Assembly

Every morning at Taonga School we have an assembly.  Assembly is one of my favourite times of the day. Everyone is together, we to sing and I get to do a bit of story telling! Nothing like a bit of drama to wake you up in the morning.

Four days a week we have a 'teaching' assembly and on a Friday we celebrate the stars of the week.

Last half term in Assembly our topic was "What does God think of me?" Every week we took a different title.

• As I grow - we looked at how Jesus cared for children and old people and also cares for us no matter how big or small we are. 
• God always forgives me! - looking at how nothing is too bad to be forgiven. 
• I'm Me - I am unique. I am different to everyone else. This caused a lot of amusement because I started off asking how I am different to the children - that was obvious - my hair, skin, eyes etc. Then I got one of the children to come to the front and asked how they were different. That wasn't as obvious! They all have the same colour hair, same or very similar colour eyes but we got there eventually! 
• I matter - Gods creation is important to him.
• Jesus Listens - He took time to listen to people when he was here on earth and wants us to talk to him.
• I am worth it! - Looking at why Jesus came to earth and how he died on the cross so that people could 'be friends with God' 

Every week we looked at a different part of the bible and learnt a verse or a story. We all acted out walking bent over and Jesus saying "stand up" and suddenly righting ourselves. We pretended to be old and young. We pretended to be the father of the two sons, one of which he had thought was dead and acted out the fathers joy when the son returned.

We have just stared a new half term and it is almost Christmas. We only have 5 weeks until the end of term so I decided to do an "advent calendar" (it's all laminated so hard to see)

The children are very excited to find out whats behind the numbers!!

I think assembly is very important. Lots of people question why I do it every day. It is 15 minute at the start of the day where we all come together to learn the most important lessons of the day. It also means I see everyone every day.

Christopher Miti tells you about the day

Christopher

Wearing a comedy tail just for laughs

Today we have a guest blogger.  This is Christopher. He is in Grade 5 and has been at Taonga School since 2015. He is going to tell you about his day at school.




"I come to school everyday, I like coming to school because it is interesting.  In the morning when we come to school we eat bread then go to assembly. In assembly we like to sing and dance then teacher Abi teaches us about the bible. 
After assembly we go to phonics where we learn how to read. My favourite subject is Social Development Studies. I like to learn about the old people and what they use to do. 

Dressed up for fun

At break time I like to play football with my friends Malizani, Amos and Mike. 
After break we have 2 more lessons. Once a week we go to the library. My favourite books are Zac Power they have good stories. 

Zac Books

A child eating lunch

Four times a week we eat lunch at school. We eat nsima, vegetables and sometimes eggs or soya pieces. 
After lunch we have bible club. We learn more stories about God and how to behave. Uncle K teaches us and it's fun. Then it is time to go home. 
My best thing about school is to have fun and make people laugh!"

We look so cool

Charles' mum cooking

I hate writing!!

Malizani and Mike

A friend for life

2007

I had a book when I was younger - A friend for life - which I remember laying in bed, with a torch under the covers, reading after I should have been asleep and thinking WOW... that would be so cool!  

Africa, babies, things going wrong.... then being sorted out 'last minute' by God. I read the book a few times, then forgot about it...

2008

Then in 2005 Mum suggested a trip to Zambia... which happened and happened again, and happened a third time... until I moved here. Through all that time I had forgotten the book, and the story.

2008

A friend for life is about someone who went to Kenya as a missionary working with hospitals and then taking babies into her home which grew and grew. Before Katie went to Kenya she had to go through bible school, nurse training and various courses where she was almost kicked out because of her 'bad behaviour'. Something in that book appealed to me... maybe it was the kids!!

One day about 2 years ago we had finished eating dinner and Don and I were talking. He was telling me about a lady he knew when they lived in Kenya - which prompted me to remember this book... and it was the same lady.

2017

There are massive differences between what Katie did and what I'm doing. She was a nurse, I'm a teacher, but there are a few similarities too. Even though it was a book for young people she wrote about the difficulties as well as the good times. Sometimes it seems like the smallest job becomes the biggest chore. Other times I find myself thinking "If I was in the UK I would just 'Amazon it' next day." or "Let me check prices/availability/where to get it online before I go" before realising the 'shop' I'm heading to is a man selling slides on the side of the road.

In the last few days I've been a little obsessed with a song...

It says

2017

Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well

Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see
And this mountain that's in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name

So, I guess its been a reminder to keep my eyes on Him even when I get frustrated that things are never straightforward. Through the tough times Katie saw God move and we have seen it here too and we never know what He has planned next.

About a year ago ZEMS sent boxes of my old books for the school Library... and look what was inside...

Sports Day

Penalty Shoot Out

End of term always brings a fun day. At the end of term 1 the Grade 3 children have a topic that involves planning sport day. Trying to plan and organise sports day for 150 children, between the ages of 3 and 17 is not an easy task but they chose some good activities.

Ball Throw

Ball Throw

Ball Throw

Egg and Spoon Race

Egg and Spoon Race

Long Jump

Bean Bag Throw

Bean Bag Throw

Water Race

Water Race

Pass The Ball

Long Jump 

Acorns and Oak Trees

I have talked about school growing a few times in the last few years. Last week I thought it was time to make final class lists for 2017. When I say final you should really read 'this weeks' ... somehow new children always seem to be starting. So anyway I made the list. In January I had 146 children and I really dont know how but last week we had 151. Children around here seem to multiply! 

A few weeks ago Facebook reminded me that it was 6 years since I posted these pictures.

 That means it was over 6 years since these pictures. 

And in February this I took this. 

It wasn't in my plan. Sometimes I wonder how it happened.

I sent the picture below to my Dad who replied saying "Out of small acorns grow mighty oaks." Well, if thats the case my advice to you is be careful where you plant your acorns! 

This blog is not the easiest to post pictures on. You may have noticed in previous posts sometimes the pictures are laid out in a strange way or don't quite 'sit' right... Normally by the time I post it I have spent at least half an hour trying to move the pictures into the right place. If anyone knows how to do it PLEASE let me know! 

It's what's on the inside that counts!

The dust bath, after some rain.

In the last few weeks I have been a little obsessed with the state of the outside area at school. It’s fair to say that it’s a mess!!  Where there was once lush, green grass we now have what can only be described as a dust bath unless it rains, then its all about the mud.

Collecting old blocks for
one of teacher Abi's plans!

It's great for animals who like that kind of thing. Not so great for teachers, especially when the children don’t seem to mind it! Every day is a battle with dust in the classrooms making everything a little dirty. Add to that the plants that have either died or been trampled on and you create a perfect environment for my dis-satisfaction to grow!

The new boarder for the garden.
To be finished next week.

So, I have started collecting ideas.  Some of them seem like sky high dreams others are a bit more realistic. I still haven’t come up with an answer as to what I can put on the ground instead of grass or dirt but slowly we have been improving the outside area. Today we painted blocks and planted various things in the holes.

In the last few weeks I have had my paint brushes out and done a few minor jobs around school. Slowly, oh so very, very slowly, it is improving.

Every map I found of Zambia
seemed to be different!

As I was thinking about it all I realised its not really about the outside area. It will make me happier not to have dust everywhere and will look nice to have flowers but really its about whats on the inside that matters. What is really happening not the show that we can put on for people to see on the surface.

That’s a bit like our lives… it’s not about the show but its about what really is going on inside that matters.

Phonics Lesson

Writing

So with that in mind I need to remember sometimes the dust is useful!

Grade 5 reading

A lesson in writing using the dust.
(See the pic below)

Using a stick to write

Grade 1 working hard

Grade 2 listening and learning

Breaktime fun 

Happy Children!

Book sharing