KG2 Graduation and the End of the School Year

Well, the last few weeks have been very busy.  We've been preparing for our big graduation program.  Students will sing songs in Arabic and English, so we've been practicing extra hard.  This blog will contain mostly pictures about our experience.

The morning of graduation was one of excitement for all...teachers, students, and parents. Families purchased caps and gowns that were sewn by the local tailors in town.  Children were measured and each individually sewn.  Here are a few of our pictures:

The girls are dressed in formal dresses.  I would call them mini ball gowns/prom dresses.  Floor length with puffy skirts and lots of ornate decorations.  Girls were all glammed (is that a word?) out with makeup and very mature hairstyles.  Boys wore white kandoras.  Everyone looked very nice.

After getting everyone dressed, we headed over to the auditorium, which looks like a nice movie theater.  Teachers attempted to save seats for the students and have parents sit on the top level...success (quite an accomplishment....thanks to admin for helping this happen).  We marched in from the side door and walked to our assigned spots without any problems.  Students sang "Wheels on the Bus" in English with all the hand gestures.  They particularly like the "horn"...beep, beep, beep.  Must say, they did a great job.  Then, they sang a song in Arabic lead by the Arabic teachers.  I have no idea what they said, but helped with the hand gestures as best I could.

Then, all classes exited the stage to prepare for the individual class presentations.  KG2A went first, then KG2B, KG2C, and then our turn.  Here we are on stage (I'm down front):

We sang "Days of the Week" to the Munster's theme, "Months of the Year" and "I'm a Little Star" to the "I'm a Little Teapot" music.  The children did very well.  Then, the children sang a song in Arabic about learning to read.  Here they are performing:

Mrs. Hanaa did a good job working with them.  I helped with the hand signals.  Parents loved it!
Then, we walked across the stage and received our "fake" diplomas and shook the principal's hand.  Took lots of pictures with Mommas.

After KG2E finished, there were two final songs with select students from each class.  Here is a picture of one of my students during the performance.  Her dress is gorgeous!

After graduation, we headed back to the room for our big party, the "gift", and the real KG bilingual diplomas.  Here is what they look like (forgive the glare):

As a gift, students will receive a bilingual book, Brown Bear Brown Bear.

The students loved it.  When we read a story in English, I read the page first and then Mrs. Hanaa translates it into Arabic.  The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of their favorites and they were so happy to get a book with pictures by Eric Carle.

Parties...Arabic people know how to do this very well. Every mother brings something for the party.  Unlike in America, there is no list or sign up or class Mom to help facilitate. Parents bring whatever they like.There were 8 cakes, 150 bags of chips, countless kinds of chocolate candies, juices, etc.  Every Mom wants you to cut their child's cake and share with the others.  These cakes are very ornate.  Ours ranged from a cake shaped like Sponge Bob to HUGE cakes covered with fruit and caramel sauce (my favorite :)  ).  Unfortunately I can't show you any pictures from the party because Arabic women do not allow you to take their pictures.  Trust me, it was quite the throw down.

As the party came to an end, the parents began to get ready to pack up.   Arabic people don't usually hug, but shake hands or kiss on the cheek if they feel close to you.  When Moms started to the door, the kissing on the cheek began...a compliment and many said "Thank you" or "Shukran" in Arabic.  I hugged each of my babies on the way out of the door.  It hit me then that tomorrow I wouldn't see them anymore. Definitely going to miss them, but glad the school year is over.  We all need rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

The temps outside are already hovering around 108 and feels like 115..expected only to get hotter.  School is not officially over for the older children until June 13, but most of the students at Al Wagan will not come anymore because we had KG2 and 5th grade boys and 5th grade girls graduations this week (Remember after KG2, students are divided into the boys school and girls school).  The air conditioner has been broken for the last two days and its brutally hot.  Today maintenance came and resolved the problem.

My last day of work is July 4 (Truly Independence Day :) ). So basically, there are 4 weeks during which we will pack up rooms, do professional development, and do curriculum planning for next year.  I can't tell you how nice it was to walk into my school last year with lesson plans already written. I benefited so much from the work of my KG comrades last summer.  Look forward to helping the newbies coming in.  These will be LONG weeks, but thankful for the time to get things ready for next year.

Teachers who work here, sign two year contracts.  Some don't make it past the first few months and leave to go home (some legally...following checkout procedures and some not so legally....leave in the middle of the night).  I'm proud to say that I made it!  Without Hanaa, my friends in KG at Al Wagan, Andrea Brown, and Nicole Cruz, I wouldn't have made it.  A support system is so important when home is over 7,000 miles away.  Being away from your family is the hardest part. Thank goodness for Skype and Facebook, which helped me see and talk to my family.  Can't wait to get big hugs when I see them on July 27.  Oh, and can't wait to see all my friends and get big hugs from them!  :)  Until we meet again!  

I LOVE YOU!

This week the weather has continued to be cloudy, cooler, and strange.  There was a sandstorm and it rained on the same day.  The temps have been in the 80's most of the week and rained almost every day.  In Oman, the country which borders the UAE, there has been flooding.  There are no "ditches" or draining systems and the area is not used to this much rain at once.  The drivers are not used to driving in the rain. If you've never driven here, the drivers drive fast and brake at the last minute.  Change lanes at the last minute and dodge in and out of traffic like a Nascar driver. Not good for wet pavement.  I have seen more accidents the past two weeks than my entire time here. 

Found an article on the Arabic version of Yahoo that talked about cloud seeding.  On April 21, planes flew above the clouds and dropped either dry ice or silver iodide into the cloud.  This causes condensation when it freezes and rain.  Hail can be caused by this process.  Remember last week we had hail, which is rare here.  More evidence that the Meteorological Society is messing with Mother Nature.  One thing you should never do, because she comes back with a vengeance (My opinion).  Luckily, the weather is supposed to be changing soon and returning back to the upper 90's next week. 

The children are very antsy, just like at home when the weather changes.  We've had a fun filled week learning about plants.  Each day, we studied about a different part of the plant.  On Sunday, I brought in seeds to eat.  They loved pumpkin seeds and peanuts.  Monday, brought in roots to eat.  Loved carrots, turnips,scallions, and didn't care for radishes and beets.  Tuesday, brought in stems.  Loved celery and didn't care for asparagus. Lettuce, cabbage, red cabbage were big hits and spinach was a big dislike.  Lastly, we ate flowers/fruit.  Apples, blueberries, tomatoes, and pears received a big thumbs up.  Squash blossoms, broccoli, cauliflower, lemons, and limes were a big thumbs down.  I LOVED seeing their faces as they tried new "healthy" food.  A big joy for me being a part of exposing them to new things. 

Our lima beans seed sprouted and had to replant about half due to the soil saturation from the storms last week.  The children loved coming in each morning checking their cup to see if their were roots or a sprout.  Love to see them excited about learning :)

May began with a bang here.  Found out at a Faculty Meeting that KG graduation will be May 28.  One week earlier than we thought, so pressure is on. All the KG students will sing one song in English and one song in Arabic as a group.  English song is "Wheels on the Bus" with all the hand signals.  Each teacher had been using different versions during the year, so had to come to agreement about which to use.  The Arabic Music teacher is working on the Arabic song with the students.

In addition, each class must sing songs in English and Arabic as a group.  My class is KG2D.  We will sing Days of the Week (to the tune of the Munsters music), Months of the Year, and I'm a STAR (to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot).  Worked really hard on these songs this week and had practice in our auditorium.  Practiced how to walk on the stage, where to stand, practiced the KG songs, and each individual class practiced their songs.  The children did very well, but we have much practice before the big day. 

When we were lining up to leave the auditorium, one of my students signed I (pointed to himself) Love (crossed himself), and U (pointed to me).  I said, "Yes, that's our song!"  He said, "No, I LOVE YOU!"  I said, "I LOVE YOU 2!"  Brought tears to my eyes.  Moments like this make everything worth it. Helped me feel like I'd really bonded with him and that he would remember me :)

I LOVE MY BABIES and when teaching a class, they become part of my family.  Know this might sound strange to those of you who are not teachers, but you spend so much time and put so much energy into their education, that you are joined forever.  When they're 18 and you run into them at WalMart, you are still a ROCK STAR!  I LOVE BEING A TEACHER!!!!! 

This job has really rejuvenated my fire for teaching.  The children are so much fun and love going to work each day to see what it holds.  Yes, there are days when I drag my weary body home and wonder why did I do this.  Days like today are the reason.  Until we meet again :)