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!
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!
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