Student of the Week - Marilyn Relado

Marilyn is a little girl that is super sweet and very easy to fall in love with. She has a smile that will light up a room.

When she first started she was very shy and would barely answer a question in English. She now is thriving and has come out of her shell. She will initiate conversation in English with me as well as other Americans.  Last week one of my best friends was here and Marilyn quickly began asking her questions about family and how we knew one another.  I was so proud of her as I watched her interact with Toni. Because of her confidence and willingness to try, she was awarded "English Champion" at the Award's Ceremony.

She is super smart and not afraid to answer a question out loud in the after school program (even if she isn't sure the answer is right)! Three weeks ago, she along with the other 4th-6th graders got to attend a field trip for the very first time. This was a trip that many students at school could not attend due to the cost, but the Hope for Tomorrow kids went. For the first time, these children got to attend something other children did not. They felt special and privledged because they got to go! Marilyn told me before going on the field trip, it was the best week ever! From the progress we've seen with her in After School Program we are confident her report card will reflect her hard work.

Congratulations Marily, for being named "Student of the Week"!

A Lesson in Open Doors - Hope for Tomorrow Sunday

One of the missions of Hope for Tomorrow is to open doors to minister to the spiritual needs of the children's families.  We want to be Jesus through meeting the educational needs and loving the children.  By being Jesus, we believe doors will open and we can begin to share Jesus, with not only the children but also their families.  

Sunday, September 25th was the first Hope for Tomorrow Sunday.  Hope for Tomorrow Sundays occur on the last Sunday of every month and target the outreach of both the students and their families.  Gepher and I have prayed numerous prayers for both the children and the families.  We have prayed that we not only meet their physical/education needs but we begin to meet the family's spiritual needs as well.  On Sunday morning, we began to see the answers to these prayers as the children and their families walked into church for the first time hand in hand.

   

We wanted Sunday to be a special day for both the children and their families.  We had planned not only a special service but also an award's ceremony for the children.  We printed up invitations and personally delivered them going from house to house.  They parents were very anxious to find their child in the picture on the invitation as well as find out what award their child had won.

As the children and their parents walked through the door, I knew immediately God was definitely present!  The kids from Hope for Tomorrow come from three areas throughout Naga.  We were blessed to have all of the children from two of these areas along with their parents (this was the majority of our children).  We had a total of 71 at church for this special Sunday.  The building was extremely hot and we didn't have enough chairs as we were busting at the seams...but none of those "problems" seemed to matter.

    

Following service, we started the Award's Ceremony.  The children have made lots of progress since the beginning of school in the After School Program, we wanted to make sure they were recognized for their hard work.  Our major category winners were awarded a certificate along with a new book or workbook.  Our Star Student winners, were awarded a certificate along with a fun puzzle.  Every student was awarded an award as everyone at Hope for Tomorrow is a Winner! 

    

Here are a list of all the winners:

• Alphabet Achiever - John Robert Callido
• Counting Champion - James Camplona
• Excellent English - Marilyn Relado
• Harder Worker - Joan Manghila, Glenda Baldivino, Jenelyn Ombao, Princess Hemperoa
• Math Wizard - Edward Suarz & Bregel Villarico
• Most Improved - Mary Jane Ombao & James Ombao
• Reading Award - Mica Algoso
• Sight Word Champion - Marie Rosemarie Paran & Hannah Mae Rule
• Spelling Bee Champion - Rica Chan
• Times Table Titan - Marvin Nadonza & Juanito Formentera
• Writing Wizard - Marjun Sanger & Renie Boy Agau
• Star Student - John Clyde Camplona, July Ann Labrado, Rica Libiaga, Roberto Pineda, Marlou Sanger, Christopher Cantiveros, Vanessa Hemperoa, Maria Teresa Barque

   

As Gepher would describe the next category, the children began to shout out the children's names they thought should win.  Ninety percent of the time they were correct.  That made us feel so good that not only we chose the right winners but also to see they encourage and celebrate with one another.  The parents had a look of pride of their face that could not be erased.  Every time a name was called, they smiled from ear to ear and were beaming with excitement and pride for their child.  What a very special moment for these special families!

   

Following the award's ceremony, we showed a video filled with pictures since the beginning of school.  With every picture that showed on the "big screen", the parents got excited as they watched in anticipation looking for their child.  The children thought it was so neat to see themselves staring in their very own movie!!  There were lots of laughing and smiles.  My favorite memory of the day was the children spontaneously singing along with the song "Jesus Loves Me" as it played in the video.  As the sweet sounds of their little voices filled the room I thought to myself, "Jesus does love you and your families and I pray everyone today has felt that love."

   

A celebration would not be complete without games.  We wanted these games to not only be fun but also showcase to the parents just how much the children have learned.  Jeopardy seemed to be the perfect game.  We divided the kids into three teams mixed with older and younger children.  Everyone was anxious to choose a category and point value.

    

With every correct answer, the parents would clap and cheer for the children.  This kept the atmosphere electric and made the kids want to shout the answers faster and louder!  Everyone was definitely having fun and filled with pride.  The kids were so proud of their accomplishments and wanted to show everyone and the parents were so very proud of their children.  The game ended with a tie breaker Spelling Question.  I am certain this will not be the last Jeopardy game played!

     

No celebration would be complete without lunch.  Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship.  We loved seeing the church members serving and interacting with the families of Hope for Tomorrow.  God has definitely opened doors for us to continue reaching out to these families.  We are excited about these open doors and pray God shows us the best way to walk through them.

We thank God for the success of our first Hope for Tomorrow Sunday.  He continues to answer our prayers and bless this ministry beyond our wildest dream.  We can't wait for October's Hope for Tomorrow Sunday!

Hope for Tomorrow Sunday

God blessed our first "Hope for Tomorrow" Sunday beyond our wildest imagination. We had over 70 at church this morning! All of the children from Tinago and the Cementary were there with their parents. After worship, the parents enjoyed an an award's ceremony, a video starring their kids, and a fun game of Jeopardy highlighting everything the kids have learned. The day was topped off with a lunch and lots of fellowship. God is definitely opening doors to meet these family's spritual needs while we meet the education needs of their children. Thank you God for showing us your presence today in Naga!

We showed this video today as part of our first "Hope for Tomorrow" Sunday.  It highlighted all the activities the kids had been apart of since school started.  The kids sang along as "Jesus Loves Me" played and the parent's beamed with pride.  What an amazing Sunday!

 

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Student of the Week - Roberto

Roberto is a little boy with a smile that can light up a room.  He is from the tribe of Ati.  This is one of the native tribes in the Philippines .  Roberto is the second oldest of seven siblings.

Roberto’s father is paralyzed and his mother currently goes into the city everyday to sell herbal medicines.  Roberto recently asked his mother if he could go to school.  She had to do what no mother would want to do.  She had to tell Roberto he could not go to school as they did not have the money.  Roberto cried at the news his mother gave him.  When Gepher arrived at the tribe telling Roberto’s family about Hope for Tomorrow, there were more tears but this time tears of joy!

Roberto is 9 years old and in the 1st grade.  The Philippine education system does not require students to attend Kindergarten before entering first grade.  Roberto was one of those students who went straight into First Grade without attending Kindergarten.  As a result he is behing in some of the fundamentals a child typically goes into first grade knowing (ABC's, Counting, Reading, etc).

Two weeks ago, we learned that Roberto had been absent from School.  After speaking with the teacher it became clear to us why Roberto had stopped going to school.  He was called on in class one day to read aloud.  Because he could not read as well as the other kids in class, he became very self-conscious and embarassed.  As a result, he had stopped going to school.  Gepher and I were heart broken that a child would just stop going to school because he could not read and that his parents were not encouraging (insiting) he continue to go.

Gepher and I spent some quality time with Roberto and explained the importance of school and how just because it gets hard doesn't mean we can quit.  We let him know that we would help him learn to read and read as good as all the other kids!  Gepher promised to personally take him back to school and they would talk to his teacher together.  Roberto gave us his heart melting smile and agreeded to go back to school and finish what he started...the first grade!!

He is coming to After School Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays where we are giving him as much individualized learning and attention as possible.  We are commited to see this little boy be successful and fell confident reading in front of the class!!

He easily could have quit (as he had no encouragement at home to continue) but he didn't.  He trusted his Kuya Gepher and Hope for Tomorrow that we would stand beside him and help him every step of the way.  We are very proud of Roberto for facing his fears and getting back in school!!  Because of this, we are awarding Roberto "Student of the Week"!

Learning is Fun!!

Every Tuesday and Thursday the children come to the church building for some additional help and learning in our After School Program.  We do two sessions.  The 1st and 2nd graders come at lunch time as they are currently only going to school half days due to overcrowding in the schools.  (The 1st and 2nd grade teachers, have 50 students in their classroom during the morning session and another 50 students for the afternoon session.)  The 3rd through 6th graders come to the building after school in the afternoons.  Since the 1st and 2nd graders After School Program is during the lunch of the older kids, many of them come and hang out and help the younger kids with their activities.  Its so neat to see these older kids helping the younger children learn!

   


Many of our children have either been out of school for many years or started straight into the 1st grade without going to Kindergarten.  As a result, many of these children are missing the fundamentals (or have forgotten them) they need in order to be successful in the classroom.  We strive to give the children the children a fun learning environment where they can be encouraged to learn their ABC's and 123's.  The After School Program provides them the one on one attention they are missing in the classroom (and often at home).  Since school started, we have seen the children learn the skills they are missing but also gain the self-confidence they are taking back to the classroom!

   


One of the 1st and 2nd graders favorite activities is playing with the ABC and 123 puzzles.  The boys are always quick to take the numbers as it is definitely their favorites.  Several of the 1st graders did not go to Kindergarten.  These children started school not knowing their ABCs and not realizing a picture of one apple was the same as the number 1.  Thanks to the help of the puzzles and other fun letter activities, the children can now recite their alphabet (and read sight words) as well as recognize all their numbers.  Thanks Mrs. Michele for the great learning tool and the hours of fun you've provided for the kids.

   


Because of the large number of children in a classroom, the teachers are restricted in the types of learning activities they can offer to children.  Because of this, we have structured the After School Program in a way that allows children to participate in a variety of learning activities.  This particular week, Mom put together a lesson filled with shaving cream and laughter!

    


The object of the lesson was to use the shaving cream as a piece of paper so that the children could write their letters and sight words in it.  Most of the children had no idea what shaving cream was...so Gepher was the model.  The moment shaving cream was squirted on the table the room broke out in a chorus of laughter and giggles!

   

They experienced learning can be fun!!  There were a few letters and words written in shaving cream but I'm not sure if there was a lot of learning on this day.  I'm sure of two things...the kids had fun and they left with squeaky clean hands!

    


Thanks to the After School Program, we have seen these children begin to blossom.  We are seeing children who couldn't read...now can read.  We are seeing children volunteering to answer questions (even if they don't know the answer).  We are seeing children proud to show us their school work and the 100%'s they are getting.  We are seeing kids that don't want to leave and instead want to continue having fun and learning.  We are seeing children experience love, attention, and encouragement.  We are so thankful for the way the After School Program is changing these precious kids lives.