Vol.4.Issue.2.November.2008 - Edgren High School EagleNet

volume 4 issue 2 Far East Issuepage 6Educator’ s DayLearning Beyond the BuildingBy Angelique TetraultEvery school year, Educators’ Day is held at oneof the 3 schools on-base. Last year, Edgren HighSchool hosted the event, but this year, Sollars ElementarySchool took its turn.On October 27, while students were allowed aday off from the frustrations of school, teachers arrivedat the Sollars Multipurpose room at 8:00 sharpfor a small breakfast and Principal Journey’s openingwelcome speech. He spoke of the great opportunitiesto always learn new things. Behind himstood four tall billboards that displayed scenes ofa child’s learning experience. Mr. Journey praisedthe many children who put forth such great efforts.They spent much of their recess time painting. Thestudents timidly received gifts for their contributionsto the school. Following his opening remarks,Mr. Journey introduced the Japan Superintendentof Schools, Mr. Bruce Derr who welcomed teachersand praised the efforts of all teacher coordinatorswho helped create an exciting Educators’Day program.Afterwards, the teachers dispersed to their chosenclasses for Session #1 of 7. The classes rangedfrom auto skills to photography skills. Mr. DavidThomascall, Edgren’s ET and TLC teacher, enjoyedteaching others to easily edit photos. Other classesincluded fi eld trips to a sake factory, the iceskating rink, a Japanese school, and the LunneyYouth Center for dance lessons. One of the classestaught “Music in the Classroom.” Here, teacherstook part in fun ways to intertwine dancing andsinging with their teaching strategies. Ms. VetaJones, elementary teacher, seemed to be havingfun swinging her arms in circles to “loosen up.”Although Edgren’s students were not required togo to Educator’s Day, the Middle School StudentCouncil, Junior Class Council, and the NHS studentsarrived at 8:00 along with the teachers. Themiddle school students were selling refreshmentson the 2nd fl oor, while the Junior Class studentswere selling coffee and other beverages on thebottom fl oor. There was some animosity becausethe middle school students were advertising rootbeer fl oats. The deal was for the middle schoolstudent council to only sell food, while the upperclassmen were supposed to sell drinks. Despitethis small issue, both school governments profi ted.According to Edgren’s School Nurse and MiddleSchool Student Council Sponsor, Ancella Thompson,middle school students despite their advertisingwere in fact, not selling root beer fl oats.There were even Japanese visitors at Sollars. Theytaught teachers how to partake in the ancient Japanesetea ceremony and play amusing children’sgames. Former Japanese teacher for Edgren, Mr.Mikami visited Educators’ Day. Many of the facultymembers enjoyed either seeing him again or meetinghim for the fi rst time.After all seven sessions ended and the 2:45 bellhad rung, Educators’ Day was over. The teacherswere given a complimentary gift bag of school supplies.Many new lessons were learned, and hopefullythe new tactics will be incorporated into our Edgrenclassrooms.Photo 1: Coach Waite learns how to perform CPR on his choking dummy. Photo 2:The students proudly displayed their enthusiasm for “Learning Beyond the Building.”