Happy Hollow Happenings: TEACHING AT NEW DAY

As retired teachers we assumed we would have some part in helping out at the New Day School. We each stepped right into teaching two of our three grandchildren here-Ron teaching Caedmon sixth grade science and Dee teaching Cambree 5th grade Language Arts. Dee also took over Laurie Wilcox's Language Arts class while they were in South Africa and will continue teaching these students until the Wilcoxes return from stateside in January. After ten years of retirement for Dee and five years for Ron we find the return to teaching to be sometimes challenging, always fulfilling and truly a blessing to return to the call God placed on each of us so many years ago. And what a treat it is to be able to help teach our own grandchildren! In August we will head to Isoka and be able to assist Dawnya, our oldest daughter, begin their next year of home school with an 8th, 7th, 5th and 3rd grader. That post will come later! You will notice there are just a few differences between school in the states and here! The children have a morning devotion each day at 7:40 am led by a different staff member; they then gather at the school and a student leads them in the Zambian National Anthem and some light student led calisthenics before the bell rings at 9 am for class. At 10am the kids head to the dining room for a nutritious snack and recess until 10:30am. Two more one hour classes close the morning at 12:30 for lunch break until 2pm. All students have reading tutoring/instruction from 2-2:30 and then it is homework and library time until 3:30. Dee assists students individually and Ron is the library guy for that hour. Children also have special classes like computer, music, art and PE . The Zambian school year is made up of three terms with the second term over on July 29 and the third term beginning September 5 through November 25. The new school year will start January 9, 2017. Ron only has the Science class three mornings a week leaving him available to sub, but he loves hanging with the kids for their breakfast and morning break each day and calls this MBWA -- Management by Wandering Around. We have been in Zambia exactly one month today, July 17. What a GREAT RETIREMENT!! We will be in ISOKA during most of August. Be looking for our next 2 blogs about Saturday's KIDS CLUB, and our worship experiences thus far. This life changing Orphanage could not happen without the prayers and support of so many in America who understand GLOBAL MISSIONS. Twalumba!