Christmas Party!

This year we celebrated Christmas by holding an all-day party the last day of school.. we had a great time making ornaments, decorating Christmas cookies, racing in relays, and singing Christmas songs. The kids had a blast!... and even though there was no snow, I think everyone got into the Christmas sprit...

Vielka eating cake- to celebrate Jesus' birthday!

Crash!
opps... pictures out of order...
here's the pyramid still standing

RELAYS!!!

in oversized christmas-colored clothes

and Santa hats!

Go Go Go!

Look how great those shorts fit...

Hold them up!

Cam in the shorts, Emily in the shirt, Gabi in the Hat- team Green Santa is ready to go...

Lexi get that shirt on and the red team will be ready too!

Making Christmas Cards!

La Escuela en Cerros

Today, we went out with the class to visit a school in Cerros, a small community back in the Palm Plantations. The school is referred to as the "chicken coop school". The kids at the school, knowing the tourist industry of next-door-Quepos/Manuel Antonio, want to learn english, but schools with less then thirty students don't receive the funding to hire an English teacher. This multi-age class only has 13 students, from 1st to 6th grade. The teacher was explaining to us that they learn English off of a daily radio broadcast, but since there is not electricity at the school, they need to use a battery operated radio. The radio uses a lot of battery power, so they have only been able to have about three English classes. We are hoping to build a relationship with the teacher and students by coming out on a regular basis and having a shared English class with the students there. Education is valued in Costa Rica, and the teacher displays this commitment, but it was an eye opening experience of the wide range of schools and resources even in our neighborhood.

Elliot playing soccer with some of the kids

Aleasha sharing "Larry, el chico sucio" with the students in Cerros

The Teacher with students from our school and theirs

Making a book...

As a literary exercise, the class re-wrote the story "Harry, el perro sucio" (Harry, the dirty dog), writing about "Larry, the dirty boy". The kids wrote out the story, Elliot illustrated, and everyone helped color!

Elliot's Art Classes!

As many of you know, Elliot has decided to come and hang out with me in Costa Rica for the next six weeks. I am thrilled to have him! He will be volunteering at the school, teaching art and gym, until Christmas Break.

Elliot has only been in the classroom three days, but the kids LOVE him! Not only to they play "don't let the ball touch you when you are jumping on the tramp", they have already finished a few art projects!

Project number 1.... MONKEYS! Below, Cam shows off the Kindergarten work...

Flamingos!

Sentinel Article

I got a call on my Costa Rican cell phone from a Holland Sentinel writer :)

Click on the link to read the article...

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/homepage/x593069657/ZCS-reaching-out-to-Costa-Rica

Quality Car Wash Fundraiser!

Saturday, September 26!

Thanks to everyone who showed up to the fundraiser! We had JQ broadcasting, a dunk tank, and Many of you came and filled up and bought coffee and jewelry... and with the help of a matching donor we raised a little over $8000 for the school!! Praise God!

A special thanks to the Essenburg family for hosting and promoting, to Elliot and the soccer team for pumping gas and promoting sales, to Bill and those who braved the dunk tank, and to Julie who held a sign for a good three hours! Love you all and appreciate your willingness to help!

Here on the Costa Rican side of things, we are moving forward, and think we may have found a great site for the school... updates to come!

Costa Rican coffee, jewelry and homemade salsa for sale!

Nikki checking out the signs and pictures that we sent from Costa Rica





Bill in the dunk tank...



Diego handing out the balls...

And...



He's dunked.



WJQ broadcasting live!

Class picture

Our class with the signs and flags we made to send with the Essenburgs for the fundraiser on the 26th! And, praise God, we have one more student and three prospective students coming to check out the classroom tomorrow!

Singing! Those who know me know how far I have come if I am leading ANYONE, let alone five year olds, in singing. But they love it! It is a fun way to learn language as well! The tico students' favorite song is "I've got the Joy!". They ask to sing it every day.