An Unexpected Blessing

I was sitting at my desk before school one morning this week when two gentlemen (my students) walked into my room bearing gifts: eggs over easy and a caramel iced coffee.  This was a first.  So, I stopped grading and enjoyed my breakfast.  They later explained that no one else had shown up for their before-school meeting, so they had decided to make breakfast and shared it with me.  

A 1950s Birthday Party

First of all, it was 1950s day at school, so I had to wear that poodle skirt I'd made a few years ago for the Diner Dinner.  And I had some great company.  

Then, a week before, I had made it through the whole day without the students finding out that it was my birthday.  When the seniors figured it out a week later and asked if they could throw me a party, I couldn't resist.  And it just so happened that it was the 1950s day the same day that it worked out to have the birthday party.  They ordered pizza and presented me with a fabulous cake.  Then they added in fruit, flowers, truffles, and a lot of fun.   This week, they're on their senior trip to Wyoming, and I must admit that I do miss them a lot.  

Three Teachers, a College Student, and a Happily Married Lady

This past summer we had the privilege of being in contact with all five of the graduates of the Lott Mennonite School Class of 2015.  The most encouraging fact is that our former students are all doing well, and they are all giving back and contributing to their communities in different ways.  That is a blessing.  Here they are in alphabetical order.  

Timothy Fisher, pictured above, is in his second year teaching the upper grade students at Lott Mennonite School.  He shares his love of music by keeping them singing and even got together a men's ensemble with his students last year.  

Jerilyn Friesen (now Enns) got married last year to Walter Enns, and the happy couple now resides in Gonzales, Tamaulipas, Mexico.  Recently, they taught a group of community children at a Bible school held by their church, Steinbach Kleinegemeinde Church.

Lexi Miller is in her second year studying Christian Missions at Faith Builders in Guys Mills, Pennsylvania. After finishing her studies at FB, she plans to continue her education.  Before moving to Pennsylvania, she tutored students at Lott Mennonite School for two years. 

Joseph Swanson is in his second year teaching science classes full-time at Faith Mennonite High School in Kinzers, PA.  He also works part time at Good's Store in the hardware department.  

Diana Wesselink is currently teaching kindergarten to second grade students at Strong Tower Christian Academy in Rosebud, Texas.  Prior to this, she spent two years teaching first and second grades at Lott Mennonite School in Lott, Texas.  

And here they all were five years ago, graduating from Lott Mennonite School in May of 2015.  It is such a rich gift from God to have both good memories and good updates.  

Together Again!

Four cars full of our former students from Texas pulled into our driveway to visit us this past Saturday.  It was fabulous to see them, and fabulous to all be together again.  Best of all, they are all healthy, happy, and doing well.  That makes teachers happy.  

Flashback:

These two are in the back row, 2nd and 5th from the left. 

And three of the five graduates from 2015 were there.

The Last Day of School 2020

To celebrate the last official day of school for the 2020 Covid-19 school year, all of the teachers at Shalom Mennonite School were awaiting our students as they drove through to drop off their final papers.  We made it as festive as we could considering the cold, rain, and Covid-19.  This is a year we will certainly not forget.

The poster making crew wanted to make sure that our students keep up their spelling and proofreading skills throughout the summer.  




All photos (except the misspelled one) were taken by Lorida Burkholder from Ad Lib Photography.

Home Run! Oops . . .

I was sitting at my desk grading research papers and dropping bits of cheese and crackers on them when I heard a loud cracking sound.  Hmm, that sounded like breaking glass, I thought.  And it was.  I pulled myself away from my students' super interesting papers and ventured out of my classroom door.  I was one of the first to arrive at THE WINDOW.  One of my eighth grade sluggers had hit the ball from the softball field which can be seen in the far distance, and after bouncing just once, it smashed into the window.  It's just that time of year again.  

Falling Off a Cart at the Store

      This picture really should have gone in my “working together” post, but it didn’t, so here it is now.  And here is the story behind it.  We had to go shopping to get all the food and decorations for the graduation reception and the last honor roll party that the 7th-12th graders were preparing for the rest of the students.  We arrived at the store, got a cart, and loaded up the humans.  You see, the other four upper-grades gentlemen had other plans that evening, and so it was that we ended up with just one gentleman.  And, being a true gentleman, he offered to give the ladies a ride while the cart was not yet full of groceries.  Things were going pretty well until he went around a corner and one of the ladies tumbled off and went splat in the aisle in front of a man and his family.  She was right in his path, and so he had to veer around her.  Fortunately, he was extremely good-natured and laughed and talked to us a bit.  Being the teacher here, I had to put an end to the fun as it was getting a little dangerous and I didn’t want any of the students in my charge to be run over by a grocery cart.  When you spend time with remarkable people 1.) it is never boring and 2.) it is always fun.  And my students are remarkable people.  

Graduation 2015!

      I’ve been to quite a few graduation ceremonies over the years, including four at the high school from which I graduated where the band members (including me) had to play Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance for almost two hours straight while over five hundred graduates walked across the stage.  But, the most recent graduation ceremony I attended was quite special.  

     These five students have been through a lot together.  They have worked exceptionally hard taking classes above and beyond the “normal” requirements (Algebra I and II, Spanish, Marine Biology, Human Anatomy. . . .)  They have worked together for four years studying, making study guides and sharing them, quizzing each other, writing endless essays for my English and history classes, performing dissections, and discussing Biblical doctrine.  They have also thrown a lot of frisbees, perfected their softball technique, and shared a lot of meals, honor roll parties, and  after-school work projects.  They also have fun (see the last picture).  

     So, it was with a lot of emotion that we celebrated their graduation with them.  We had shared so many precious moments together and have so many marvelous memories.  And with this ceremony-- (or within two days anyway),  it is all over.  We will all go our separate ways, and while we will still see each other at times, it will be so different.  

     I am so happy for each one of these special people, and I am looking forward to hearing what they will accomplish in the future.  

They planned a Mexican fiesta celebration for after the graduation ceremony.  

the Lott Mennonite School Class of 2015

L to R -  front row:  Diana Wesselink, Alexis Miller, Jerilyn Friesen, 

back row:  Joseph Swanson, Tim Fisher

I just love this picture.

Many Hands Make Light Work - Preparing for Graduation

 

     After our graduation ceremony and year-end program slide show, one of my teacher friends remarked, “It looks like your students really work together well.”  And it is true--they do.  But this did not just happen by osmosis.  There are several ways that this has been encouraged over the last several years including teaching compassion for others, making the environment safe for students to share their opinions, teaching the students to respect each others’ opinions, and pairing them up with “buddies” weekly for art projects and at every field trip.  Through all of these they learn to appreciate each other, respect each other, and to be responsible for those younger and weaker than they.  

     So, I had not really thought about it, but I had to answer, “Yes, they really do.”  They work together really well, and we are all blessed because of it.  Working together is so much fun.  The last week of school the “red room” (grades 7-12) worked together on two big projects:  the graduation reception and the Civil War honor roll party they hosted for all the younger students. Here are some pictures of them the day before graduation as they prepared a Mexican fiesta.  All five of the graduates had a younger sibling in the school, so it was decided that they would be the servers.  Other red room students showed up too, just to help for fun.  And it is a lot of fun working with these incredible people. 

Christmas Memories

      Our Christmas program went pretty well.  The ladies looked lovely in their classy gray plaid dresses, and we remembered most of the sign language when we sang “The Lord’s Prayer” (credit for that idea goes to +Gwendolyn Good from Shenandoah Christian Music Camp Children’s Choir).

      Learning was going on after the program too with the class of 2025.

      Now we are back in the swing of things, spending time at the library researching topics for the junior and senior research papers, and anxiously awaiting February Fun Days.  

Falling Down the Steps While Having a Golf Disc Thrown at My Head

     Once again it was time for our fall disc golf excursion.  We picked a course in Temple which we had never played before.  It was a beautiful, crisp fall day.  The man picking pecans on hole 6 didn’t mind us a bit.  We just yelled, "Fore!" and kept going.

     Ladies in skirts and veils on disc golf courses always attract a lot of attention.  We only had a few photos snapped of us this day. 

     The ponds claimed three of our discs, but we reclaimed them.  

     We always take time to notice interesting science--like this spider web,

and this eagle--just kidding, sort of.  It was an eagle kite, which one student retrieved and flew.  

     And there are always ample photo opportunities, including the now-obligatory disc golf on girls’ heads shot.  

     I actually fell down these limestone steps while trying to hurry and get this photo and get out of the way of the gentlemen who were throwing frisbees at our heads.  Ok, only one of them threw one, and my husband made the rest wait until we were safely out of their line of fire.     

Thankful for My Students

       The last day of school before Thanksgiving break we always have a little celebration.  The home economics class was required to fix party snacks for one of their assignments, so they decided to do it for the school Thanksgiving party.  We enjoyed chicken biscuit sandwiches, English muffin pizzas, puppy chow, pumpkin rolls, punch, and jello jigglers.

      The unofficial Lott School band played two tunes, we ate, and then read a few short stories related to American history.  Although I enjoyed my break immensely, it was nice to be back to school today.  Blessings!

Flamingos and Friends at Garage Sales

     The first Saturday in November is the day for “Rosebud’s 100+ Garage Sales”.  Even though some of our men were singing in the Southern Singers Men's Chorus, the rest of us grabbed our jackets and held our now annual hot dog and bake sale.  

  

     The night before most of the ladies met to bake and have a little party.  It was Lexi’s fifteenth birthday, and they celebrated in style.  Diana made this amazing cake, the other junior high and high school ladies decorated the room, and we all had a great time--even when the umbrella tipped over and spilled a few drinks.  

     The next morning they were at our house at 5:30 a.m.  I can’t even drink coffee at that hour.  They added breakfast burritos to the menu and they were delicious. I know because I bought one.  Then I bought my neighbor one.  Then another neighbor came and bought twelve.  Eventually we sold out, but that was all right because the gentlemen had fired up the grill and were making hot dogs and fabulous-smelling grilled onions and peppers.  

     The younger students had their own table and sold homemade punch and yummy blueberry and banana muffins.  I ate some and they were so good I bought my neighbor one, too.  

      After the crowds dwindled down they began riding bicycles and taking turns swinging on a homemade swing.  It was a tiring, but delectable and delightful day.