It’s hard to believe, but the first year of Manna Christian School is over. One year under our belts. And I’m not entirely sure who has learned more...the students or the teachers.
Our sweet little freshmen will be sophomores. They’ve learned how to graph linear equations. They’ve learned how to correctly accent words in Spanish. They’ve learned about ancient world history. They’ve learned how to balance chemical equations. Now they know how to speak in French and English. They know how to play volleyball, football, and Nukem. They also know countless Bible stories and the books of the Bible. But more than all of this, they are better people. Ranger went from being an average student to truly caring about his studies and having one of the highest grades in most of his classes. Yefri speaks fluent English and just last week decided to be baptized. Cristopher has gone from having a horrible temper to being one of the sweetest and even-tempered kids in our school. Renecito has opened up and become more outgoing with his peers as well as adults. Jailinne has become a sweet, loving caregiver who is amazing with Connor. Angel has become a leader at Club Chiquito with the younger kids who are a part of that ministry. And these are just a few of the many, many positive changes we have seen in our kids this year.
As for the teachers, we’ve learned almost as much if not more than the kids. We’ve all learned different ways that we want to teach our classes. We definitely have learned ways that we want to discipline in the classroom. We know more about our kids, how to reach them, how to relate to them, what makes them happy, what makes them mad. We know more about ourselves, how we are as teachers, what works for us and what doesn’t. And we also know that we have achieved a huge accomplishment. Personally, this was my first year as a teacher with my own class, and while it has had its ups and downs, it has been a learning experience. I feel like I have grown as a teacher and more importantly, I have grown as a person. I have learned what my limits are, I have learned what is truly important to me, and I have learned that I have to choose to be happy no matter what my circumstances. I am still growing in all of these areas, but I know that this first year of school has helped me come to these realizations.
So who has learned more? I am not really sure. We have all learned so much. But I do know this. We have had a wonderful year. We are all exhausted and ready for a break, but God has prepared us for the next year to come. We are all a little wiser, a little older, a little more mature, a little more prepared. I pray that God will continue to bless Manna Christian School, the students and the teachers, in the years to come. And now let’s celebrate because, as Alice Cooper sang, “School’s out for summer!”
