Today
we traveled one hour by bus to an elementary school, populated by
children of migrant workers.
There
are up to 60 children in each class, they do not have air
conditioning, their desks sit inches from one another. They
have limited supplies, no technology whatsoever.
These
students are struggling, to say the least.
They
struggle with every aspect of their education, as well as a constant
struggle with poverty,
And,
as it was explained to us as we pulled into their parking lot, some
of them have never seen people who look like us. At first they
pulled at our hands as if we were royalty, perhaps. I thought
this is how the Beatles must have felt, one of our kids said, "
or the Backstreet boys ". Perspective, right?
Our students paired up, along with two Chinese students from our sister school, New oriental! And created two 40 minute lessons on "American culture and community"
I can't explain how amazing it was with these short descriptions, but I'll try. Aveson juniors and seniors walked to the front of the very crowded, very hot, deathly quite classrooms and took over the room in seconds. Chinese students assisted and translated, and together they made the kids laugh, think, allowed them to move, interact, dance, draw, and play.
Purag and Giovanni "super heroes" students created their own super heroes, drew them, gave them powers, and Purag and Geo translated them to English.
Remington and Matthew "a brief history of popular music" included the most raucous game of musical chairs I have ever seen. 60 kids moving to FUN and MICHAEL Jackson.!
Giuilia and Lilia "landmarks" taught them about the Statue of Liberty and more, while engaging them in head,shoulders,knees and toes!
Holden and Emily "holidays" exposed them to the American traditions associated with valentines day and Halloween. Children made their own masks and traded "valentines"
JD and Mason " Literature" A reading of green eggs and ham by JD left me a little teary. Plus art activities and games.
Nico and Soren. "Children's games" red light green light. , lots of movement, energy. The loudest classroom I have ever been in. They also taught them to count to 20 in English.
......and our students were masterful. They handled the heat, the energy, the language barrier, as if they had been educators for years. And.... It turns out they have!
I don't remember quite how it was said, but each of them, over and over, throughout the day told me, "this is like community day.... OR “aveson COL prepared me” OR.... “It's like working with ASL, the is a mini community day, OR. Community day really prepared me for this, I wish we did this with ASL more. "
The staff of the migrant elementary school said the children smiled like they had never seen before. The energy was electric. Ms. Tapia and I took 400 photos and our eyes pooled with tears about a dozen times. Yes, we were proud.
Our students paired up, along with two Chinese students from our sister school, New oriental! And created two 40 minute lessons on "American culture and community"
I can't explain how amazing it was with these short descriptions, but I'll try. Aveson juniors and seniors walked to the front of the very crowded, very hot, deathly quite classrooms and took over the room in seconds. Chinese students assisted and translated, and together they made the kids laugh, think, allowed them to move, interact, dance, draw, and play.
Purag and Giovanni "super heroes" students created their own super heroes, drew them, gave them powers, and Purag and Geo translated them to English.
Remington and Matthew "a brief history of popular music" included the most raucous game of musical chairs I have ever seen. 60 kids moving to FUN and MICHAEL Jackson.!
Giuilia and Lilia "landmarks" taught them about the Statue of Liberty and more, while engaging them in head,shoulders,knees and toes!
Holden and Emily "holidays" exposed them to the American traditions associated with valentines day and Halloween. Children made their own masks and traded "valentines"
JD and Mason " Literature" A reading of green eggs and ham by JD left me a little teary. Plus art activities and games.
Nico and Soren. "Children's games" red light green light. , lots of movement, energy. The loudest classroom I have ever been in. They also taught them to count to 20 in English.
......and our students were masterful. They handled the heat, the energy, the language barrier, as if they had been educators for years. And.... It turns out they have!
I don't remember quite how it was said, but each of them, over and over, throughout the day told me, "this is like community day.... OR “aveson COL prepared me” OR.... “It's like working with ASL, the is a mini community day, OR. Community day really prepared me for this, I wish we did this with ASL more. "
The staff of the migrant elementary school said the children smiled like they had never seen before. The energy was electric. Ms. Tapia and I took 400 photos and our eyes pooled with tears about a dozen times. Yes, we were proud.
We
have known some of these kids since they were 10 years old. But
it was more than that. There is something profound about
actually seeing a philosophy became a practice. When "global
competence" stops being a catch phrase and starts to live in the
action and confidence of aveson students.
When
ideas are communicated because our students have a skill set that
allows them to walk into a classroom on another continent and
communicate ideas that may have an impact on a child for the rest of
their lives.
Emily Pacini said to me something like, "I finally understand "take action". I felt I was actually doing it, communicating ideas, weighing perspective, I could feel it".
Forgive me for being so grand, but this is why I do what I do. This is why we created aveson and I hope you can celebrate this accomplishment with these kids and all those who will travel in their footsteps. We are now a "global" academy. Pretty cool, indeed.
Emily Pacini said to me something like, "I finally understand "take action". I felt I was actually doing it, communicating ideas, weighing perspective, I could feel it".
Forgive me for being so grand, but this is why I do what I do. This is why we created aveson and I hope you can celebrate this accomplishment with these kids and all those who will travel in their footsteps. We are now a "global" academy. Pretty cool, indeed.
“Hosting the Chinese students was a great experience,” said Aveson mom, Michelle Zvonec. “They’re still communicating with us and I feel like we made a real connection.” 
"Helping others is a great way to begin the new year. Teaching our children the fulfillment of helping others and learning about our vast world and cultures is an excellent way to start the year." Mrs. Cid and partner teacher Ms. Corrie and their first and second graders sent this bit of inspiration to parents as they began what Mrs. Cid called a "mini take action."
Dr. Shriner carefully selects a specialized team of people. This year’s team included a pediatrician, who saw an estimated 300 children in the clinics and surgical wards during this trip.
Mrs. Cid's students also used this opportunity to develop themselves as global learners. They Investigated the World of Tanzania by learning all about Tanzania’s geography and culture. Tanzania is among the poorest nations of the world, and by investigating its culture Aveson students developed a global perspective and asked thoughtful questions about their take action efforts. This project might even spark future action locally. Finally, students communicated their ideas through discussion and reflection.