Spirit of Cofradia- found again on Sunday night!

Every Sunday night, we witness a beautiful sound radiating throughout the town's sky.  I, along with two other "gringas," set out to find that sound this past weekend.  After a 15 minute walk, we came upon an open air church halfway up the boulevard.  This is what we saw:


Hondurans dressed in their Sunday best, bouncing on stage, dancing in the isles, clapping hands until they tickle, waving colorful flags/balloons.  We were invited in with wide open arms, smiling at the little children... members trying to speak to us during the near 3 hour celebration of life, gifts, of love, friendship, health, happiness, and generosity...  We saw our faces posted on the only two flat screens we've seen in the town!  Bibles without hymnals, dramatic enactments of children escaping evil, thunderous singing, hands in the air, 5 year old boy singing solo with a microphone, on stage for everyone- hard to bear!  


Here's part of an observation I wrote to a very missed friend:


"At church and in school, Honduran prayers are very celebratory. They request that families are provided with the things they need, that they are able to be generous.... They pray for us, as their teachers, and their friends.  No one has "enough," but whatever they have, they share without the thought of anything in return. They will always stretch space and food for an extra mouth. These people are lovely. Tough as nails, yet gentle and always welcoming..."


Hard to know how to end this post.  I put my computer down 3 times, and am now just eating this delicious fruity ice thing on a stick that my friend just ran and got for me- less than a nickel.  Smile stretching across my face...  There aren't always words, but it is something to sit beside someone who understands what's in your heart...


because they feel it, too.


Thank you for having us in your home!

Team Dinners!

Answer to one of the most common questions asked by those back home- 18 of us are broken into 4 cooking teams.  Each team cooks for the entire group one night of the week Monday-Thursday.  Meals consist of the best new combo of fruits, rice, pasta, veggies, eggs, sauces, and soups we can think up!  We get our meat at lunch time- too expensive for both.  We have fun- here's a peak :-)

Our Ken, so serious ;-)

Day 3 Notes- What made me smile the most :-)

6 year old soccer- 3 “man” huddle strategizing, slide tackles from behind, punt in the air resulting in dropped jaws when the ball lands in the "pila" water (where we wash things and us when there is no running water)- hilarious!... dramatic dragging of leg across field (after a grand fall) accompanied by fantastic expression to match the show of pain- sure to draw a foul, then same boy running after the ball when it comes so near, his little toes couldn't stand to pass it up- show over J

See-saw- 2 students, one on each end.  Little backsides grazing the dusty earth when suddenly STOPS with one set of short legs dangling in the air.  Boy nearest to ground settles in with crossed legs, smiling at the boy in the sky.  Boy in the sky pleads, “Let me down, mi amor!”

2 boys off to the side at recess lost in their own moment below the trees’ branches, giggly screeches, jumping with amusement… chasing a beautiful little butterfly.

Prepa class- Crouched down to eye level with little 5 year olds, to be greeted by one little girl’s fingers running through my hair.  After a good, long rub, she dropped her hand, walked around behind me and ran her finger tips through my 3 week old buzz once again… “Muy corto! (Very short!)”  Walks off, just as suddenly as she appeared.

2nd grade girls playing in a suitcase at recess... pretending first to be sending themselves to the United States... New York...  San Pedro... Cortes

Before we knew it... time for "buses."

The end to another great day :-)

2nd Day Highlights!

Little bitty ones learning to line up with one hand on the rope... and play "Duck, Duck, Goose!"  Mind you, these 4 year olds don't speak ANY English and we are only supposed to talk with them during certain times IN ENGLISH.  You feel sorry for their confused little faces, but they are learning every day, just like we are!  One little boy gets tagged by Colleen (teacher) in the "Duck, Duck, Goose" demonstration.  He realizes quickly that he will never catch her, so he splits down the middle of the circle and takes a flying leap onto her lap.  She catches him during the tackle, as he giggles so proudly!  AWWWWW- how the little ones watch the big kids at recess!  They are struggling to find their way, but far fewer tears today!

The snack bar opens during morning recess.  I excitedly buy a treat, just like the kids- frozen bag of pineapple juice, basically.  You have to bite off the corner of the bag and spit it out to then taste the goodness.  How refreshing in the Honduran heat!  I got greedy and tried to expand the corner opening.  Ready to take a BIG BITE of frozen goodness, the whole thing plopped out onto the ground in front of us (one other teacher and 3 elementary students).  We all dropped our jaws. When I looked up, a little girl was staring straight into my eyes, head empathetically tilted off to the side... "Ohhhhh, I'm S O O O O R R Y, MISS!"  It was quite evident that she understood this exact pain!

Crying first grade boy curled up on the ground... alone.  Won't speak to anyone.  He willingly comes into my make shift office (when I tell him to...ha!).  He sits in the chair across from me.  Tears rolling, no speaking.  We toss the ball a few times.  He loosens up enough to draw me what happened.  Still no words, until I begin speaking to him in Spanish.  I earn a few nods and then understand just what to do.  Feels amazing on multiple levels.  This is what I have and continue to strive for in so many ways, a dream coming true!

What fun watching the first music lesson...  Every student participated, great energy, outdoors, smiling moment today!

This is going to be a great year!  

***Just a quick note home, saying that I am thinking you guys and am relieved to hear everyone is okay after the earthquake yesterday.  Thanks to all who share this experience with me.  Bless my family!  Bless my friends!  ...And Bless my FALCONS at Fairfield Middle School!  For each new day I experience here, I think of you and enjoy receiving your news.  I love and miss all of you!

First Day at San Jeronimo Bilingual School!!!

Our principal is welcoming our students (around 250, not sure yet) on the first day of school!

PreK-9th Grade

(Our PreK=Honduran Kinder, Our K=Honduran Prepa- Oh the separation tears this morning!)

You should see them :-))))  Uniforms, accents, new buzz cuts...

Let the year begin!

This is who we are!

This poster is hanging proudly outside of "our classroom."  A closer look...

Here's what I am doing:

Upper Resource, Grades 6-9

(Basically helping teachers and students with what would be comparable to our child study and special education accommodations, collaborative teacher, small group "push-ins," and individual student help in the absence of a SPED program.  There are no labels at S.J.B.S.!  We are just working together to help each student perform to the best of his/her ability!)

First School Counselor!!!, Grades PreK-9

(Classroom Lessons, Small Groups, Individual, Peer Helpers/Mediators, Career Day... working on needs assessments right now and advertising services.)

EXCITING TO SEE MY BROCHURE IN SPANISH- THANKS TO BEN KOWALSKI!!!!!!!
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Bienvenidos a Todos!

Queridas familias de San Jerónimo,

Comenzando el ano escolar 2011-12, quiero darle el bienvenidos a la escuela otra vez.  Me llamo Sarah Zelenak y estoy muy emocionada para trabajar como la primera Consejera Escolar en la escuela. Quiero compartir con San Jerónimo la experiencia que he ganado trabajando durante los últimos 5 años por Fairfield Middle School en los Estados Unidos con su programa de Consejo Escolar reconocida al nivel nacional. 

            Aunque tengo muchos planes divertidos para los alumnos este año, siempre me gusta escuchar las opiniones de sus familia.  Favor de contactarme con cualquier  pregunta, duda, sugerencia, o noticia.  Favor de dejarme saber si quiere que reúna individualmente con su hijo/hija, o si le interesa que el/ella participe en actividades en grupos pequeños.  También siempre me alegra escuchar buenas noticias de ustedes!

Un Saludo,

Sarah Zelenak

Confiencidalidad

Para ganar confianza entre el alumno y la Consejera Escolar es importante que los alumnos entiendan que toda información que comparten se mantiene confidencial.  Entonces, información de que se habla durante las sesiones se mantiene entre nosotros, salvo en el caso de que corre el riesgo de que el alumno se daña si mismo o a otra persona.  Si alumnos presenten una preocupación de seguridad, es mi obligación de consultar con la administración de la escuela y padres o encargados.  Gracias por entender esto, y siempre estoy dedicado a trabajar para lo mejor para su hijo/hija.

Sarah Zelenak,

Consejera Escolar

San Jerónimo Bilingual School

Bilingual Education

for Central America

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Filosofía del Consejo Escolar

Todos los alumnos merecen acceso al apoyo personal, social y académica/carrera en su escuela.  A pesar de diferencias individuales, cada alumno tiene igual valor y será tratado con respeto.  Entonces, Yo promoveré un ambiente que valore estas diferencias.  El entendimiento multicultural, comunicación positiva, resolución de conflicto y acciones contras amenazas serán partes importantes en criar este ambiente.  Las programas serán ajustados para server la población de la escuela San Jerónimo.  Través sesiones individuales, grupos, o en la clases, todos beneficiarán de estos servicios.

Servicios

-Consejo individual:  deja que el alumno hable con alguien que le escucha objetivamente.  La Consejera ayuda a los estudiantes a lograr sus metas personales.

-Consejo en grupos pequeños:  deja que alumnos se reúnen con compañeros y hablan de asuntos de interés comunes.  En este ambiente seguro y de confianza los alumnos se dan cuenta de que no están solos.  Ejemplos incluyen:  dolor de perder familiares, cambios familiares, éxito académico, etc.  Se requiere permiso de los padres para participar.

-Lecciones en la clase:  deja que la consejera comparte información con todos los alumnos en una clase.  Tradicionalmente se hable de temas como: adaptándose al nuevo año escolar, como tratar conflictos entre estudiantes, como estudiar mejor, y pensando en carreras para el futuro.

-Mediación:  se ofrece a alumnos quienes les gustaría la ayuda de un adulto o compañero para resolver un problema.  Aunque hablamos un poco de la situación en particular, mayormente se enfoca en que pueden hacer las dos personas para llegar a un acuerdo positivo.  Es importante tomar este tiempo para hablar de preocupaciones en vez de esperar que la situación se pone peor.

Que Nos Divertimos!

El programa de Consejo Escolar trabaja conjunto con la misión de San Jerónimo Bilingual School.  A la larga, los servicios de consejo apoyan al éxito académico de los alumnos.  Requiere mucho trabajo y dedicación lograr metas personales, sociales, académicas o de carrera.  Pero, también es importante divertirse mientras las logremos!  Alumnos pueden elegir de procesar nuestro tiempo juntos través arte, deportes, juegos, escritura, música, y mas.  Estas avenidas dejan que la sesión de consejo le interesa al alumno y cumple con la necesidad del estudiante.      

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Come on in!

Marisa (Lower Resource) and I share this space.  She has been very supportive of my dual role.  We blocked off a counseling corner.  (I am going to get a pair of sheets to function as privacy walls, but this is a nice little start!)

We had a great day and thank you for sharing with us!