acto de graduación

So now it’s officially over.  Graduation was last Tuesday, and our visitors and some staff have gone home.  Peace and quiet has fallen over the school.  We’re all alone here, ready to work and to relax.

Graduation was beautiful.  There were laughs and tears and cake!  Johanely has shown interest in going to a local Bible college, and we pray that everything will work out for her to make it there in August.  

our graduate waiting to enter

walking in

guitar club and Jen's class singing and playing Alabaré

bells

cake

me and my graduate!

  

At the end of June, Jen and I will be traveling to Washington D.C. to attend a conference at Gallaudet University.  We’ll also have the opportunity to visit with friends and do some sightseeing.  After that…home to New Jersey for a few weeks.  I can’t wait!

Happy summer!

las reflexiónes

School’s out for summer!  Graduation is on Tuesday.  I can’t believe this time is here already. 

I began the school year teaching a writing unit on memoirs.  To introduce the unit, I asked my students to write six-word memoirs.  I did the same.  This was no easy task.  I started with many ideas, and slowly reduced them to just six words.  My students each came up with a shallow list of six adjectives.  

During the last week of school, I asked my students to write new six-word memoirs to describe themselves at this point in their lives.  I also did the same.  My students’ work was much more thoughtful this time around.  For me, it was simple to find the perfect words for my memoir: I survived my first year teaching!

Kevin's before and after memoirs

Johanely's before and after memoirs

My before and after memoirs

It’s been quite a ride!  I am so thankful for the wonderful staff that I have had the pleasure of working, praying, and hanging out with.  Each person helped to make my transition as smooth as possible.  

I think I can safely say that this has been the hardest year of my life, but also the most rewarding.  For every frustration, helpless feeling, and exhausted day I’ve had, I’ve experienced at least as many smiles, laughs ahh-haa moments, hugs, and miracles!

Here’s a short list of what I’ve learned this year: How to use an ASL classifier, how to use a weed-whacker, how to eat a mango like a Puerto Rican, how a single raised eyebrow can completely change the meaning of a sign, what to do with termite-infested furniture, where to get the best ice cream in Luquillo, that ASL and English are too different to be compared the way I’d like, how to play a few songs on the piano and guitar, and how teaching deaf children is almost nothing like teaching hearing children!

God has truly guided me through a busy year.  He has been with me each step of the way so that I could do the best job possible.  I’ve learned so much this year and I can only begin to imagine what is in store for next year.

las gemelas

The school year is winding down…only two weeks left.  So now we’ll spend our few remaining classroom hours tying up loose ends.  We have a group coming in from California for the next two weeks, so we’ll have extra hands to make the graduation and end of the year arrangements.  This team should be a great blessing for us, as there is so much to do! 

 

One project that is finally finished is Johanely’s packing tape replica.  Below you can see the two of them posing in their graduation garb.  There was a time during this long process in which she wanted to give up.  There were many funny photo ops that I took advantage of, too.  I’m glad she stuck it out because she has a finished product which she can be proud of. 

And for anyone who’s counting…last Sunday was my third attempt at a 5K, and I was finally able to do it.  I had a great time, and I got to see a different side of Puerto Rico than I’m used to.  It was overcast with a constant sprinkle so we were cool and refreshed the whole time.  I look forward to doing many more.  

Happy Mother’s Day!  Have a great week.