For those of you who do not know, I work for a school that is part of a semiconductor company. Therefore the state of what we are is a bit confusing. We’re not quite an international school, but also not local. It is considered a Private Local International School. The demographics of my school is mostly Chinese American, Tawianese, Hong Kongnese, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Pakistani, Indian… The school consists of mostly children of the parents that work at the SMIC (Seminconductor Manufacturing International Corporation). However, it is expanding to locals as well as other company children. Our school has two tracks, English Track (ET) and Chinese Track (CT). For those of you who don’t know or have forgotten, I teach 2nd grade for the English Track (ET2D). There has been its joys but also it’s struggles. Though there are often times many things I could complain about, I also know that in the 9 years the school has been around, it has come a long way.
Two major things, I’d like to share about regarding my work is 1) our participation in the giving tree and 2) our award as an Excellent Private School of China.
1. During Christmas this year, our school participated in The Giving Tree Project (much like operation Christmas Child in CA). However, each GTP bag has a specific child’s name, size, height, weight, and likes/dislikes. We were encouraged to sing our class up for our kids to participate. Knowing that my kids come from pretty wealthy families, (expat community), I ideally wanted each student to participate by doing a bag themselves. However, the admin kindly told me that the bag limit was kinda high so I should split them into groups, and also to ensure we get all the bags back. Regardless it worked out. I was so proud of my kids. They brought in above and beyond what they could where we had overflow into bags for other classes that didnt have enough! ^__^ it truly was a season of giving more so than receiving. I truly believe that the Lrd has blssed us greatly and if we can give back even in the “littlest of ways” we give back ultimately to Him and for His glry.
Today, we got an email from our admin that said, “there were nearly 300 bags given to the Huge Gr8ce Orphanage and the LuBingHua Primary School.” It was exciting to share the email and these photos with my kids and allow them to see what they did has made a difference in someone else’s life.
2)Recognition of “An Excellent Private Elementary & Middle High School in China.” On Monday, we had “A Celebration Ceremony,” the teachers really had no idea what this meant. But as we went to the celebration, where our headmistress, principals of all tracks and levels, and model students gave speeches about how amazing our school is, I began to feel a little bit proud of our school. Apparently there are over 16,234 private schools all over China that are in competition for these awards. And of those 16,234 Private Schools, only 154 awards were given out, and of the 154 awards there were only 14 given to Shanghai Private schools. and of the 14 schools in Shanghai, we were one of three schools in the Pudong, SHanghai area that were to receive the award. and lastly, of the three schools in Pudong, we were given 1st place for the award of the three.
So you wanna talk about Gd’s favor, this truly is it. we were given this award for two specific reasons. a. character development and b. bilingual education. Overall, I am encouraged that the Lrd would give me this amazing opportunity and privilege to be here at this place at this time in History (His Story). Truly, there are greater things that have yet to come.. but for such a time as this, I know and trust and yarp that He would use me fully for His purpose as i walk in obedient love towards His Kingdom. WOW, ABBA. “to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be the gl*ry forever and ever. Amn.”
Adventures Wherever He leads. 