This week has been filled with giving DIBELS tests to Moroni High School students. The work is hot and sweaty because we are in the classrooms with the teachers and students. I doubt if American teachers would be willing to work in such circumstances. The information from the DIBELS testing will be given to the teachers who will hopefully provide additional help to the low readers. Testing each student takes about 10 minutes, so we can only do 6 or 7 students per 80 minute class. With the teacher, Taanari, and Elder and Sister Sumner all giving tests, we can do most of a small class in one period. Larger classes take 2 periods.
This picture shows Taanari giving a DIBELS test. She is a returned missionary who helps out around the campus, sometimes working as a substitute teacher as well. This picture shows a typical classroom on our campus. Note the open louver style windows. They are left open during the day to allow cooling sea breezes to blow through the classrooms. Unfortunately, they also allow insects and noise into the classrooms.
One of our school goals is to have every student pass their National and Regional Exams at the end of the school year. One of the things our new principal has started to help reach that goal is providing 2 hour-long study halls 3 times per week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Saturday afternoon. Two teachers are assigned to be at these study halls on a weekly rotating basis. This means that about once every 10 weeks, teachers are required to put in an additional 6 hours besides their regular teaching and contract hours. This would not go over well in the U.S. I think.
This is one of our math teachers, Maerere, teaching during a study hall. Since I taught math in high school, I have been very interested in observing the math classes here. They learn exactly the same things I taught in algebra 2, pre-calculus, and geometry in Utah. They also learn 1st year calculus. These students, however, take their math classes more seriously than their American counterparts.
Boutara is teaching English during the study hall session, which lasts from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She is our English Head of Department (HOD), and one of the teachers who earned her BYUH teaching certificate while we were here. As we have given hundreds of DIBELS tests to the Moroni H.S. students, we understand what a great challenge she and the other English teachers face. While most students can decode English words reasonably well, they understand only poorly what they read. I wish reading and reading comprehension were taught here as a separate course to give students more exposure to the English language.
On Wednesday, February 17th, our last Zone Conference was held. As usual, the senior sisters put together a wonderful meal for about 40 people. From left to right are Sisters Jenks, Waldron, Olson, and Sumner. Their cooking is as beautiful as their smiles.
Here they are hard at work. Notice the use of plastic gloves!! We had to ask for them to be brought from New Zealand since we couldn't find any store in Tarawa that sold them. Sister Olson, in the read dress, used to be a kitchen manager for a school lunchroom, so she is a natural when it comes to organizing these things. With Sister Alldredge's departure last week, and after we leave next week, they'll be down to three sisters left to do the cooking.
Chow time! Ladies first, of course.
Even though we had chairs enough for everyone, many still choose to eat on the floor the Kiribati way.
After the lunch, missionaries departing before the next zone conference were given the opportunity to bear their testimonies. This is always a tearful time but richly filled with the Spirit.
Thursday evening the candidates for the Counseling Certificates presented a fireside for parents to make them aware of all the helps available from the counseling department. This picture was taken just before we started. Fortunately we had more come as the program progressed.
On Friday I was asked by the group of volunteer dentists who are here to wire up a transformer so they could operated their 120 Volt AC electric dental chairs on 240 Volts AC. Earlier I was able to help them figure out how to get an air compressor working properly. I had to smile when Wayne Chisholm, one of the volunteer dentists called me "McGyver"
Saturday afternoon we were invited to join President and Sister Weir and the other departing missionaries for a lovely brunch and farewell meeting. After the meal, we listened to a marvelous talk by Jeffery R. Holland, "The First Great Commandment", that he gave at the October 2012 General Conference. It was a powerful witness of the Savior and His mission and what it means to love the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. We again shared testimonies and felt the power of the Spirit.
Our week ended, as so many do, with a sweet baptismal service. The Elder on the left, Elder Iera, is getting ready to leave for the MTC, but in the meantime, is doing splits with the full time missionaries. We are so very proud of him. He is a wonderful young man whom we got to know quite a bit last year when he served as the class president and Salutatorian.
Here Beretemwa (Elder Iera) delivers a talk on baptism in the maneaba right next to the ocean where the baptism was performed. We will truly miss the bright young faces and testimonies of the elders and sisters and their new converts. The Lord is pouring out his spirit on these people.
Yesterday we were all invited to view a live presentation of the cultural program prepared fort the rededication of the Fiji Temple. The program was cut short and many who had prepared did not have a chance to perform. They were anxious to get people home before the curfew enacted because of Cyclone Winston arriving. We followed the progress of the storm on the computer, wondering if they would have to postpone the dedication. As the cyclone touched land, it turned and went another direction, sparing Suva from the worst of the storm. Many will say that it was just a chance of nature because of the mountains on the land,. We, however, believe that it was another small miracle sent by the Lord so that the dedication could proceed. "The winds and waves still know the voice of Him who ruled them while he dwelt below."
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