hopkins june newsletter
TRANSCRIPT
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Year of Faith! June 24, 2013
Mabuhay Bienvenidos, Welcome
We went into this last school
year with uncertainty and a lack
of resources but we made it
through. Last August, Spanish II students
eagerly entered the classroom to finish their
foreign language requirement and Spanish I
students came to learn a new language they were
curious about. Some had heard that the Spanishclasses were fun, some were just ready to kick
back, and the students new to Faith Academy
were wide-eyed and unsure of what was going to
happen next. The week leading up to classes
involved furniture moving and preparing the
classroom. The first four weeks of school I
spent a lot of time coordinating with the other
foreign language teachers helping them settle
into their classrooms and work spaces and
manage their administrative tasks. I think I did
not get seated at my desk and focus on my own
lessons plans until September. Soon after that I
found out I would be sharing the classroom and
so I shifted my work area to the back office and
this took some getting used to.
Twelve students returned from the previous
year to take Spanish level II. About seven other
students tried to get into the class but could not
fit it into their schedules. Spanish level I
quickly filled to capacity of 24, which meant
that some students would have to wait until nextyear for Spanish.
My focus was to make sure and
set the tone and structure right
off the bat so that we would not
struggle with behavioral and
organizational issues.
Spanish level 1 class, Faith Academy Campus
I implemented a seating chart but left room to be flexible and
students loved me for not breaking them up from their buddies or
of their comfort zones. I think level II could have been pushed
more over the course of the year to a higher level, but this w
challenge for me in that I had many different levels of learning in
classroom.
Highlights of the year, a farewell to a student from Spanish I
left part way through the year to Ireland. All students shared
this student impacted their lives. There were tears and pray
Level II had a returning student from furlough in Texas wh
everyone warmly welcomed. Mrs. Rivette was able to join us ag
more frequently in the second Semester, and help with two days
of the week so I could do lesson planning and work on a gradu
class. I also was without a sitter so I stayed home with Astrid tho
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days. Students watched cooking travel shows,
enjoyed cooking at the end of the year, created
blogs in Spanish, researched Spanish speaking
countries, presented with PowerPoint and Prezis,
skits, role-plays, sang a song, made weather
maps and broadcasted the weather in Spanish.
This year unfortunately we were not able to
make it to the historical city Intramuros, in
Manila, but students were able to partake in an
immersion experience on campus.
Additional Spanish classes were taught by a
returning Spanish teacher from Korea, we had a
small group of five students in level 1, and three
students in level 3 (I.G.), and one student in level
4 (A.P.). Graduation this year was highlighted
with quite a few mentions of Spanish
achievement and recognition including two high-
level students going onto universities in the U.S.,
Wheaton and University of North Carolina.
Spanish Level II Class
With all the busyness it’s a wonder how the rest
of our lives kept going. At the end of July last
year we were at less than 50% of our donations
and unsure if we could commit to the school year.
After a few meetings with the principal and some
time in prayer we decided to commit to levels I &
II and go forward in Faith for God’s provision.
Looking back on the year Kyle and I can bothsay it was a Year of Faith because we felt we did
not have what we needed in order to accomplish
what we had before us and we had to go forward
trusting God to provide. Soon after classes began
we were offered a house near school for about four
months. This gave us some time with reduced rent
costs and less travel time and expense. It was a
transition for the kids but everyone seemed ready
Students participating in an Activity
to try out living in a more rural setting outside of the city and clos
to the school. Soon after our move Kyle was offered a position w
an American-Filipino owned company. We were still without a c
and so when we heard a car was waiting for our use, we were
relieved and happy.
November I decided to start a three-part course for the remain
of my graduate work for a Master’s in Education. The first class
all November. This came with challenges but thankfully at that
our other needs were met so I felt everyone could keep stand
December it was time to find a house and settle and Kyle and I
did not have funds to do this and we felt he could not handle
commute from where we were so after several discussions
decided to go back to where we originally lived hoping that the k
would not feel yet another move but rather just a return to their
home. For the move I found the extra help needed when t
Filipino women said they were eager to work for extra Christ
money for their grandchildren and a new baby on the way. So I
helping hands to pack, clean-up, watch the kids, and we were coosome warm meals. This was the only way I was able to celeb
Christmas and have some rest during the vacation.
Spanish classroom, December 2012
Semester two started busy carrying us through end May with
much down time. Kyle was not signed-on for a long term con
with the company so from April he has not been working. At
time we were still
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All School Prayer, Last Day of School
without a sitter for Astrid so Kyle was able to
help care for her April-June. He also helped in
the classroom and with the immersion experience
for the.panish level II class that ran about two and
half weeks.
The year ended with a sprint, we were able to
finish all the grammar and material I was hoping
(thanks for the prayers!) and take a final exam.
Students did well and I was pleased with our
review time, also that the students who needed to
come in beforehand made the time, and Mrs.
Rivette was also able to work with students.
Level II students wrote essays on Environmental
Problems, and all did a good job! I was pleased
with the pre-writing practice and decisions made
leading up. It was a lot to put together in short
time. We also had a good-bye to Mrs. Rivette;
she has finished her two years serving abroad inmissions and will return to her home in Georgia.
Level II students organized a very nicely done
poster with goodbye letters and pictures and we
took a group photo. Level I had a class party and
each said their thank-yous and goodbyes,
mentioning she was like a mother to them.
High School Buidling, May 2013
I managed to get popcorn, pizza, and once a week hot chocolate
reward to students throughout the year. This was important to
because I know some have long days and don’t all have sufficient m
throughout the week. So an added snack helps, or something wa
greatly appreciated. It also keeps them talking in Spanish especia
the afternoon period.
This was the year of being technologically challenged for me. M
iPhone broke, my plan to incorporate the iPad into my daily les
implementation fell through (with no iPad), and my laptop alm
died a few times, dropped several times by Astrid including that
screen was damaged when she tried to be a good girl and h
mommy with her work by cleaning the laptop screen with nail pol
remover. Looking back with all these things considered I think G
was showing me how to get things done shorthanded. Some day
wondered why I was not back in the U.S. trying to do all this. M
Spring I think a light bulb switched on that schooling is public in
of the U.S. and there is such a thing as teacher salaries.
This year was very different from last year. I most certainly hculture shock. I made agreements with myself that no matter h
savvy I was in other countries I had been before, culture shock
culture shock and it could not be avoided. I thought I kn
Philippines because I knew Filipinos outside the country, but t
proved quite wrong.
Students on last day of school, May 2013
With all that said, this year also brought lovely things. I had ti
to connect with the students and also work with struggling stude
enough for showed improvement in attitude, personal confidence, a
academically. We attended a Bible study group, all Filipinos fr
Manila, some have lived in California. I have had one Filipino frie
since November 2011 who I get to celebrate with now as she
expecting a long hoped for girl in July. Many months were sp
talking about having a girl, and praying for her to have a girl (a
really praying so she would not be let down …with some angst
there). She also was open to go to church with me
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and pray and discuss God a bit more. We have
continued to make closer relationships with
Filipinos and expatriates outside of the Faith
Academy circle.
Other blessings included a visit from Kyle’s
parents in January and a trip to Subic Bay, an
aquatic park for Toby’s birthday, an invite to a
home on the coast near Subic (north of Manila),
and a trip to Baguio (up in the hills). Also, moretime with Kyle near since April and surprise
tickets home to enjoy the Summer in Iowa! Other
blessings and surprises that really only God could
conjure up and were a result of answered prayers
from all.
Overall a growing appreciation of our
churches and communities back home praying for
us. A deeper understanding of the value of
people back home caring and dedicated beyond
the financial support. The longer we are out of
our country the more we realize we need our roots
and the support of our people. That has only been
made possible by continued contact and
relationship with all of you!
I always grow stronger in devotion to my
country after living in the chaos and broken
systems of lesser developed countries. God helps
me appreciate what we have back in the U.S.
After our time in Vietnam and now Philippines, I
feel I walk the grounds our guys walked once
before. It’s like an empty history but I still canhear their voices and jokes and maybe even just a
bit how they felt with the humid air, bright colors,
strange new tastes, and unknown paths ahead.
With warm regards and blessings to all,
Kyle, Sunshine, Tobias, Astrid Hopkins
June 2013 Philippines
Ben Cab Art Museum, Baguio City, March 2013
Our Contact: Kyle, Sunshine, Tobias, Astrid Hopki
Email:[email protected]
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Hopkins Teach Beyond
Blog:
http://hopkinsteachbeyond.blogspot.com
Skype:
sunshine.hopkins kyle.hopkins
Phone:
360-499-2925Permanent Address:
PO Box 434 Eastsound, WA 98245 USA
WA, 98245 USA
Faith Academ
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