A "Taste" of Home

For a few days this week, I had the treat of hosting Tim and Alison Gee, friends from my home church!  It was great to be able to show them the area and give them a taste of what BFA life is like.  They fit right in!

* On Tuesday, I was able to take part of the day off to show the Gees one of my favorite places in Europe -- Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Swiss Alps.  We had beautiful weather with great views of the peaks.

* Tim and Alison got a tour of the high school on Wednesday morning, followed by a (much shorter!) tour of the middle school.  They heard about how BFA provides services for the whole student -- their academic, social, and emotional needs.

* Tim decided to use his skills and training as a chef to bless the middle school staff!  We were spoiled with ginger beef with leeks over rice and delicious pastries for dessert!

* Tim and Alison both helped out with Scripture memory during Bible class.  They talked the kids about the meanings of the verses and helped them prepare for the upcoming verse quiz.  Tim enjoyed attending the Ultimate Frisbee elective at the end of the day, while Alison conversed with 8th grade students in the cooking elective class.

* We also visited several dorms over the course of the two days.  Each dorm has a unique personality and feel to it, making it more like "home" for the students living away from their families.

* The Gees also stayed in the guest apartment of my mentor, so they got to know the Campbell family during their stay here as well.

* Tim was the speaker for the evening at Chrysalis, the middle school youth ministry.  While Tim was spending time with the middle schoolers, Alison joined my high school group.  We drove to Elemenz, my favorite cafe, for some yummy desserts and deep conversation about our goals for the year.

Thanks, Tim and Alison, for a great visit!  Anyone else coming to Kandern soon?  Let me know if you'd like to visit BFA!

Goosebumps and God's Plan

As you know, I lead a small group of high school girls and absolutely love it!  Our time together is fun and meaningful.  I feel a greater connection to this community and deepened intimacy with Christ because of the time I spend with my small group.  Needless to say, I'm very excited that small groups start meeting again this Wednesday!

Over the past two years, we've read two Francis Chan books - Crazy Love and Forgotten God.  These books have spurred great discussion and challenged us to live out our faith more boldly.  This summer, I prayerfully considered several book options for this school year.  One night, I just felt peace about going with a certain book called Radical (David Platt).  I had read it through last year, so I was familiar with the content and knew that the book ended with a one-year challenge (which coincides perfectly with the girls' senior year).

Upon my return to Germany, I ordered copies of Radical for each of the girls in the group.  Just a few days later, I received this Facebook message from one of the girls -- and sat in silent amazement at the way God works.

"heather! (:  

it's almost time to see you again!!! yessss!!!! 

so i was wondering if you had a chosen book to read for this year already. because if you havent yet, ive just started reading this book called "Radical" by David Platt and i couldnt help but think about how wonderful it will be to read it together next year!!

it's such a challenging book. but soo soo good. and i think it would be a really great book to read together. but if you have other plans, i totally understand, it's just a suggestion. (:

love you! and see you soon!"

Yes, that is how God works.  He leads and He confirms.  And I get goosebumps because I'm a part of His plan!

Welcome to Class!

Welcome to sixth grade at BFA Middle School!  Here's a little tour...

This is what the classroom looked like a few weeks ago.

(And this was even after the teacher desk was in place and the room had been cleaned!)

Here's another "in progress" shot...

Desks are in place and shelves installed above teacher desk.

Here's my "teacher's area" - teaching desk, shelves for curriculum (much more full now), and schrank for materials.

Now the classroom is alive!

Our first writing assignment of the year - a "Spotlight on Summer" story - is on display on this bulletin board, with our four essential questions framed and hung above.  Reading groups are posted (in this picture, you can see one rock star poster with names underneath it).  Students also imagined their lives as a CD and created their hit single song title and band name.  These CDs are hanging from the ceiling.

Below the back bulletin board, you'll find our writing table, where I can have conferences with students.  Some students also choose to work here during free work time or partner assignments.  In the frame, you can see the photo of our school with the caption, "Sixth Grade Rocks!"  The blue bin houses files for the "My Classroom Economy" program that I'm using in Advisory classes.  The classroom money ("Star Bucks") is in the little blue box!

On the inside of our classroom door, we have a little game... "Guess That Star!"  Each student wrote 10 descriptions of themselves, and their "star" picture (posed with a microphone or guitar) and autograph are inside!

 On the outside of our door, we have a sign to tell others which class is currently "in concert" or if I'm just working in the classroom.

We're off to a great start in sixth grade!  Thank you for your continued prayers for the middle school.

Back to School!

Today was the first day of school at BFA, one of my favorite days of the school year!  It is so exciting and invigorating to hear the squeals of reunited friends, the applause of respect and love for the staff, and the cheers for the nations represented by the students at our school - 52 in all.  One staff member commented that she was somewhat intimidated by the high caliber of our students, and I added that it really challenges us as teachers to pursue excellence and to provide a truly quality education.  What a great motivator to have students who desire to learn!

Today was also my first day as a "middle school teacher"... which was exciting, overwhelming, and wonderful!  I am thrilled to be working with some of the same students that I had in fourth grade two years ago and teaching subjects that I enjoy.

Homeroom: Grade 6 (devotion and prayer time, announcements)
Period 1: English 6 (reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar)
Periods 2-5: Free!  (lesson planning, grading, materials preparation... and possibly opportunities to connect with small group girls during lunchtime or serve in other ways)
Period 6: Bible 6 (the Gospels and Acts) or Spelling 6
Period 7: Advisory 6 (study skills, organization, transition to middle school)
Period 8: Electives (chapel band or DIY)

My roommate, Brittany, and I are excited to be co-leading the Chapel Band elective this year.  We have about 10 students who will play instruments and sing to lead the rest of the school in worship at the weekly chapel time.  The students will select music and rehearse on Mondays and Wednesdays in preparation for chapel on Friday afternoons.

I also just added another elective to my Tuesday/Thursday schedule called "DIY: Do It Yourself."  (And yes, this idea was born out of my love for Pinterest...)  I have some idea as to what direction this elective will take, but it is intentionally nebulous so that the students have some ownership in the projects we tackle.  Through the creation of purposeful and useful items, we will learn life skills like resourcefulness (not having to always buy something!), generosity, collaboration, creativity, innovation, and perseverance.

Introducing myself to the middle schoolers

Practicing locker combinations - over and over!

This is only the beginning of the adventure of this school year!  In some ways, I feel like a new teacher all over again as I plan and learn the middle school culture - but I am so excited for the opportunity to learn and grow in new ways in this new role.  Thank you for praying for the 2012-2013 school year!