School's Out For Summer

The school year ends in Belize on the last Friday in June. The last few weeks of school consisted of exams and preparations for graduation for the Standard VI students. Teachers cleared out their classrooms and sent the students off for their two month holiday.

Neither of us can believe we have finished a school year and are both excited about the plans we made for the next year. We are also looking forward to having time to spend on our secondary projects and do some other projects for the next couple months.

For us, the end of school was filled with helping our schools prepare to close for the summer, wrapping up reading groups, setting work plans for next year, and participating in the celebrations for graduation.

Each of our schools had its own banquet for the Standard VI class to celebrate the end of primary school. Trinity went to The Smoky Mermaid for dinner and dancing. We enjoyed a special turkey dinner (one of the special meals for Belizeans, typically eaten for Christmas, so it was a real treat). which includes turkey, rice and beans, cranberry sauce, and the Belizean version of stuffing. We also had tons of appetizers, some treats we haven't had in ages - chicken fingers, shrimp, and honey bbq chicken. There were also lots of desserts. After appetizers and before the main course, we headed into the dance room where the students and teachers danced and danced. It reminded us of the eighth grade dances back home where all the girls and boys head off to their own areas to dance. When the punta came on, they all mixed it up. The girls and boys came out in their fancy outfits and hairstyles. Everyone looked gorgeous! It was tons of fun. St. Luke's held their banquet a few days later at the Radisson Fort George with more great food, and even more dancing and the boys even came out in tuxedos! The celebrations let the students spend a great night together as they prepared to head out to new schools in the fall.
The entrance to the banquet room at The Smoky Mermaid


Standard VI students looking fabulous; we'll call this The Punta Line

Staff of Trinity Methodist School

{We don't have any pictures from St. Luke's, we have been waiting for some to come from a teacher, but they are not here yet...}

Our graduations took place on the same night and were both really nice ceremonies for the students. At Trinity the students selected a theme of Friends and chose the colors red and silver, so the church was decorated in their colors and Ms. Gillett brought in a special addition with bubble machines to add to the festivities. The students also sang the Friends Forever song, which was cute (not sure if that is the name, but you'd know the song if you heard it, it's definitely a graduation type song; I took video of it, but it won't upload, you're really missing out:) ) At St. Luke's the theme was Labor for Learning and they kept with their school colors of lavender and white for the decorations. The kids also sang many beautiful song. Reminded us of our own eighth grade graduations.


The graduates of Trinity Methodist School; the staff of Trinity at the end of the night

School ended with parties and lots of goodbyes as teachers and even Anthony's principal have been transferred to other schools within the management. They will still be in the city, so we will be sure to connect with them.

Now that summer has begun, we find ourselves in camp mode for July. On Monday the 7th we head out to the Belize Zoo for conservation camp for the week. We'll be teaching students about the scientific method and helping them put together an experiment to conduct at the zoo, along with art activities, outdoor hikes (we'll be trekking through Cockscomb Wildlife Basin for the first time), and all sorts of camp stuff. We'll be sure to tell you all about it.