WvsA3OzQ48YpmUF-nZ5d8-aULzG_hGxfx908rjjRmteBXhyphenhyphenGwWlGAryP6xHuXmO91I/s1600/Weekly+meeting+at+AV+Bukhani+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhznQ266TWkP6XQWKQFtAyAvv6srSTWgPHbdZGc7-M1o9Eo4rb7ytGoFEQndKixFnfvcGrG9c8WvsA3OzQ48YpmUF-nZ5d8-aULzG_hGxfx908rjjRmteBXhyphenhyphenGwWlGAryP6xHuXmO91I/s320/Weekly+meeting+at+AV+Bukhani+school.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weekly planning meeting with the teachers and Paul,<br />
our volunteer coordinator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Larry has developed a plan with the teachers to do a “train
the trainer” approach sessions for teachers in 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup>,
and 4<sup>th</sup> grade with two teachers from each grade. These teachers will
then train the other teachers in that grade after we leave. The focus is an
issue the teachers raised: helping the students retell the stories they are hearing
or reading on their own. Larry has demonstrated a technique in which students
talk, draw, and write about the beginning, middle, and end of stories read to
them. This approach will help students
develop an understanding of the structure of stories, which will help build
understanding and improve their retellings. Teachers have been enthusiastic about the
approach and have been pleasantly surprised at the positive responses from some
of their struggling students. Next week
they will take over the teaching, with support from Larry. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>New responsibilities
for the school leadership<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The government just completed an evaluation of A.V. Bukani
and determined that the school earned The right to manage its own funds. Up to this
point, school leadership had to request funds from the district school office,
and it could take six months to get an order of paper! Worse, money often didn’t make it out of the
district office at all. Now the
principal and the school governing board (including teachers and parents) have
control of the funds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWQHCF69_cQ9IsUhMtF4_BAVEQ9q6DNZZ-hupSAMJmSf-eWvJcJOXi0ddDSRZLthkAvKcls_j_1kTPHWoVWbUAiDmlO75KMAFxxQyNd9PoeXXTCqGl_E6iM0OwDOs7K_1kr5mpdB8T8I/s1600/Students+in+the+morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWQHCF69_cQ9IsUhMtF4_BAVEQ9q6DNZZ-hupSAMJmSf-eWvJcJOXi0ddDSRZLthkAvKcls_j_1kTPHWoVWbUAiDmlO75KMAFxxQyNd9PoeXXTCqGl_E6iM0OwDOs7K_1kr5mpdB8T8I/s320/Students+in+the+morning.jpg" width="320" /></a>Our principal, Mr. Thambo, is thrilled that he can now take charge of his own funds. This is something he has fought for. But there are also
challenges. For the last decade, schools have not been permitted to hire
non-teaching staff at the school, so all the financial issues must now be added
to the work of the principal and the teachers. Mr. Thambo is getting training
in management of the funds, but it is a huge responsibility.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reconnecting with our
friends and “family”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, we are not staying with the Mofu family in the
township. Rev. Mofu has been quite ill
and we have been very worried about him.
At the end of our first day of school, we quickly walked to the Mofu’s
to see how he is. We are thrilled to
report that his health is much better. He's lost weight, eating healthier and his diabetes completely
disappeared! (Diabetes is a huge health issue here and we hope some day to bring in nutrition classes for the teachers and families) The doctors are hoping that Rev. Mofu's kidney problems, which were related to the diabetes, will increasingly improve as well.
We are VERY relieved. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other issue is that part of the roof of the Mofu’s home
blew off in a heavy wind last year. They are now repairing the home and doing
some other home renovation, so there are boards and nails everywhere. In between the hammering, we got to visit
with their grandsons who are now in Grade 6, Grade 2,
and preschool. It is hard to believe that 11 year-old Yanga was only 6 when we
first met him. His charming smile and big hugs never changed. We’ll be back to
visit more next week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagbjhW0GuImvjjcU52D1CyUIW-cYjs7wpat6XYTqc0rQ-DMzSjOMqc_TYRQR0SgX9PSpeGsoQZIwrqdq3UqZsPzMDLfPiepHEx4rZMQ2tptYyI3ntbvlG7SgK40S2gEE2dZCcGQcuPgY/s1600/Larry+at+Rosedale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagbjhW0GuImvjjcU52D1CyUIW-cYjs7wpat6XYTqc0rQ-DMzSjOMqc_TYRQR0SgX9PSpeGsoQZIwrqdq3UqZsPzMDLfPiepHEx4rZMQ2tptYyI3ntbvlG7SgK40S2gEE2dZCcGQcuPgY/s200/Larry+at+Rosedale.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are staying with other friends just outside the township,
Nondumiso and Keith. Rosedale, their totally “green” B and B which opened 3 years ago, is in the midst of
their organic orange farm on the border of the township. They are fascinating people who have lived extraordinary
lives and we truly enjoy their company. They are very supportive of the school
and the volunteer program. This is where Sara, Alex, and Cecily stayed in 2010;
and Keith and Miso graciously held our Farewell Party there that year when the
school building was closed because of the teachers’ strike. We often visit in
the township in the afternoons and then go to Rosedale for dinner. We
particularly love sitting outside in front of the open-pit fire after dinner
and enjoying the cool, clear evening with the full moon peeking through the
indigenous trees and the sounds of exotic birds filling the air.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0Addo, South Africa-34.016241889667015 25.576171875-41.010732889667011 15.468749875 -27.021750889667015 35.683593875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-87620843425373263492012-08-21T10:52:00.000-04:002012-08-21T10:52:40.276-04:00Returning to A.V. Bukani Primary School!We are so excited to return to A.V. Bukani for our 4th volunteer visit to this wonderful school and the township it serves. This year it will be only Eileen and Larry, but the impact of the work by Sara, Alex and Cecily on our last visit will certainly be felt.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAq6Uz7aqS6zreQ727YAekXRYQuEFvDVXnDkH2LgF7NhkOQHurdWCBXCSpCDxMz6pzjOO-XgUovzIyHalgq3P4obpckEpOGDaRDTYMOFftvfF-6JTGJsvLtY7c5t98LPXTxK_6DCR1Lyg/s1600/1087731440_img_5496+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAq6Uz7aqS6zreQ727YAekXRYQuEFvDVXnDkH2LgF7NhkOQHurdWCBXCSpCDxMz6pzjOO-XgUovzIyHalgq3P4obpckEpOGDaRDTYMOFftvfF-6JTGJsvLtY7c5t98LPXTxK_6DCR1Lyg/s200/1087731440_img_5496+small.jpg" width="200" /></a>We are looking forward to seeing the library in action. We have had reports that it is being used by teachers in some classes. We hope to build on this and, maybe even see an outgrowth into the community. We know that is what the principal would like to do. However, there are always significant issues such as no staff available to serve as librarians. When a teacher is not in the classroom, there aren't funds for substitute teachers. So it is challenging to add a duty onto a teacher's full plate (and full class of 50-60 students!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopdpEE3OMZdpUAklikqHg9FwV-XpQExgvZBUlMK9SiAJnrZaOAyWy4AZsq9v7KpaVLk6VagvHNgGjJayVIVtYona1XfnzQQeJJ0hYbej8-uc8UPgejPpPyNewLDpEAjOzDuFxBNYRUhU/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopdpEE3OMZdpUAklikqHg9FwV-XpQExgvZBUlMK9SiAJnrZaOAyWy4AZsq9v7KpaVLk6VagvHNgGjJayVIVtYona1XfnzQQeJJ0hYbej8-uc8UPgejPpPyNewLDpEAjOzDuFxBNYRUhU/s200/IMG_0358.JPG" title="Students using books" width="150" /></a></div>
One of the many life lessons we have learned in our work in South Africa is that we cannot take for granted that things will "work" as we envision them. The infrastructure just doesn't exist or the challenges are too great. We think of the year that we returned, hoping that there would be internet connections in the updated computer lab. But what we saw was that the basic telephone lines to the entire township had been cut for the copper and no one had any phone service for four months. The line had been repaired once, but quickly cut again. Eventually service was restored. Yes, some individuals had cell phone service, but they needed the money to pay for "airtime," which was sold by the minute. The principal kept the school running with two personal cell phones, with airtime he purchased himself.<br />
<br />
In the U.S., we get frustrated by sitting in traffic; in S.A., they deal with lack of dependable transportation with far fewer complaints. They simply do what they can -- walk miles to get what they need if the bus doesn't show up -- or make do with what they have. It's a hard life in many ways, particularly in terms of health care. We know that some of the people we are closest to are very ill. We are steeling ourselves for what we will see when we arrive, knowing that two years is a long time to be away. Every year, the teachers and our friends there went to multiple funerals during our three-week stay. AIDS and other illnesses, including diabetes, take a huge toll.<br />
<br />
We have utmost respect and admiration for the people who work to improve the lives of the South Africans day-in and day-out. There is an undergirding belief that things will eventually work out for the best, if you just keep at it. We are so privileged to work with these people. Paul Mediema of Calabash Trust is one of the most ethical people we know, and we are so proud to work with him in South Africa. What a gift this work is to us.<br />
<br />
We thank our many supporters on this journey. We'll be posting from South Africa on the weekends.<br />
<br />
<br />Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-65135163375410592222011-08-09T11:28:00.040-04:002011-08-09T11:57:02.653-04:00LITERACY WORK CONTINUES!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpYAmW1TpcEvk_tVY-ijBX040b21TwrdUXZcRLRxwi3PsTuXEcYUQbolBB3unP_xXSQQrCvzs_D6463lXCiJ5rgHPgGINUYM04vBrIPIjLUJIiOjH5qenxbLYcTSoO84iKOgkGZ4jOlA/s1600/library+teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD6o1VtGD_wjjHRzo7S-N8roHA2DeZvNcQ9niEjNHh4E_La6t_RW3BevS4wpf87IgY4TeYpSsCEUXQ761xL07KG5GeshQrlVT5Z5Lyz0DOfBS1ch4wB2NLHZju0K8Vacs5j_HvrlD3YQ/s1600/library+container.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD6o1VtGD_wjjHRzo7S-N8roHA2DeZvNcQ9niEjNHh4E_La6t_RW3BevS4wpf87IgY4TeYpSsCEUXQ761xL07KG5GeshQrlVT5Z5Lyz0DOfBS1ch4wB2NLHZju0K8Vacs5j_HvrlD3YQ/s400/library+container.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
The library container was painted by local artists. We're so proud of the role it is playing in the community. Funds are needed to support maintenance, as well as staffing and programs for the community.</div><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpYAmW1TpcEvk_tVY-ijBX040b21TwrdUXZcRLRxwi3PsTuXEcYUQbolBB3unP_xXSQQrCvzs_D6463lXCiJ5rgHPgGINUYM04vBrIPIjLUJIiOjH5qenxbLYcTSoO84iKOgkGZ4jOlA/s1600/library+teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpYAmW1TpcEvk_tVY-ijBX040b21TwrdUXZcRLRxwi3PsTuXEcYUQbolBB3unP_xXSQQrCvzs_D6463lXCiJ5rgHPgGINUYM04vBrIPIjLUJIiOjH5qenxbLYcTSoO84iKOgkGZ4jOlA/s200/library+teachers.jpg" width="200" /></a>The students continue to learn computer skills -- and even the teachers had not touched a computer just 3 years ago! Our Education Fund helps to support the computer teacher as well as essential maintenance for the computer lab.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD6o1VtGD_wjjHRzo7S-N8roHA2DeZvNcQ9niEjNHh4E_La6t_RW3BevS4wpf87IgY4TeYpSsCEUXQ761xL07KG5GeshQrlVT5Z5Lyz0DOfBS1ch4wB2NLHZju0K8Vacs5j_HvrlD3YQ/s1600/library+container.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi8d8ZEHJ2GTznHG6_YnISOSeAEYZziDPxCNMoNsuLVTsZ5vUG2qzLlrP2ivIrQBV7IL5EYk92VFLxMDjLrNiXiQxLwgS9hyZS03T2pbyQd70_sYn9HCmdKElB1lH_awwKk_YbNGRV0k/s1600/Scrabble+tournament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi8d8ZEHJ2GTznHG6_YnISOSeAEYZziDPxCNMoNsuLVTsZ5vUG2qzLlrP2ivIrQBV7IL5EYk92VFLxMDjLrNiXiQxLwgS9hyZS03T2pbyQd70_sYn9HCmdKElB1lH_awwKk_YbNGRV0k/s320/Scrabble+tournament.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Books that we donated to the regional library system are now in libraries throughout the region. The system is starting many new outreach programs, including a Scrabble Tournament during Library Week. Here high school students are checking out a word in the Scrabble Dictionary provided to each team.<br />
<br />
<br />
We recently received video from the Family Quilt Project at A.V. Bukani (see our entries from August 2009 below for more details). <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1mIMH2bwqXU" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
View other videos about the project:<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/R-NOCfv0F24">"Eileen Becomes Nosango"</a><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/wYbAzsVBzzs">"Learning from South African Families"</a> <br />
<br />
To support these literacy efforts in South Africa, <a href="http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/p/how-to-donate.html">please see our section on how to donate</a> to the Kugler Education Fund at South Africa Partners.Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0Addo, South Africa-33.5506591880845 25.687771095214885-33.573862188084505 25.670999595214884 -33.5274561880845 25.704542595214885tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-74323565639593630282010-11-16T21:44:00.026-05:002011-01-10T16:11:49.950-05:00The Library is Thriving!<div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjaclQs9qEBXegyzdEGllRzw_EeRPZH-p2WAYAWIQEMZhgDy36P6J9WN4u9WCaTbNUATc7aG6cUUy8_5RlwKQHT5Gtq3bS0t7I42O5muJa9t-U5mhLa70mPVZaAJtD97tcN7GN1x3CuY/s200/1087745170_img_5618.jpg" width="200" /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With great joy and excitement, we report that the library at A.V.Bukani is thriving! Books are on the library shelves, organized by level. Teachers have set up reading centers in their classrooms and are further refining the levels so they meet the needs of their learners. They have truly taken ownership of the library.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZZHJGD_Y4C7h7dQai9Fav6Bipg4tXvE9hGSifZG0lWrKHArMZr9TDL1xt9RNyDtGGZR5yh_cx4zjrb7XCtlzwQd4NuySClh7MQh-Ub5jiGY_6gEKF5NVP5pslnWBTHpWGvXUH5CI2hc/s1600/1087731440_img_5496+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZZHJGD_Y4C7h7dQai9Fav6Bipg4tXvE9hGSifZG0lWrKHArMZr9TDL1xt9RNyDtGGZR5yh_cx4zjrb7XCtlzwQd4NuySClh7MQh-Ub5jiGY_6gEKF5NVP5pslnWBTHpWGvXUH5CI2hc/s200/1087731440_img_5496+small.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZZHJGD_Y4C7h7dQai9Fav6Bipg4tXvE9hGSifZG0lWrKHArMZr9TDL1xt9RNyDtGGZR5yh_cx4zjrb7XCtlzwQd4NuySClh7MQh-Ub5jiGY_6gEKF5NVP5pslnWBTHpWGvXUH5CI2hc/s1600/1087731440_img_5496+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teachers report that the students are loving the books they are taking home, eager to get a new one each day. The classroom system we helped set up - where the students put the card from their book into a clothes pin with their name - is working well. Most teachers said ALL books are coming back, except if a child is absent. (Can you imagine that?? 100% return!) Students know they must bring back their book to get a new one and they sure want that new one.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRO_VOZZJV5pcao49vRmwUXXWHXOJcKDJHgaVcgc9wHDyeeh5rb5ZWhjWTwvF3T261zRXXpIS7ZrVe8spOjxgo_0Lgrg1zOOg0erUUyQ9Y-yPgaPka_0-55-pE71bAepS0EJ6PgupXGdg/s1600/1087749039_BUFjw-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRO_VOZZJV5pcao49vRmwUXXWHXOJcKDJHgaVcgc9wHDyeeh5rb5ZWhjWTwvF3T261zRXXpIS7ZrVe8spOjxgo_0Lgrg1zOOg0erUUyQ9Y-yPgaPka_0-55-pE71bAepS0EJ6PgupXGdg/s200/1087749039_BUFjw-S.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn1xVjr_JreVgpyK3UC0F77tzVhnruxQ4FM_UEubagYFn6J6vkEIqraYNztpLug_eBmlqmbMMqgR0A2sYrSDG4iDc0ApUIFc87o7RL9eAmI23enWVMsIigLmESQvfEWpy7UD48reqr2s/s1600/taking+home+books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stakeholders in the broader community are helping to strengthen and sustain the library and the entire school. One of the local businesswomen donated paint. The outside has been painted white and township artists will soon paint a mural.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufZkSnQNLS4Uso6meuH9KmrDHSe_7ttfzEkfdbSPl-ejN5qm0HLWZlpr7rBmSOi-3bcaTUT3Pr-8HW2ikDahwUYGLIMbvMEYCV58t0MPTeOnx9-TNyQsmIaF_1W5-9qI8y5VQhbRLEtQ/s1600/1087748547_img_5645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufZkSnQNLS4Uso6meuH9KmrDHSe_7ttfzEkfdbSPl-ejN5qm0HLWZlpr7rBmSOi-3bcaTUT3Pr-8HW2ikDahwUYGLIMbvMEYCV58t0MPTeOnx9-TNyQsmIaF_1W5-9qI8y5VQhbRLEtQ/s200/1087748547_img_5645.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn1xVjr_JreVgpyK3UC0F77tzVhnruxQ4FM_UEubagYFn6J6vkEIqraYNztpLug_eBmlqmbMMqgR0A2sYrSDG4iDc0ApUIFc87o7RL9eAmI23enWVMsIigLmESQvfEWpy7UD48reqr2s/s1600/taking+home+books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn1xVjr_JreVgpyK3UC0F77tzVhnruxQ4FM_UEubagYFn6J6vkEIqraYNztpLug_eBmlqmbMMqgR0A2sYrSDG4iDc0ApUIFc87o7RL9eAmI23enWVMsIigLmESQvfEWpy7UD48reqr2s/s200/taking+home+books.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Members of the Womens Institute, who are orange farmers' wives and B&B owners, have come back to the school to label more books alongside residents of Nomathamsanqa township. We are so happy that this personal interaction is continuing among diverse members of the region.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><strong>Books Throughout the Region</strong></u></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiL6eln5L2KOLoetETlaO9JaGb25K5gSlD2YROyvuu9Vgo_GjZ6esvvDbTfMdiKAhwFhN9l8Zr9Oxu9kYZHEMkzk_RJtSDJilHQkOKwD0ZfB5PHEBXPRIfYEixbB0WA3wWUM0kMeURSA/s200/book+covering+by+librarian+staff.JPG" width="200" /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The donated books are not only serving the students of A.V. Bukani. About 50 boxes were donated to the municipal library. Volunteers have covered and labled the books for their system, and the books are now part of a traveling collection of books that are shared by libraries in townships throughout the region. </span><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK5doSMbFIP1vHMTTw94NRchNyXzsvcx1G2NLfOFs-9J_WnsrNRvRPeEDdSVxtiU9J5h-0vzOwQvtiTURwNuGINcRM5A7M0xJDnIa2YTQRhyphenhyphenq9jvcSavNrJ-LUAxFP_2gL_0zzTGMM4Y/s200/N%2527sqaCwC010.jpg" width="186" /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The municipal library now runs the library in the township high school. Some of the donated books are filling those shelves. A new Internet Center was just opened in the high school, providing internet access for the entire township - such an exciting opportunity for all! </span></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong><u>New Volunteers Heading to A.V. Bukani</u> </strong></span></span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We recently learned that two new volunteers will visit A.V. Bukani in January and February, continuing the professional development on literacy. Clearly, this is a big step, as it is difficult to see major progress when we are only able to provide teacher training during our annual visit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The volunteers are skilled retired teachers. We started our collaboration with them through a great SKYPE conversation with one of the volunteers, who just returned from a year at a school in China. She will spend 8 weeks at A.V. Bukani, which will certainly have an impact. She is staying with one of the teachers in the township.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The volunteers are working through <span id="goog_1805588995"></span></span><a href="http://www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk/default.aspx"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People and Places-Responsible Volunteering</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span id="goog_1805588996"></span>as we did. London-based People and Places does a terrific job of matching volunteers with projects around the world. Soon these new volunteers will begin working with Paul Miedema of <a href="http://www.calabashtours.co.za/">Calabash Tours/Trust</a> who oversees the project in our region of South Africa. We feel so fortunate to be connected to these ethical, well-run organizations; and we know the new volunteers will feel the same. We'll soon have personal contact with them and they have already read all the reports we have filed. </span></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><strong>Thanks to our wonderful DC-based volunteers</strong></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbrywesT3XCuX7KZZqnFYBB3G-Er-Svm7ReOswcPnD-1xGsINKfOAT1j8LPVaJwpxpC34O8I7681MVsyPmq4tslHxjrVjbKfKpVVU3Wx_jYb4fA48z1j8wZ5u3-jEcKfXf2megishm5k/s1600/1087742918_img_5611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbrywesT3XCuX7KZZqnFYBB3G-Er-Svm7ReOswcPnD-1xGsINKfOAT1j8LPVaJwpxpC34O8I7681MVsyPmq4tslHxjrVjbKfKpVVU3Wx_jYb4fA48z1j8wZ5u3-jEcKfXf2megishm5k/s320/1087742918_img_5611.jpg" width="213" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We thank Kay Campbell of Burness Communications for some of the wonderful recent photos of the library. Kay and her husband visited A.V. Bukani on their vacation in October, volunteering to take photos of the library and other Calabash projects in the region.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was great to get together recently with many of the volunteers who spent so much time collecting, sorting and labeling the books at our home<span style="color: black;"><strong>. Larry and I calculated that volunteers provided about 240 days of labor getting the library ready for shipment!</strong></span> No wonder we're still a bit tired :)</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We thank all of you who so generously have contributed to this project. The library is just one tool in the effort to increase literacy in this wonderful school and community. The work continues. If you would like to support this project, please see <a href="http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/p/how-to-donate.html">How to Donate</a>.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div></div>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-47482180576286122752010-08-22T20:53:00.045-04:002010-08-25T18:03:42.367-04:00"It is no longer a container. It is a library."<div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">YES, the books finally arrived!!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRpgb3wwGPT79ZarXzC_E2wuZ5ypBgRoChIqYwhI4pxKuIW6RmIcJTa8XNgtffBHYrQzV0Xw0cOf05BnQHPHXmVeCUdi_C5Gl-Mi9XoT4DpqF5s3QJO2UfqXr8QPtm2TbQfWRzHhDatM/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRpgb3wwGPT79ZarXzC_E2wuZ5ypBgRoChIqYwhI4pxKuIW6RmIcJTa8XNgtffBHYrQzV0Xw0cOf05BnQHPHXmVeCUdi_C5Gl-Mi9XoT4DpqF5s3QJO2UfqXr8QPtm2TbQfWRzHhDatM/s200/IMG_0302.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The container was opened on the Monday of our third and final week. As box after box was </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK9nzmVbsKjAMPisdYcNWZgZKVU3JFZdlkhbD-y7WaMLQS7iF460kVz11r2pH0ow6JMC7YDehlJ7NyJ3Zapme2D6rDnt7pwu1Sp3VrcvIjhy6vBQIUbtrtbpUFqVjGv1M8oLuSuJizTc/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">opened, the principal and teachers were in awe of the quality of the books. We learned that not only are books very expensive in South Africa, there are few as well written and illustrated as these beautiful books.<br />
<br />
Members of the community soon surrounded the container, helping move the 600 boxes of books and a dozen book cases into a storage area while work is done ot convert the container into a library. Fourth graders soon began eagerly helping.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyRFgPyeDGDdCQd3-lhyphenhyphenHMYIFRPlPwaB2LijTWs0tDxRd21Lmsm52c8BoNXAa6X7Ca9cZ0wQ5UUYyuqcNim51PrlXwMTSH0qnxO8m4YmXeo_A69_g1by2h0OuXz00Hij_KimJqoj_FuE/s1600/P1010001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyRFgPyeDGDdCQd3-lhyphenhyphenHMYIFRPlPwaB2LijTWs0tDxRd21Lmsm52c8BoNXAa6X7Ca9cZ0wQ5UUYyuqcNim51PrlXwMTSH0qnxO8m4YmXeo_A69_g1by2h0OuXz00Hij_KimJqoj_FuE/s200/P1010001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzT2B1QjzlwXZwwVHileu1c8kAN9Kv7tApGmtAruSirChUHdYhjZuylXWSYRsY9qwTj9qvJUCSgydr_nt0z2i1IIp35lYsjTVgt5psKy9n4q9GeCsTahRjxVLK9LwoPt3uggzCmVmctI/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508420236833591250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzT2B1QjzlwXZwwVHileu1c8kAN9Kv7tApGmtAruSirChUHdYhjZuylXWSYRsY9qwTj9qvJUCSgydr_nt0z2i1IIp35lYsjTVgt5psKy9n4q9GeCsTahRjxVLK9LwoPt3uggzCmVmctI/s200/IMG_0331.JPG" style="height: 150px; margin-top: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Teachers swept and mopped. Wooden shelves created in South Africa were installed along the side into the supports donated by Highwood Enterprises in the U.S. Windows and doors were put in. “This is no longer a container, it’s a library,” declared Principal Thambo.<br />
<br />
The faculty deeply appreciated the many hours that went <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAlljXC6WYbqq_oOI-ZxGWDM7QHDu9jjV_hjJKHFGl78geDcruoFDyV8sdzZovuJS3oCBiBSMR8N1OWS0KCzYI8LFmOJOpvgxw3CNIK1BE_CwWp8FZ36AoUK4Jftq8rn8X5l51fwyIMI/s1600/IMG_0430.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508414437099882578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAlljXC6WYbqq_oOI-ZxGWDM7QHDu9jjV_hjJKHFGl78geDcruoFDyV8sdzZovuJS3oCBiBSMR8N1OWS0KCzYI8LFmOJOpvgxw3CNIK1BE_CwWp8FZ36AoUK4Jftq8rn8X5l51fwyIMI/s200/IMG_0430.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a>into collecting, labeling, and sorting the books. We created a photo </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">album showing the many, many people involved in putting the library together. “You have worked very hard,” teachers said over and over.</span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Sara and Larry trained the teac<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDd7VBy-07eQUm9ThFoqSasiRocJcHTNTgKy49W1v5sXT6MaCpGJ3WLYMuAkHimFCvUVynd5jS8YlFHclMeKMSfxUIHOE7vOPUUg8K0-7tkReeiu5dxAQTKPUfIBzUJAC8O7kyxvdBxQ/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508415662013034946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDd7VBy-07eQUm9ThFoqSasiRocJcHTNTgKy49W1v5sXT6MaCpGJ3WLYMuAkHimFCvUVynd5jS8YlFHclMeKMSfxUIHOE7vOPUUg8K0-7tkReeiu5dxAQTKPUfIBzUJAC8O7kyxvdBxQ/s200/IMG_0367.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a>hers and their students on the classroom-based check out system, where each child attaches the card with his or her name from the back of their book onto a yarn line in the room using a clothes peg. </span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">And on Tuesday, <strong>the students in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades took home a book</strong>! The excitement was palpable. This was an extraordinary event for this township where few families own a book.</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtrDY584O-i4BmUpYHuM1oq2fUI_dhBL5EV1m-bA3pi-XPvL0mAdPtLNpCjmB7koG59GQHAxj4q2ZptRuvUIfgygBeyQ5twZAOZo4tP_GlSGwECVlApHgX2Z3CVOdv6b8VRwnEVwxgfQ/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508415923216032562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtrDY584O-i4BmUpYHuM1oq2fUI_dhBL5EV1m-bA3pi-XPvL0mAdPtLNpCjmB7koG59GQHAxj4q2ZptRuvUIfgygBeyQ5twZAOZo4tP_GlSGwECVlApHgX2Z3CVOdv6b8VRwnEVwxgfQ/s200/IMG_0365.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And then, in this trip of peaks and valleys, the bottom seemed to fall out. A national teachers’ strike, which had been looming the entire trip, was officially called for Wednesday. Initially teachers were to report and then leave at </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">10 am. This would have allowed all the books to be checked back in. However, after the learners left with their books, national union leadership decided that teachers should not report at all. This was not a one-day action, but a long-term strike until a new contract could be negotiated. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">All the plans for professional development for the final three days were torn up. The teachers and principal were conflicted, as were we. They wanted the continue to work with us, but had to support this critical strike. While we support the educators, we hated to miss these days in school. Out of our 15 days, we worked with the teachers only 10 days.<br />
<br />
Our biggest concern was whether the books that had just gone home with the students would make their way back to school. There had only been one training in each class, with no opportunity to reinforce the procedures. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MpGGbIlurw_rXN2T0AIeiGtbKMsnzFPPTRooJqkngzkDqvpv5WuzFWboXdMBKnRiBGLxDxIyde4c6JdZbknSZolUlpk-ZOq6aVgVxb84fv1lqBTCH-cg5q-3WvWLzRzfUPB-q5tGbU8/s1600/IMG_0408.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508428737483119714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MpGGbIlurw_rXN2T0AIeiGtbKMsnzFPPTRooJqkngzkDqvpv5WuzFWboXdMBKnRiBGLxDxIyde4c6JdZbknSZolUlpk-ZOq6aVgVxb84fv1lqBTCH-cg5q-3WvWLzRzfUPB-q5tGbU8/s200/IMG_0408.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 148px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>The students were coming in the next morning, despite the strike because the food prepared by community mothers for their snack (a nutritious starch and beans) had already started to cook. But in a nation where strikes are taken seriously, and those who break ranks face intimidation and potential violence, we worried there would be only two other adults present the next day, the two educators who were part of another union.<br />
<br />
Larry, Eileen and Sara planned to be at school to collect the books brought back. We worried about trying to collect books in the chaos of 900 students and few adults. And we wondered how many books would be returned…50 percent? less?<br />
<br />
We arrived at the school as students poured in. Even if parents heard about the strike through the media, few kept their children at home. We were in a minor panic about what to do, and then we watched some of the teachers walk in. The teachers hugged us and smiled broadly, “We could not leave you alone today,” they said. We had tears in our eyes. The teachers and the principal helped lead the morning singing and prayers in the court yard. The principal, an active union member, had called the union manager and expressed the special circumstances of the new library .</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508416481865366882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YHLHLc1Gyf6CfFKNnWC6BVe97mSyjATRBUQVzuTt6iBaBwJaJ2myCVOddXsrUzoGewcwHHmGpTsoVWAolB5Rm1HSRtGMCQWaRokYcgKmIiATMENlmnbBoRtEXRBwRTRcrybqDb3SNXc/s200/IMG_0393.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Then, the next amazing event. The principal asked the children to hold up their books and it was a sea of waving books. We began collecting books from each class. EVERY CHILD HAD RETURNED THE BOOK! We were stunned. Clearly, these children loved and valued these books. Given a sacred responsibility to return these books so others could use them – and so they could take out a new one – they rose to the occasion. There was great disappointment when they learned they could not take one home the next day, but we are hopeful this enthusiasm for books will con</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtxzhM5_yQL6mzMY4e3tjWx_R9AHAqP_NT0OJncLxpoP8W3NWQmzUvRLGGYK-tgSxWMdKMFQyxcKWd0-XMgyu0WCaOV0Fa-oyZTnwlGxp9WM7PyHEGTSmq8wcGdIRHbNmZJixaXG4wLA/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508416954890299634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtxzhM5_yQL6mzMY4e3tjWx_R9AHAqP_NT0OJncLxpoP8W3NWQmzUvRLGGYK-tgSxWMdKMFQyxcKWd0-XMgyu0WCaOV0Fa-oyZTnwlGxp9WM7PyHEGTSmq8wcGdIRHbNmZJixaXG4wLA/s200/IMG_0394.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 150px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">tinue after the strike.<br />
<br />
And then the children were sent home with a note about the indefinite strike. It was difficult for us to watch the children being sent home without prior notice, but we were assured that the children would be cared for by relatives and neighbors in the township.<br />
<br />
We stayed on at the school, working on the library, showing a few teachers some of the classroom resources included in the shipment and discussing further strategies for using the books in the classroom.<br />
<br />
Then Mr. Thambo made clear his vision for the library. “You have helped me reach my dream. Reading is the foundation of wisdom. We will have competitions for our </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uXJyFqypmF-bs0kUjyuZyT1OW_ccEmzdHwfHHTiPFvNG0A5AJV-76-oCjBi_ohZqFOaqNy8c1I93NgLE3A7n9t0ZhauKg8LBjKU_UF9SxLrAN3gFVH9HuHalIvegfF9bniBanpB3ZVg/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508420828569899970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uXJyFqypmF-bs0kUjyuZyT1OW_ccEmzdHwfHHTiPFvNG0A5AJV-76-oCjBi_ohZqFOaqNy8c1I93NgLE3A7n9t0ZhauKg8LBjKU_UF9SxLrAN3gFVH9HuHalIvegfF9bniBanpB3ZVg/s200/IMG_0358.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">children to read. This will become a library for the entire community. We will open it on Friday afternoons so families can take out books and read along with their children. Young men who have graduated Grade 12 and cannot find work will read instead of standing on street corners. Crime will drop. This will change our entire community.”<br />
<br />
The library at A.V. Bukani is the first in a primary school in the entire region surrounding Addo Elephant Park. Even more striking is a statistic we heard -- of all the predominantly black government-run schools, only one percent have libraries! The sheer number and quality of the books in Bukani’s library makes this achievement, the result of many dedicated volunteers in the U.S., even more dramatic.<br />
<br />
<u>"You have no idea the impact of this donation" - Our books to benefit students throughout region</u></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"></span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">While school libraries are rare in the area, the Sundays River Valley Mun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONYwQRT4UljJq5EiN1PiEf2Ma63pd9kzaHB_qEYcgalhRBcZr7zLPLpm7X-IWTjQjpT89D_Rpwali_HYmzt8YBaaFBBIeQFPeL3RBh-1qAonOKWO0gonI0RFYo0JtX7mDaeQmfxnzq2g/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508433884134929314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONYwQRT4UljJq5EiN1PiEf2Ma63pd9kzaHB_qEYcgalhRBcZr7zLPLpm7X-IWTjQjpT89D_Rpwali_HYmzt8YBaaFBBIeQFPeL3RBh-1qAonOKWO0gonI0RFYo0JtX7mDaeQmfxnzq2g/s200/IMG_0210.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>icipality is home to a growing municipal library system, thanks to the leadership of dedicated librarian Isabelle </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Goosen. Seeing children from townships walk several miles along dangerous roads to get to the main municipal library, Isabelle was determined to create access to books in the townships. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Working with volunteers from the townships and supported by local businesses and non-profit groups, the library system added several mobile locations which evolved into satellite libraries. One of these is in the high school in our township of Nomathamsanqa. As soon as phone lines are restored to the township, the high school library will include several high-speed Internet lines, free to the community. In addition to small collections in satellite <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLOf5QjoC4o98sTK6Q-GOcGw7VMwsq8obluwBEOpzt9ERKqva70KcwOldx8B6pT4VXTNaEgi6Rtk8RpuNe0ID-EUPzVzNmySCFfAJlvIPBivC_SocAnhLep8o4S6LIJauojTQPPXH3uE/s1600/Enon2.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508412116502061922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLOf5QjoC4o98sTK6Q-GOcGw7VMwsq8obluwBEOpzt9ERKqva70KcwOldx8B6pT4VXTNaEgi6Rtk8RpuNe0ID-EUPzVzNmySCFfAJlvIPBivC_SocAnhLep8o4S6LIJauojTQPPXH3uE/s200/Enon2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 191px;" /></span></a>libraries, the libraries share some books that rotate among them. There is also a mobile library that visits schools not served by other libraries.<br />
<br />
Last year Eileen met Isabelle and this year she was given a tour of the lib</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">raries in this municipal system. In addition to the small township libraries, Eileen saw the library at the municipality seat of Kirkwook, with students of different races all crowding around the Internet links.<br />
<br />
We donated some of the collected books to the municipality, largely from boxes that are above the reading le<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLL81ncT_JWCrHV39R8EPVdHY7rGOGCFMCRnSdrhS2vDZNVm-FRfsFtTAnwvZfIxtklgnvlV7VMvNpzyVob3n912J-sMXCWvtFafg20g49D8xiXPFFutbDYnlnvVFstmSZS1KrGRNeXU/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508412678237702834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLL81ncT_JWCrHV39R8EPVdHY7rGOGCFMCRnSdrhS2vDZNVm-FRfsFtTAnwvZfIxtklgnvlV7VMvNpzyVob3n912J-sMXCWvtFafg20g49D8xiXPFFutbDYnlnvVFstmSZS1KrGRNeXU/s200/IMG_0219.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a>vel of our primary students. Half of those donated will be at the high school which our students attend, and the remainder will circulate among other libraries throughout the region. Isabelle was overwhelmed with the quality of the books. “You have no idea the impact of this donation,” she said.</span></div><br />
<br />
<div><br />
<div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><u>The Community Comes Together to Label Books</u></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89v510ZnFweCZ6bp9jEfEhmm5YJi7Of_UEqAcAlHxAEsuBCxGTIvAtClzXy7GFy3wQil01gD739pwOfLQu5jUdA5Tes8Okm8GTwJv-OncfMn2McGdDiNmUqqly-tbmnU2NTOljgehnx8/s1600/Sara's+021.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508409300468198738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89v510ZnFweCZ6bp9jEfEhmm5YJi7Of_UEqAcAlHxAEsuBCxGTIvAtClzXy7GFy3wQil01gD739pwOfLQu5jUdA5Tes8Okm8GTwJv-OncfMn2McGdDiNmUqqly-tbmnU2NTOljgehnx8/s200/Sara's+021.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">This library is already affecting Nomathamsanqa township in ways that go beyond reading. Several members of the Women’s Institute accepted Eileen’s offer to come to the school to help with the project after she spoke there. They joined mothers and grandmothers from the township. The township families had come a few day’s earlier for a workshop on the library, talking about ways of enjoying the books with their children, even if they don’t read English (e.g., sitting together and talking about the pictures).<br />
<br />
On August 18, women from both groups and of many different backgrounds – some from the township and some from the white-owned orange groves and B&B’s – sat together to label books that were not finished when they left the U.S. By all accounts, it was a significant day for the entire region.<br />
<br />
As with the volunteer labeling sessions in the U.S., the volunteers in</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHH4eSON1Wg5ZPJNJAfhPc_fjcC-IPW1sQmo9EJERq4kaS5Ww5agP9BCmwB70pNBFNd3nmh2G6O6IUw0DSKwnko39K0cVi9qywcCbXe1UOM2xjIlQ_xRya6BAiTU1mlnNOFqzgWpMyJ8/s1600/IMG_0417-1.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508410966276899202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHH4eSON1Wg5ZPJNJAfhPc_fjcC-IPW1sQmo9EJERq4kaS5Ww5agP9BCmwB70pNBFNd3nmh2G6O6IUw0DSKwnko39K0cVi9qywcCbXe1UOM2xjIlQ_xRya6BAiTU1mlnNOFqzgWpMyJ8/s200/IMG_0417-1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> South Africa loved working with the books and getting to know each other. Together the S.A. volunteers labeled 500 books. As they left the school, the Women’s Institute volunteers said, “Please let us know how we can help again.” Thus starts a wonderful partnership.</span></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">It is at this meeting that Sara is given her Xhosa name -- <em>Thandeka,</em> "one who is loved."</span></strong><br />
<br />
<div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><u>“You are revolutionaries”</u></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN2uZz667FvCMivRIF3C7ckohB-K_tCfOAVcIUlKwEse0H5bNzY8R54Q1N16vxHwBg0XeMI6iED67RRC6eQgcPZIYiSES85AI5bt-aV1B1nnFYnypGz5TwRQ_dYg0ePKXv0pwQLnIi_o/s1600/VID00064-2.jpg"></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">On Thursday morning, many of the teachers gathered at a nearby B&B to bid farewell to “The Kugler Family,” now down to our original team of Eileen, Larry, and Sara. These striking teachers did not need to be there, and yet they came, some from </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cTsim95uu4OS8v_MoYb8_nzMGmxq9xIV5XZDy4UxTYchcVgGvdO88QQhEGX5-vG_zaJ-Iskw588VRsCsXEE0RtVdzsCuMxGlzGkTrQv2QaIZPgXP77kbzrLe59CGGyqn4qMBQ27DU_I/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508403859732971618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cTsim95uu4OS8v_MoYb8_nzMGmxq9xIV5XZDy4UxTYchcVgGvdO88QQhEGX5-vG_zaJ-Iskw588VRsCsXEE0RtVdzsCuMxGlzGkTrQv2QaIZPgXP77kbzrLe59CGGyqn4qMBQ27DU_I/s200/IMG_0466.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 164px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">an hour away, because they could not imagine our leaving without their sincere thanks. We did not meet at school to prevent an appearance that the teachers were "working."<br />
<br />
And there is nothing like an event thrown by these amazing teachers…. their singing, their dancing, and of course their speeches. We had tears in our eyes throughout.<br />
<br />
“We have called you our friends. And we have called you our family. We have run out of words to describe you,” said a teacher. “We cannot thank you enough for what you have done.”</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH8hRr0kW_OSt_-xGfEPyek0nympfP2bwYSK8ZwzCs6GuTChF-M4zuVRCzNyUCrrFuAXvAEzqt-8mSIqBoKc6up7rUul8a_5Ves5yYQF00OKIqUjoD1v7YuJlNmNdR-EsCAiH923IA-s/s1600/VID00064-2.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508407232101831874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH8hRr0kW_OSt_-xGfEPyek0nympfP2bwYSK8ZwzCs6GuTChF-M4zuVRCzNyUCrrFuAXvAEzqt-8mSIqBoKc6up7rUul8a_5Ves5yYQF00OKIqUjoD1v7YuJlNmNdR-EsCAiH923IA-s/s200/VID00064-2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 140px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><br />
Principal Thambo, always eloquent and inspiring, said, “You are revolutionaries. A revolutionary effects change. A revolutionary makes the impossible possible. A revolutionary transforms the environment.” From Mr. Thambo, certainly a revolutionary himself, this was the highest praise.<br />
<br />
As we spoke, we noted how the teachers have inspired us over the years. “I came the first year for the learners,” Sara said, “but I didn’t realize that I would be coming for the teachers, too.” Eileen again spoke of all those who contributed to the library shipment. “This is more than a shipment of books. This is a shipment of love from so many children, so many families, so many volunteers in the U.S.” Larry closed out our comments with the inspirational song “Eyes on the Prize.” The song strikes the same themes that others touched on: hope, perseverance, overcoming obstacles. The chorus states, </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><em>Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.</em></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">As we finish our third year, we know this is a life-long commitment.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKccMwZ_rG7HzfYIci3jQOfvC59c1gG9jlUKiOFr2CeZLezumohKKLYh0KZpXktl5Hvuy4nagpi_xKFI4lccFhj5c_GYD6zTX4BNDy-FYetlJ8D9sS7944dIVPodrFA-c7yDl5dVdQXbk/s1600/Sara's+032.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508402847881149026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKccMwZ_rG7HzfYIci3jQOfvC59c1gG9jlUKiOFr2CeZLezumohKKLYh0KZpXktl5Hvuy4nagpi_xKFI4lccFhj5c_GYD6zTX4BNDy-FYetlJ8D9sS7944dIVPodrFA-c7yDl5dVdQXbk/s200/Sara's+032.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Our circle of friends there continues to expand, getting to know people like the incredible Muffy Miller who has created a quality preschool in the midst of the poorest area in the region. We are imbedded in the township and the broader community. We truly feel at home on both sides of the globe.</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">We are now back in the U.S., catching up on sleep and trying to put this moving trip into perspective. We were so glad to have not only Sara, but Cecily and Alex as part of "The Kugler Family" this year. Every member made a distinct contribution. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><em>More reflections for the future in the next blog entry.</em> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-53272714058883227272010-08-15T07:51:00.025-04:002010-08-25T18:02:24.559-04:00The roller coaster takes off<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>Books, books, where art thou, books?</em><br />
The books have arrived! ...Oh wait a minute, the books didn’t arrive. ...They are on their way to the school…. or maybe not. Welcome to life here the past few weeks.<br />
<br />
For those who have followed this project, you know the container of books was scheduled to arrive before we did, with time for adding windows and doors. But the original ship was overbooked, and our library shipment sat waiting for the next ship, with a revised arrival date of August 3.<br />
<br />
And then the roller coaster began:<br />
* The ship was delayed a few days at sea.<br />
* The shipping company decided to bypass Port Elizabeth (PE) and go straight to Durbin on the Eastern Coast and then come back to PE (delay of a week).<br />
* No! It didn’t go to Durbin because of protests at Port Elizabeth. It headed back to PE for docking last weekend. Yay!<br />
* Extremely high winds prevented the ship from docking, and it missed its scheduled berth in PE.<br />
* The ship finally docked and the shipping company informed us that the shipment would be trucked to the school on Saturday at 8 am. That meant the principal of the school had to drive an hour to be on the grounds to meet it. We would not be in the township when it arrived.<br />
* Saturday morning comes and goes. No shipping container. But wait! After frantic phone calls, Calabash Tours and Trust (who oversees and supports our placement) determines that the shipment was dropped off at the Police Station in Addo a few miles away because the truck driver “couldn’t find” the school even with explicit directions.<br />
* More frantic calls. The trucking company will return Sunday morning to move the shipment to the school grounds. Frustrated and angry Mr Thambo, the school principal, has a conversation with the shipping company representative, a racist who challenges Mr. Thambo’s right to be angry. We are appalled.<br />
* Joy! Rapture! On Sunday, the books are indeed moved to the school grounds!</span><br />
<div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKhEgMupTNMAoDQzmHJxGdLFG6Dn5PX6ypDn2ZDs0JV56sMn7wMAGbBGEMHD_2PP2qect1i5PJOLq2jdGOe326c9A3o4FJgZBOej3KKUsocTnwS2UfobLpQo9fnhLSmUDz_s5HeXeUg8/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG"></a><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, life in South Africa is never a straight path, and from what we are told, it is simil</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGxSbuifqe_y8PpoFSbQEIYYzrl4VL67Rpwt7WaV0WAjnQDBEm3L45yzq43dgy5s_icbkplUS9iEqc9BH18CDCgobFedBkrzPjIuU8q6CaNgRVfXcOtAOr3CAGb2xjrQHAdF3mbOk5bM/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505614020535572338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGxSbuifqe_y8PpoFSbQEIYYzrl4VL67Rpwt7WaV0WAjnQDBEm3L45yzq43dgy5s_icbkplUS9iEqc9BH18CDCgobFedBkrzPjIuU8q6CaNgRVfXcOtAOr3CAGb2xjrQHAdF3mbOk5bM/s200/IMG_2208.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">ar in other developing countries. You take 10 steps forward and 9 back. And there are always stories that put life in perspective. Our school still lacks telephone lines, but we learn that two schools in the cluster of seven schools that are supported by Calabash don’t have electricity because the wiring was stolen. One of those schools has power again, through wiring paid for by Calabash with outside donations, but the other school remains without electricity.<br />
<br />
We so admire the people who work in development and fight these battles on a daily basis. It is clear we must remain optimistic and rejoice in the positive changes. There is an attitude that things do work out in the end and you must persevere. As Americans, we feel the experience here is so important to our own personal growth. We rapidly stop taking things for granted.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgNsCwBe3vDQ5hHS-W8jyayB0P9nJsXoXbNgc7TC9V2qXMBKvlfA57BvwbxlcZVvrN2NErEiAZ4BTrHdt1tkn68M8-qUdLmY_z-3Egr7jOQykIF7rvhwhSighW-lJgPVaXo-FV2KLX_M/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505611103035936946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgNsCwBe3vDQ5hHS-W8jyayB0P9nJsXoXbNgc7TC9V2qXMBKvlfA57BvwbxlcZVvrN2NErEiAZ4BTrHdt1tkn68M8-qUdLmY_z-3Egr7jOQykIF7rvhwhSighW-lJgPVaXo-FV2KLX_M/s200/IMG_0289.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a>We do see many South Africans of all races taking things into their own hands. Paul from Calabash tells us of a woman in PE who </span><span style="font-family: arial;">organized an informal preschool for orphans “who nobody wants.” She runs it with the meager pension (social security) her husband gets. At night she takes home all 15 children to sleep in her small home. “Why do you do this?” Paul asks her. “How can I not do this?” she replies. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ-Ekt7pAtKGmk8qnBdwVY81tpnmedd2pI_n-L_KcTswqM2CO9vDQADqduCbrO_yZfOALnkzpSCv8BeEYwXuSFMRGnHzdsxrSHU9wRRH4DVfmUp3Km6wJjOEUM4NHcu_HSIpXQrw9msA/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505608436619837586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ-Ekt7pAtKGmk8qnBdwVY81tpnmedd2pI_n-L_KcTswqM2CO9vDQADqduCbrO_yZfOALnkzpSCv8BeEYwXuSFMRGnHzdsxrSHU9wRRH4DVfmUp3Km6wJjOEUM4NHcu_HSIpXQrw9msA/s200/IMG_0269.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
<br />
One of the elderly grandmothers in the community took Eileen to her home in the township for a short visit. As is typical with Xhosa homes, it was neat and spotless. She showed Eileen her partially built new home a few feet away. It is one of the homes built by the government to replace the old mud or metal shacks. But the government ran out of money and the house sits unfinished like so many we’ve seen. She said, “I must finish it myself. I will get cement and put it up. And then I will clean it because it must be clean. And then I will paint it myself.”<br />
<br />
So how can the Kugler family get frustrated? We have to overcome the obstacles when we can and make progress where possible. And we must continue to work so that more progress is made. Perseverance is a lesson we learn on a daily basis. </span></div><div><br />
<u><span style="font-family: arial;">Setting up the library begins </span></u></div><div><u><br />
</u><span style="font-family: arial;">We are so happy and relieved that the shipment is finally on the school grounds. There will be many volunteers from the community helping unload the container. Monday afternoon, the families will come in for a program about the library. Eileen will be sharing ways to help their children even if they don’t read English, such as looking at the book together and talking about the pictures.<br />
<br />
Last Thursday, we did a workshop for the teachers on how the library will work. Because there is no funding for a librarian and the container can’t hold all the books, the system will largely be classroom based, with teachers bringing boxes of appropriate-level </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjngHqMlX1Y0n7pnfboV_Qhq5Tweyp32gPkkI8h45xYvr0S6Z6-TGGTx_j_ZYNZZWewBFKZs3Mnvrrnq_D3cpcFzqSlV_JzYp9RyUCkCo6p9Xa8wCr_G8lGBjv9Hcq_KVAEVQ8pL_c4-o/s1600/IMG_0209.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505607498791842402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjngHqMlX1Y0n7pnfboV_Qhq5Tweyp32gPkkI8h45xYvr0S6Z6-TGGTx_j_ZYNZZWewBFKZs3Mnvrrnq_D3cpcFzqSlV_JzYp9RyUCkCo6p9Xa8wCr_G8lGBjv9Hcq_KVAEVQ8pL_c4-o/s200/IMG_0209.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">books into their rooms. Each child will have the opportunity to choose a book each night and take the card from the back of the book and put it into their clip (a clothes pin with their name) hanging in the classroom. When they return the book the next day, they will put the card back in the book and choose another book.<br />
<br />
We had a great brainstorming session with the teachers on how to make the system function well. They had wonderful ideas for dealing with issues such as a teacher being absent. They were also concerned about the books being damaged by the students. Eileen talked with them about the importance of the students using the books and not worrying whether they remain in pristine condition. “I know you often receive books that have been worn out by someone else. Now you will have new books that your students can wear out themselves. If we return and the books are in perfect condition, then we know the library was not used.” We’re setting up a system where parents can come in and repair damaged books.<br />
<br />
While we would have loved to have the library here on the first week, we see the excitement building for these books. The literacy work has created a hunger and purpose for the books, as the teachers see the impact of read-alouds and shared reading. Families are excited about the books that will be in their midst, and even when we meet new people from the community, they are aware of the library project!<br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4JMI1dn3hNMD6MMIZOWqwZ27mz4E55jKqCPsj1C0duNsvzRONdEaRjo5AJbLHTsCVW8WCjEmUZeNEaF2txf2mAmTKfwntbFpOW_AvKo-Vto_fwdP6DsydgggrR8qEa-xWo-icKsJ8lg/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505605733819276642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4JMI1dn3hNMD6MMIZOWqwZ27mz4E55jKqCPsj1C0duNsvzRONdEaRjo5AJbLHTsCVW8WCjEmUZeNEaF2txf2mAmTKfwntbFpOW_AvKo-Vto_fwdP6DsydgggrR8qEa-xWo-icKsJ8lg/s200/IMG_0165.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">We hear too many examples of books being sent to schools without any on-the-ground preparation for how they will be used (Volunteers in a school in PE discovered boxes and boxes of books in a dusty closet sent to the school by a major non-profit). We are hoping that by working with the teachers on setting up the system and using the books in the classrooms, and by working with the families on looking at the books together at home, we will indeed create a library that is used instead of becoming a protected trophy.<br />
<br />
In addition to holding the boxes of books which the teachers can look through, the container will also be converted into a library room where special programs can be held. Eileen has been working with the municipal librarian to get family reading programs organized. The municipal library will train volunteers to be story readers. Eileen already has two volunteers, one of the grandmothers from last year’s program who has excellent English skills and a young Xhosa man who works in one of the local restaurants. He loves reading himself and is eager to be a part of the library.</span></div><div><div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Progress in literacy</u></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There were great strides in literacy work this week. Most teachers de</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeFy-qF-eHBzv5FEjX0Dn-cKknxV12TCGBYqSy2wQan_H7_eNnjUmpvDDklXN6o5Nw32ApPk64Zravw7TFugVPpnaFlZ6VGNsZXfu-Yf0X8M3a4N_t589x5NhURbkQNskFJBB9FZuiew/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505606300296905138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeFy-qF-eHBzv5FEjX0Dn-cKknxV12TCGBYqSy2wQan_H7_eNnjUmpvDDklXN6o5Nw32ApPk64Zravw7TFugVPpnaFlZ6VGNsZXfu-Yf0X8M3a4N_t589x5NhURbkQNskFJBB9FZuiew/s200/IMG_0266.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">monstrated the techniques we taught them the past two years and some of the new teachers implemented the techniques we introduced just last week. One of the teachers just learning the think-pair-share said she could use the technique in all her subjects, not just teaching English. Yes!</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div></div>We have seen tremendous growth in the learner’s abilities to predict, retell and share their ideas about characters. We were especially encouraged that some of the teachers asked their learners to write about the read-aloud books and the learners constructed their own phrases and full sentences. The teachers were really excited about what they saw.</div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Wzz-O5eKb7qJQN3fAPZJTFB-lk1RkbvdZG94NMJmBRXW1L-eKJlwj4M6UYPHK-Pa9Vv4Mld1eAOYKC8pV7uV3edQUj-wGBvQFprEmvV4A4fZzdJmwHAJ2pe9bdlVfGk3Pn1aChNbtd8/s1600/IMG_2687.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505606688548470514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Wzz-O5eKb7qJQN3fAPZJTFB-lk1RkbvdZG94NMJmBRXW1L-eKJlwj4M6UYPHK-Pa9Vv4Mld1eAOYKC8pV7uV3edQUj-wGBvQFprEmvV4A4fZzdJmwHAJ2pe9bdlVfGk3Pn1aChNbtd8/s200/IMG_2687.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></span></a></span><br />
</span></div><div><div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div><u><span style="font-family: arial;">Cecily leaves her mark on literacy at Bukani</span></u><span style="font-family: arial;">Cecily Kaiser, Sara’s friend who joined us this year, has been a wonderful addition to the team. She is ever enthusiastic, hard-working, and brimming with ideas for working with the teachers. And the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">teachers love and respect her. Her love of children is evident </span><span style="font-family: arial;">every moment. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">At Cecily's final meeting with the teachers, she shared <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xSZW91qSVjkI_reE93RfZPtBZ6S0iYWgaSUWOZVeX8lEulur89-6psFit3GEVgy0vGsW3iA5wf38ftHyDKB5FSgGZLx6gDQrjvbIET3Tmf1zliVtYtYDwX8UiQBGKNn-sftLZbuxDU0/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505603861527565682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xSZW91qSVjkI_reE93RfZPtBZ6S0iYWgaSUWOZVeX8lEulur89-6psFit3GEVgy0vGsW3iA5wf38ftHyDKB5FSgGZLx6gDQrjvbIET3Tmf1zliVtYtYDwX8UiQBGKNn-sftLZbuxDU0/s200/IMG_0288.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a>how much the past two weeks have meant to her “I’ve been hearing about this work for two years from the Kuglers, but I could not imagine how wonderful this could be. I feel like I have new family on this side of the world. And I have learned so much from each of you. It is very hard to leave.” She then went out to the courtyard full of students singing songs to tell her how much they appreciated her time with them.</span> <br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><strong>There is much to be done with only one week left for Larry, Eileen and Sara.</strong> This is the point that we wish we had another month here. But it is five more days so we’ll pack in as much as we can.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-19508246234250582172010-08-09T05:35:00.029-04:002010-08-09T08:16:39.270-04:00Literacy continues (library shipment will arrive soon...)<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx9cHRZAmREuYUh-DaszuH_V0u_yeNk9Otb0sYRVyOYfSMLmjCBGoOYnGXHnsVzLPaYljaY4orAHs8UDUhM6ct_Ldy8ziSnUKjzFaSLxJScbpktCRqNqe6kibmXB0STqijtZ7tlVLQ74/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503380049905844722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx9cHRZAmREuYUh-DaszuH_V0u_yeNk9Otb0sYRVyOYfSMLmjCBGoOYnGXHnsVzLPaYljaY4orAHs8UDUhM6ct_Ldy8ziSnUKjzFaSLxJScbpktCRqNqe6kibmXB0STqijtZ7tlVLQ74/s200/IMG_0174.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">We arrived back at A.V. Bukani to hugs all around and much singing. The school welcomed back Nosango (Eileen) and Thando (Larry) and was thrilled to see Sara returning (especially now that she is pregnant. One of the women said, “Now I will be an auntie!”) They warmly welcomed new volunteers, Sara’s husband Alex <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rmk8A_BFsuguWscKDu6yQ85TnKku8O-bLte7k956RiFSAqc9Lolqv9G_9vjAjEruNezp07p90HJHPTIZkRnpGRIyHcgUnRIWG9o1kg2fbxKpBHm6lniYUPm460_aE5GW2i6mVg1cO3Q/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503373585784985970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rmk8A_BFsuguWscKDu6yQ85TnKku8O-bLte7k956RiFSAqc9Lolqv9G_9vjAjEruNezp07p90HJHPTIZkRnpGRIyHcgUnRIWG9o1kg2fbxKpBHm6lniYUPm460_aE5GW2i6mVg1cO3Q/s200/IMG_0130.JPG" border="0" /></a>Berens and Sara’s friend Cecily Kaiser, and lovingly refer to us all as “The Kugler Family.” It’s been fun to watch the experience of the first-timers and remember how overwhelming the warmth of this community is from the moment you arrive.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8noiV2SLYFLj1YEjp8HBG6cSZxmCVyGA18bTcupV4ACnCEhdHln2ptrwfQ6YgRG4R96beXhyphenhyphensBLlij6pgKecy9u_XxxFgUNs26JZVFT8dudt2ZPRalLsG0RXVqUMM9F1lHhuS6nuLFVE/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503373292083255938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8noiV2SLYFLj1YEjp8HBG6cSZxmCVyGA18bTcupV4ACnCEhdHln2ptrwfQ6YgRG4R96beXhyphenhyphensBLlij6pgKecy9u_XxxFgUNs26JZVFT8dudt2ZPRalLsG0RXVqUMM9F1lHhuS6nuLFVE/s200/IMG_0101.JPG" border="0" /></a>It has been a roller coaster of a week. The shipment of books has been delayed for a variety of reasons, but we believe it will indeed be delivered to the school next Thursday. In the meantime, we’ve been building support throughout the school and community, both within the township and the surrounding areas. Everyone is looking forward to the library opening! At our welcome ceremony, Principal Thambo said, “The founding wisdom is in books. As soon as these books arrive, we will take our students to a new future.” </span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nqRDFy7mhd823OdPVTYY1uf31G9IhvrHgaytBHoq1H32h57nfF4WgAatOKLWrv5tmJpLohZbhyphenhyphenGO3sS7x0uODp-sucwXuEv5Dh52CLVWPQ9XGaGDysZSkJ9CC5tsKFocebAQML9nPfs/s1600/IMG_2614-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503375876412694498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 156px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nqRDFy7mhd823OdPVTYY1uf31G9IhvrHgaytBHoq1H32h57nfF4WgAatOKLWrv5tmJpLohZbhyphenhyphenGO3sS7x0uODp-sucwXuEv5Dh52CLVWPQ9XGaGDysZSkJ9CC5tsKFocebAQML9nPfs/s200/IMG_2614-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Life quickly is put into perspective in South Africa. We were hoping that the school would have Internet connections this year. What we found was that the basic telephone lines to the entire township had been cut by thieves who took the copper wiring. So neither the school nor anyone in the township has had a land line …..since May. Principal Thambo keeps the school running on his cell phone, paying for “airtime” (minutes of use) out of his own pocket. Some in the township do have cell phones, and some of those have airtime on their phones. They are the link to health care, jobs, and police for others in the township. </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503373842759160130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoNIZluUrpMacPdg0fvSdYweEBk_rLYJACPO5C0Pjcq_6EmkfWyEqnxHrtcj3j5JOqTJLz7wGF-6bOiDCPGBmOdmjw00WaYcvz9diJFv7W0UDBf201vOtbO7rHkhCHXFdsGiKQdJ3gMc/s200/IMG_0053.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZLTtpl5vzsUfqOiwtp3n9SzMC4uWxuNCdsMdlq4U5QA0_TIZloiaQG8pIJBsljBCkgfbgwCBWDLcgHar9Rfwt_v53QzzBayN3o7yvXybu6-SGPe_HiXkLMEUDLUgJi82xUpTqyfJPeY/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503377176847698706" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZLTtpl5vzsUfqOiwtp3n9SzMC4uWxuNCdsMdlq4U5QA0_TIZloiaQG8pIJBsljBCkgfbgwCBWDLcgHar9Rfwt_v53QzzBayN3o7yvXybu6-SGPe_HiXkLMEUDLUgJi82xUpTqyfJPeY/s200/IMG_0098.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Eileen and Larry are enjoying being part of the Mofu family again. Both <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG77JrrHEn7Igs0j27X9dDvHRtQNF3GMoDJ4_OSJcIIb1fwYIDhT3FyQs8ZvAOPHhKZHOuifSKAKj__2DyMCVI_VDv_fuiDsM2mR6lm-4ehX14gfrefpKEWWAQmBGxw-Qugp0ZPrjCSw/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503381653143454898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG77JrrHEn7Igs0j27X9dDvHRtQNF3GMoDJ4_OSJcIIb1fwYIDhT3FyQs8ZvAOPHhKZHOuifSKAKj__2DyMCVI_VDv_fuiDsM2mR6lm-4ehX14gfrefpKEWWAQmBGxw-Qugp0ZPrjCSw/s200/IMG_0068.JPG" border="0" /></a>of the Mofu’s daughters and all 3 grandsons are living in the home again this year, and we love playing with the boys. Sara, Cecily and Alex are staying in nearby Rosedale B&B, in the midst of an organic orange farm. Rosedale owners Nomdumiso and Keith, an interracial couple, share many stories of their lives in South Africa during and after Apartheid. Sara, Cecily and Alex often walk to the Mofus after school and play with the neighborhood children. What an amazing sense of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sWNJ8jPMitU31RsOmQa53w8EYCDyZxlWaOWwSmj6ZN4dkJplHRkIV_oYlA4ASgUtN46JOInm21kmknF9z2b2FrzLfQBo_HkR6-5kWVbpT8GNAIhu0eQAKQ2fDGfKKb_wEveCiJTpLP4/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503377858727209650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sWNJ8jPMitU31RsOmQa53w8EYCDyZxlWaOWwSmj6ZN4dkJplHRkIV_oYlA4ASgUtN46JOInm21kmknF9z2b2FrzLfQBo_HkR6-5kWVbpT8GNAIhu0eQAKQ2fDGfKKb_wEveCiJTpLP4/s200/IMG_0069.JPG" border="0" /></a>community there is. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><u></u></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><u>Work in literacy expands<br /></u><br />Can it be a whole year since we’ve been in these classrooms? Impossible! </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJKBEJ8F4w22rZDQpaQ0zyy4buktE59WOxerAxEn5kE4Dk9Sh4_p_b2UKF8bikG4NZ4ioSBdttCv5IWspcYSZ1mbhUzsPGPXdcDOVkfRPzwxT7a1SIjtUtMCfyUKU7B4-mnhf4GgD5Pk/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503371959280297442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJKBEJ8F4w22rZDQpaQ0zyy4buktE59WOxerAxEn5kE4Dk9Sh4_p_b2UKF8bikG4NZ4ioSBdttCv5IWspcYSZ1mbhUzsPGPXdcDOVkfRPzwxT7a1SIjtUtMCfyUKU7B4-mnhf4GgD5Pk/s200/IMG_0164.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The familiar faces are as comfortable as those at family gatherings. We get down to work quickly after our arrival on Monday, creating a timetable (schedule) for our visits to the classrooms. The staff agrees </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIOv5vMDrI_Y4mHGeZht2zXSiCE9bGvtAeGQxAlBZGBnZkydO37XKF-TRUCZuZyWKgs8YpaRFLuwCYIGwroa51_7Ujheec-VkXbRkF7i97IwpnGvop2gsHxombJ8ayIAhljuo6pInnlk/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503372433080885090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIOv5vMDrI_Y4mHGeZht2zXSiCE9bGvtAeGQxAlBZGBnZkydO37XKF-TRUCZuZyWKgs8YpaRFLuwCYIGwroa51_7Ujheec-VkXbRkF7i97IwpnGvop2gsHxombJ8ayIAhljuo6pInnlk/s200/IMG_0160.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">that all the teachers who teach English want to learn the new methods, so we add five additional teachers to the eight we’ve been working with the past two years, modeling lessons and coaching the teachers.<br /><br />On Tuesday, Larry, Sara and Cecily begin observations in the classrooms. We watch two teachers using books we brought last year, incorporating all of the techniques we left behind. We see the learners (students) responding to questions about the story in English in phrases or full sentences, speaking as naturally as their mother tongue of Xhosa. We beam as we watch the lessons unfold. Real progress has been made as these learners have developed a comfort with speaking English in the classroom that did not even exist in Xhosa two years ago.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXo5eZd9_DDk0qZDn9vQOByWA1t4ZEr5HlHmngubghEPCij9nRxIxPOEW0oyu8lwuQXyIOVDpiIwNq30ER9QjW_HtQiMFlmLXyg6ivY-L8_rbzLFQIbB7s58jG34PCjwduMkSE2i0WiQ/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503372104479325090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXo5eZd9_DDk0qZDn9vQOByWA1t4ZEr5HlHmngubghEPCij9nRxIxPOEW0oyu8lwuQXyIOVDpiIwNq30ER9QjW_HtQiMFlmLXyg6ivY-L8_rbzLFQIbB7s58jG34PCjwduMkSE2i0WiQ/s200/IMG_0158.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br />As in any school, the level of implementation is not universal. The learners in some classes still struggle to express themselves. We talk with the teachers about the challenges they perceive, and encourage them to consistently use the techniques and materials that have yielded such rich results in other classrooms.<br /><br />The enthusiasm of some of the teachers first learning these techniques buoys us. One of them expressed a profound understanding when she stated, “I have to learn to trust my learners” – to raise her expectations of what the students are capable of. Larry, Sara and Cecily agree that we all have to trust the learners, and when we do, we are rewarded with daily growth in their engagement, participation, and use of English. </span><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><u>A fully functioning computer lab!<br /></u><br />Alex could only stay for one week, but what a week it was! He worked </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWp5jXAhDwJsLGCk_xZ4stlrybP2O2kM2Pm9AQIoUL7v1PpY3MKn6Pty3VGsqRfMub44uodHcJCfxA8KNX3xpLdxPix69MVNOnnqjBjpwwkXQvmi0oTSEfoGiWlEvB7MbjULJzeX2dEo/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503369740355447890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWp5jXAhDwJsLGCk_xZ4stlrybP2O2kM2Pm9AQIoUL7v1PpY3MKn6Pty3VGsqRfMub44uodHcJCfxA8KNX3xpLdxPix69MVNOnnqjBjpwwkXQvmi0oTSEfoGiWlEvB7MbjULJzeX2dEo/s200/IMG_0087.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">with the computer tutor in the lab, fixing and upgrading the computers A number of the older computers had been labeled beyond repair, which meant there were never enough working computers to give every learner in a class the opportunity to sit at a computer. But working diligently, Alex used his trouble-shooting skills to get a full computer lab of functioning <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvqZ7d9t2LWAQyobb56YaLT9zcELRXqroEh4MXsmWl5yMNH39ZCd1uzcuFeEJ5q50mNBrwefvlt10AQp9Z4-8ICt_TYG8zV5Hj89xNNlnikdxhA75xOdF31a_B3AD-7WPsTwCVDxpqMg/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503369891408508098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvqZ7d9t2LWAQyobb56YaLT9zcELRXqroEh4MXsmWl5yMNH39ZCd1uzcuFeEJ5q50mNBrwefvlt10AQp9Z4-8ICt_TYG8zV5Hj89xNNlnikdxhA75xOdF31a_B3AD-7WPsTwCVDxpqMg/s200/IMG_0092.JPG" border="0" /></span></a>computers. The Kugler Education Fund enabled him to purchase items to install necessary upgrades. The teachers were extremely appreciative of his work. At our welcome party, there was a special song dedicated to him! At our final staff meeting of the week, the </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">computer tutor said, “You have helped us take a big step toward fulfilling our dream of bringing this computer lab to the whole community. With all the computers working, we are making real progress.” When not in the computer lab, Alex did get a chance to watch the school soccer team practice.<br /></span><br /></span><u><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">"Thank you for reminding me why I came here” </span></u><u><br /></u><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Eileen continued her work in building bridges to the community. She was invited to speak at The Women’s Institute, a group of farmers’ wives and B&B owners in the area surrounding the township. These women help support various projects in the township, largely through fundraising. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9thbr1VhwX8iJs4EzukwLO9wmiw2_FoWI_YhHEIx3cxxv79CDOqmOrCASjGUTHhWaiKEa1Liod4JBNSjmx2bwqdrmWzox7ewNBmC46x-lhujyXnjQ_748E3P-mc1O2MXgSGYBMKEflp8/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503367878101481170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9thbr1VhwX8iJs4EzukwLO9wmiw2_FoWI_YhHEIx3cxxv79CDOqmOrCASjGUTHhWaiKEa1Liod4JBNSjmx2bwqdrmWzox7ewNBmC46x-lhujyXnjQ_748E3P-mc1O2MXgSGYBMKEflp8/s200/IMG_0106.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Eileen described the library project, but also gave details of the Kuglers’ time in the township which inspired the library. She shared the warmth and acceptance of the Xhosa community and the overwhelming welcome that keeps bringing the Kuglers back. “You have the good fortune of being just a short ride from the township, while we have to travel some 20 hours to get here,” she noted. Many of the women who had never gone into the township had tears in their eyes. One B&B owner came </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnwEPNm05cQJApsaV7vZZJwywJv1B9LHJLXkbGR7fPExsmanoqHVmUEzUAUf7G-NUt9CklZ_a57jezOZcgfP8GBzF-Mx6fkOLpZAWdQQwowz8rVBWlmfaMdwIFfR2lI-53J3UtKCv0x0/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503368639454778562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnwEPNm05cQJApsaV7vZZJwywJv1B9LHJLXkbGR7fPExsmanoqHVmUEzUAUf7G-NUt9CklZ_a57jezOZcgfP8GBzF-Mx6fkOLpZAWdQQwowz8rVBWlmfaMdwIFfR2lI-53J3UtKCv0x0/s200/IMG_0109.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">up to Eileen and said, “Thank you for reminding me why I came here. I’ve been so busy with my day to day life, I forgot.” Another said, “I started a vegetable garden at the school, and then listened to my friends who told me to let the township people take responsibility from there. I realize now I lost out on the experience of working with the township people side by side.”<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">A Xhosa man who is active in the community had been invited to hear Eileen’s presentation. He followed up, saying, “As Eileen has said, we welcome you all into the township. Please come any time and you will get a warm response. We can never achieve the Rainbow Nation if we remain separate communities of Black and white. We must integrate.”<br /><br />Eileen invited the women to come to the school after the library shipment arrives and help organize the boxes of books that were not labeled earlier. They will sit side by side with the Xhosa women in the township as equal partners. It will be quite an event.</span></div></div></div></div></div>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-9975124014048960012010-07-25T22:40:00.002-04:002010-07-25T22:45:48.416-04:00We will soon join the books in South AfricaIn just a few days, we'll be leaving for our third volunteer trip to Nomathamsanqa Township in Addo, South Africa. We can't wait to see the teachers and families of this wonderful community. And, of course, the smiling faces of the students!<br /><br />The books are still on schedule to arrive in Port Elizabeth on August 2. That's the day we'll be heading into the township to begin working with the school. We are hopeful that the shipment will get out of the port quickly and be trucked into the township by mid-week. I can't imagine what it will feel like to see that 40-ft trailer filled with books arrive on the grounds of A.V. Bukani Primary School. Yes, we will be taking lots of photos and video!!<br /><br />We had a final planning discussion with the other members of our team -- our daughter Sara, her husband Alex Berens, and her friend Cecily Kaiser. We are READY.Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-24857134121609339522010-07-13T13:45:00.005-04:002010-07-13T13:58:28.264-04:00A delay in shipping -- but we're OKWell, the books were not actually on the MSC Levina..... Paperwork that we received 10 days later showed that the shipment was bumped "due to space constraints" on the overbooked ship. We held our breath waiting to get confirmation that the shipment is on the MSC NOA, which left the port today (whew). The good news is that, pending the rest of the travel going as scheduled, we will actually be in South Africa when the shipment arrives in Port Elizabeth August 2. And, we'll get to see the library trucked into the school. So maybe that's what was supposed to happen after all. :) Smooth travels, MSC NOA.Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-14894886215832923302010-07-03T11:22:00.010-04:002010-07-03T11:43:14.763-04:00Library Shipment on its Way!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz73-TGa0AMhzwGnew0zttcaMoW_Z-6AqDrYRDz445A0QZ_5jra_F0AABc2pfkIw9WB59COT2hwTjHQbacg8wMGUUludNR8lEQPx3DM2g_B76uuld8rpW9o8dhRreFnTP37CqZwYToKB0/s1600/MSC+Levina.jpg"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489701858692434754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz73-TGa0AMhzwGnew0zttcaMoW_Z-6AqDrYRDz445A0QZ_5jra_F0AABc2pfkIw9WB59COT2hwTjHQbacg8wMGUUludNR8lEQPx3DM2g_B76uuld8rpW9o8dhRreFnTP37CqZwYToKB0/s200/MSC+Levina.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The library for A.V. Bukani is on its way! Aboard the MSC Levina (shown at right), the container of books and shelving is scheduled to arrive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on July 13. Yes, this is <em>after</em> all the World Cup excitement. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Larry, Eileen and Sara will be returning this August. We'll be joined by Sara's husband Alex and her good friend and children's literature specialist Cecily Kaiser. </span><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;">Want updates on the library's progress? Please drop us a note at </span><a href="mailto:TheKuglerFamily@gmail.com"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;">TheKuglerFamily@gmail.com</span></a> <span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">and we'll add you to our email list!</span>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-43061982191320114692010-06-10T12:05:00.010-04:002010-06-22T21:53:21.675-04:00Books Began Their Journey!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8WnpvepvO7P57sZ3zdaggKbey-UUeN7abkEplkhxGZlh4s9uvP6XAEE0YQuHJjZMVsfg4i_wyWfNlbF8hDt_Yl55MCFoMt0fHxc4g5WraNK4KfQY53TVl04_9ptH7xgYKZrlnS__sKI/s1600/moving+day.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481179649938106434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8WnpvepvO7P57sZ3zdaggKbey-UUeN7abkEplkhxGZlh4s9uvP6XAEE0YQuHJjZMVsfg4i_wyWfNlbF8hDt_Yl55MCFoMt0fHxc4g5WraNK4KfQY53TVl04_9ptH7xgYKZrlnS__sKI/s200/moving+day.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div>We did it -- and I do mean WE! Yesterday Larry and I watched some 25,000 books be stacked onto pallets, shrink wrapped, and then put into a moving van. Next stop, Chesapeake, Va., where the shipping container awaits. The shipment leaves June 19 (<em>update 6/21 - ship now scheduled to leave 6/23).<br /></em><br />As the moving van drove off, Larry and I had that little pit in our stomachs we had when our older child Sara left on that kindergarten bus. Sure, we'll see our "babies" again, but a lot will happen between now and then!<br /><br />Creating this library was far more of an undertaking than Larry and I ever imagined. We remain committed to the concept that no book would be included if it wasn't good enough for our own children; and that the books needed to be library-ready or they would just sit in boxes. We could never have done that without enormous help from dedicated volunteers. Some were long-time friends. Some were new friends we met through this process. We feel blessed to have worked alongside each one.</div><br /><div></div><div>We also appreciate the extraordinary donations that supported this project, including the shipping costs. In addition to the incredible help provided by school librarians throughout this project, the Association of School Librarians of of Fairfax County raised nearly $500 at their annual Spring tea. After reading about our project in the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/14/AR2010031402762.html">Washington Post</a>, Debby Hanrahan and Friends of Ross Elementary School, a Dupont Circle neighborhood organization, organized a fundraiser for us in Washington, with donations of more than $3000 raised in one afternoon! <strong>We thank the many, many donors who have supported this project and continue to do so. You make this possible</strong>!!</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>If you would like to contribute toward shipping costs as well as supporting the continuing project to improve literacy at A.V. Bukani Primary School, please see our page on <a href="http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/p/how-to-donate.html">"How to Donate."</a> We appreciate each donation. And you know exactly where and how it is spent.</div><br /><div></div><div></div></div>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395940536175658309.post-18671847745215202662010-05-28T13:11:00.046-04:002010-06-22T21:55:33.441-04:00The shipment of books leaves June 19!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VAHPGzlB1tXIg953iGuZZKyUur053zlkSwst14cr2tuGI7baYCTmFY0YYXxN1kmzlZh_0NbPDqsnjj-18eL24SlYdpKinj_9Beq-QTAAMbCgWORVy6i-coUY1ifcG5RJuRhT46yTbkE/s1600/DSC_0545.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476390090251360338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VAHPGzlB1tXIg953iGuZZKyUur053zlkSwst14cr2tuGI7baYCTmFY0YYXxN1kmzlZh_0NbPDqsnjj-18eL24SlYdpKinj_9Beq-QTAAMbCgWORVy6i-coUY1ifcG5RJuRhT46yTbkE/s200/DSC_0545.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As we left A.V. Bukani last year, principal Z. Thambo said to us, "I think it is time to build our library." We wholeheartedly agreed and said we would make that happen. Little did we know that this project would take over our lives the next year. But we've never had a more exhiliterating, exhausting, inspiring, overwhelming experience. We've made dozens of presentations all over the Washington, DC, region; visited wonderful sc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR06XxRpedagwPfphWgb1dYclOSJY40FRLGrQD5ZQnd3Qg42Pt9zMIBVmDIrmYdtYSbZMaKifhqgUHk6sP65hdeZtO_tEenVIl-n1KZLO8_xeQsHzLs2HR3s0xFGSh9Ge3e-Lx5vJfaw/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382794747075650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR06XxRpedagwPfphWgb1dYclOSJY40FRLGrQD5ZQnd3Qg42Pt9zMIBVmDIrmYdtYSbZMaKifhqgUHk6sP65hdeZtO_tEenVIl-n1KZLO8_xeQsHzLs2HR3s0xFGSh9Ge3e-Lx5vJfaw/s200/IMG_2861.JPG" /></span></a>hools; talked with businesses and individuals eager to help; and spent every free waking (and some we should have been sleeping) moment organizing, labeling, or boxing the books.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Did we bite off more than we could chew? Absolutely. More than we could chew alone. But with incredible support from schools, volunteers, and businesses, we've been able to feast on this project and share in its great bounty.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Last week we counted and weighed the boxes of books we are sending -- 598 boxes weighing 6 1/2 tons!! That's the size of a large adult male African elephant :) We haven't finished cataloging and labeling all the books, but we are estimating about 25,000+ books that will soon be on their way to a </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">rural township filled with people who had been forbidden to educate others or read quality books just a few years ago. <img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476380235321546450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Kgl4ArM9oTDbPUbUVFwI8oSuyClmJkjXVguVYLvKXITBdUK3DlfOgI8WnScXAhnsas9AvbZchR2a1h1nMsHMdRWZYDO4em6bwZjjdyu7BCSwt8P-tnRgUbIYrXh-fS8H_hzo4SYz0iA/s200/IMG_2798.JPG" /><br /></span><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We can't say enough about the amazing support we've had in this project. There are many individual moments -- A volunteer telling us about the time she spent in South Africa during Apartheid providing pro bono legal care to Blacks arrested for crimes such as reading forbidden books that might open their eyes to the rest of the world. Or watching high school students, with families from Sudan, Guatemala and Bolivia come to volunteer time after time to organize books for chidlren in South Africa.<br /><br />We have an incredible group of dedicated volunteers organizing the books. Many contacted <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQ-tg49O_FDhFa428xHSJbG9rALP-JDg3L1FwljPjqphplNXfYmcTUq0ZunpcAZ4V_aEifZxMmciQ7A2TjEVjjXR0dsqdRxZrw2sYlHdrncS6K50Bv3PQ03_pqVKBlkg0zlRE5qgeflU/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476379681336771874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQ-tg49O_FDhFa428xHSJbG9rALP-JDg3L1FwljPjqphplNXfYmcTUq0ZunpcAZ4V_aEifZxMmciQ7A2TjEVjjXR0dsqdRxZrw2sYlHdrncS6K50Bv3PQ03_pqVKBlkg0zlRE5qgeflU/s200/IMG_2847.JPG" /></span></a>us after reading the Washington Post article. They drive, sometimes for hours in traffic, from Gaithersburg and Centerville and Silver Spring and Alexandria week afte</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">r week, staying until they finish "just one more box."<br /><br />And the book drives! Thousands of children gave their books to other children in a far-away country, who are just as bright</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and just as hopeful, but don't have the same resources. The books are beautiful picture books, with dedicat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpVmiasnEgloxz80W4Ek0vuGw4HfsSRCtzsyT_0mzLDtZ7uH2Or4V1dQSRZPrh4Fgqwg5JJHgE_8lzHuIuCzFGk67GUtQqoquZxWleuSwMLlJM5oZb3NmtSwAB60aR9e2U_X24LiqIcI/s1600/IMG_2795.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476378005509810770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpVmiasnEgloxz80W4Ek0vuGw4HfsSRCtzsyT_0mzLDtZ7uH2Or4V1dQSRZPrh4Fgqwg5JJHgE_8lzHuIuCzFGk67GUtQqoquZxWleuSwMLlJM5oZb3NmtSwAB60aR9e2U_X24LiqIcI/s200/IMG_2795.JPG" /></span></a>ions from "grandma and grandpa" or a favorite aunt; or amazing non-fiction books that will open these students to new worlds. Parents, teachers, and students not only collected books, but sorted and labeled them.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We thank the following schools and organizations for their major book drives:<br />Fai<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC0Rr5lR8isWOOJoKAIzp5QXl_PDivE0lWM6Tui0YXQJ4rYbhVQzrvT5V7LPW58eAPPybXPk0inpaOh8uL4gdDJHTXpqmx-Ppitej2sovTEXikGe9FDM1Jx3So9tLwOkN5xLubCz-YkE/s1600/students.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476790829437360130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC0Rr5lR8isWOOJoKAIzp5QXl_PDivE0lWM6Tui0YXQJ4rYbhVQzrvT5V7LPW58eAPPybXPk0inpaOh8uL4gdDJHTXpqmx-Ppitej2sovTEXikGe9FDM1Jx3So9tLwOkN5xLubCz-YkE/s200/students.jpg" /></a>rfax County Schools Wolftrap Elementary, Dranesville Elementary, Sunrise Valley <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I4DTqRQCgpGmcOseKMPfGPGJ4rTJ2EGIIjWDwP7hYQlLzy5bdieCEkmsRC_nyMWMfLFdqZ4LraCUhfUbRxnA9uAfM06qUi4CWUFhnmJZiJ9z5Id1x7Lh5w0rsbysyTLXuuAVX4eMtsA/s1600/students.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a>Elementary, Terra Centre Elementary, and Kilmer Middle School; Loudoun County Schools including Eagle Ridge Middle School; The New School; The senior class of The Madeira School; St. Ambrose School; Faithful and True Christian Center; and Girl Scout Service Unit 42-1 of the Nations Capital. We also appreciate the help with labeling provided by Falls Church High School Life Skills Class and the Hayfield High School Leo Club.</span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHm0arV3KYKbDoJzgcm0051lCwfJfA3WIzeaM12h_l46zs3NKvCUqHrP6ZGKpl4uJSqgNA77g8EleqXRpgVd1hxNNNKpCvmzIK61XpNP9wockgrcKEUIjOlAk3PqMliB2dGYLERIuZPUs/s1600/GS+thinking+day.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476385374891579314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHm0arV3KYKbDoJzgcm0051lCwfJfA3WIzeaM12h_l46zs3NKvCUqHrP6ZGKpl4uJSqgNA77g8EleqXRpgVd1hxNNNKpCvmzIK61XpNP9wockgrcKEUIjOlAk3PqMliB2dGYLERIuZPUs/s200/GS+thinking+day.jpg" /></span></a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The books donated through book drives or directly to us have been of such wonderful quality. We are blown away with the caring that went into these donations. We are particularly grateful to a number of recently retired teachers who donated their prized personal libraries. </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There are so many ways people have supported this project -- </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">from librarian Katalin Mouyal who ferreted out all the book pockets in DC so we could make our books library-ready; to the Dranesville 3rd grade teachers and students who organized the book drive for the entire school; to parent Amy Beck who did her own personal book drive and handed over 1200 books, all sorted and labeled by her family; to 8-year-old Andrew Strasb<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7qVUCfhkrbrg87fL_LuimeIPO0cn2l4hyphenhyphen4YAdAG-8T6KpN8k_Ju8vNyzA2Jk8xD_jRUQJwnEYXoM3pTbj52ojeGL_CctRKTOY0XIvyxBUdnRvEmgikE0H3OCzby_23vlye4FwCQ7sYE/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476792500278827058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7qVUCfhkrbrg87fL_LuimeIPO0cn2l4hyphenhyphen4YAdAG-8T6KpN8k_Ju8vNyzA2Jk8xD_jRUQJwnEYXoM3pTbj52ojeGL_CctRKTOY0XIvyxBUdnRvEmgikE0H3OCzby_23vlye4FwCQ7sYE/s200/IMG_2772.JPG" /></a>erg who secured several hundred donated books from his school librarian and then worked with his friends to make sure each one had a library pockets and blank card; to Loudoun County School librarian Lelah Sullivan who organized a book drive in multiple schools in Loudoun and then delivered 30 boxes of sorted and labeled books; to Roni Silverstein who collected books from fellow administrators in Montgomery County Public Schools; to Sunrise Valley Elementary teacher Anisha Goveas-Foti who became committed to this project after hearing our presentation and spent countless hours organizing books both at her school and at our home. Many, many others donated their time and resources in creative ways.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We've also had wonderful support from businesses, including Burness Communications of Bethesda which has supported this project through much-needed grants both this year and last. Telegraph Storage was generous and supportive by providing storage space and collecting books in the office. Ron Escopete of Cargo One has been a true source of knowledge and support, handling the shipment on its way to South Africa. And our dear friend Dan (who wants to remain anonymous so I won't print his last name) whose help and expertise in international shipping made this all possible. Please read about the businesses that have supported this project in </span><a href="http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/p/our-supporters.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Our Supporters</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">" page.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We thank our very generous contributors. While much of the labor is being donated, <strong>shipping costs will be about $15,000,</strong> including purchase of the shipping container and fitting it with doors, windows and electricity (yes, the costs do keep going up). We have raised about $9000 so far. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxq3vnZjh-v6ukPIhcoa6GANsmGGgEoCSzRq-3kyOdj8q5RzY6m3OiUTG_r7wJpETGjF3UYyXxevJKXy6TGTPlpcIRGcPxw0iKCrBQSlMSok6qSMYD4RfbilZ6sARlI_5A8ZNjt0AiJ0/s1600/books1.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#990000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476389144684494914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxq3vnZjh-v6ukPIhcoa6GANsmGGgEoCSzRq-3kyOdj8q5RzY6m3OiUTG_r7wJpETGjF3UYyXxevJKXy6TGTPlpcIRGcPxw0iKCrBQSlMSok6qSMYD4RfbilZ6sARlI_5A8ZNjt0AiJ0/s200/books1.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#990000;"> </span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">If you would like to help pay the cost of shipping this wonderful library to A.V. Bukani school, please see </span></strong><a href="http://kuglersinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/p/how-to-donate.html"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">"How to donate"</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> page</span><br /></span></strong></div><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">The shipment leaves June 17!!</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Larry, Sara and I will be returning in August to set up the library, help the teachers use the books in their instruction, and work with the families on how to get the most out of a library. This time we'll be joined with Sara's husband Alex Berens, her college roommate Cecile Kaiser, and Sunrise Valley Elementary School teacher Anisha Goveas-Foti. What a team! We cannot wait.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Eileen and Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927718216522609694noreply@blogger.com1