A Peek at Magarao Central School

This peek at Magarao Central School is mainly to give the ladies at 'Judith's Reading Room' a chance to see my school and my students.  Thanks to the initial contact by Aunt Lisa, JRR has been generous enough to agree to help us out in building up our library collection!  The JRR staff will also be providing invaluable consultations as we decide on an organization system and borrowing system for the library!

  This is my grade 5, "Diamond", class!  Before the implementation of the library project, I was co-teaching their English classes.  These students also make up my Book Buddies 'BIGS', my Ukraine Pen Pals group, and my upcoming American Pen Pals group.

Grade 5, Diamond

This building is our blossoming multimedia learning center.  It houses, from left to right, our e-classroom (which contains 7 computers and a projector with screen), the new library, and our Knowledge Channel room (classes go there to watch educational programming).

School Canteen for the intermediate grades

Emma is a former Special Education student turned all-around school helper.  Here she is between some classroom buildings.

This sidewalk leads back to the new Kindergarten room (left) and two grade 6 classrooms, which are mostly hidden by the garden in the foreground.

A grade 6 classroom

On the right side here you can see our "LRV School Pavilion" which is where trainings and meetings are sometimes held.  'LRV' are the initials of a local politician who donates money for these types of buildings... his initials are everywhere alllllll over the province.

Our school is divided in two by the national highway.  On the left side here is the intermediate side and on the right is primary and the principal's office.  In this picture you can see one of our main modes of transportation: a trike.  It's basically a motorcycle with a side car attachment and cover.

The 'Office of the Principal' occupies the left half of this building and on the right is a grade 3 classroom.

This is the courtyard on the primary side, where all the students gather in the morning for the flag ceremony and play during recess.

Some students getting ready to leave for the day.  If you look closely, you can see a jackfruit hanging in the tree.

Joseph and James, my neighbors from my host family, were hanging out with Manay (sister) Marina, waiting for their younger siblings to get out of class.

I thought this video would be interesting to include because you can get a taste of a very Filipino custom: mano.  Mano happens when a younger person puts out her hand, palm up, to an older person... the older person puts her hand out and the younger person holds it and taps the back of the older person's hand to her forehead.  Sounds complicated but it's really not, just watch the video.  

Mano is when a younger person is asking for the older person's blessing.  

This can happen with people of any age, also with position comes respect and desire for blessing.  For example, if an adult woman comes around my host lola (grandmother), she will mano my lola.  Also, everybody manos the priests.