NN Feb 2021 Page 3

05 Feb

LA VIDA MISSION STAFF SURPRISED RECIPIENTS OF COVID-19 VACCINE

In

By Dorie Panganiban – Crownpoint, New Mexico … People have different reactions toward the Covid-19 vaccine. While some are hesitant and skeptical, others look forward to being vaccinated and are waiting patiently for their turn after the healthcare workers, frontliners, and elders are served.

Who would think that the staff at La Vida Mission would have the privilege of receiving their first dose of the vaccine without even planning for it? “It was a sweet surprise to several of us to be included in the process through the courtesy of Indian Health Services Healthcare Facility in Crownpoint, New Mexico,” said Dorie Panganiban, La Vida Mission office manager and outreach director.

“On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 27, I got a phone call from IHS-Crownpoint Healthcare Facility offering vaccines to our mission staff. I was told they have been working with La Vida Mission and recognize the Mission as their partner in serving the community through its many outreach programs and its school that serves their children.”

The Health Services Center thought about us and reserved some shots for those of our missionaries who wish to receive one. The list of those wanting to be vaccinated was gathered in less than an hour so that it could be submitted to the hospital for the morning of the following day. “We went and received our vaccines along with frontline workers and Navajo elders,” Dorie explained.

Our organization was recognized for its ministry because of the partnership with the Navajo community that La Vida Mission Community Outreach and Healthy Lifestyle Education Programs has created with the different services of the Navajo Nation office. “There are times when the community recognizes us in a surprising way,” Dorie added.

“The Mission is grateful to the Indian Health Services Crownpoint Healthcare Facility for their service to us and thanks God for making it all possible. When asked for the cost to our staff, the representative said, ‘You will not pay because you serve our people,’” Panganiban said.

–Dorie Panganiban is La Vida Mission office manager and outreach director; photo supplied

04 Feb

BAKING BREAD IN BIBLE CLASS AT VISTA RIDGE ACADEMY

In

By Marsha Bartulec – Erie, Colorado … Third and fourth graders at Vista Ridge Academy finished studying the story of Ruth in their Bible class based on the Encounter Elementary Curriculum. The learning objectives for the unit included becoming familiar with the biblical story of Ruth; understanding the ideas of hospitality, loyalty and caring for others, and introducing the agricultural way of life that was prevalent in Ruth’s time: the planting, harvesting, and use of wheat for food.

Rebecca Murdoch, the 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th grade Bible teacher, started the unit by giving everyone a little bag of wheat berries, watching a video on how wheat was historically harvested, and then giving students the opportunity to “grind” the wheat berries into “wheat flour” at little stations around the classroom. The students soon realized how long it takes to grind flour, and how long it must take to plant and harvest it. They could not imagine waiting that long to make something like bread or flour cakes, or something else that Ruth’s family probably ate.

At the end of each unit is a celebration of the unit’s completion. Rebecca thought baking bread with the students would be a fun application. When Rebecca mentioned this to Wanda Hart, the school office manager, Wanda told her about a bread-in-a-bag recipe she had done with VBS kids that was a success.

“I wanted Rebecca to finish the unit with something that would make the kids feel accomplished which they could take home with them after the work they put into it,” said Wanda.

Together, they planned the bread-in-a-bag activity. They bought the ingredients, prepared ingredient bags for each of the students, and walked them through the process in class. Each student had their own zip-lock bag which they filled with ingredients, then mixed and kneaded the dough. After class, teachers let the dough rise, baked it, and showed the students pictures of the process before handing out their beautifully-baked mini-bread loaves.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how attentive students were. They wanted to make sure they did everything correctly in order not to wreck the bread. They asked a lot of questions and were pretty dedicated to kneading the bread for the full amount of time required,” said Rebecca.

At the end of the activity, a couple students said this was their “favorite Bible class we have ever done.” And one said they wanted “to do stuff like this all the time”.

Rebecca appreciated Wanda’s suggestion and posted the bread-in-a-bag recipe on the Encounter Elementary Curriculum Facebook group page so that other teachers could use the idea for this unit. “A few teachers responded they are going to try this activity with their class, so I’m excited to hear how it goes for them as well,” she explained.

For the next unit, third and fourth graders are learning about religion. Students will be able to answer the questions, “What is religion?”, “Are there other religions and which religions do our families come from?” This unit will allow students to identify their personal beliefs at this point in their lives.

–Marsha Bartulec is the vice principal of administration at Vista Ridge Academy. Photos by Rebecca Murdock.

04 Feb

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL: CAMPION TEACHERS SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATION IN THE PANDEMIC

In

By Sami Hodges – Loveland, Colorado … Classes still begin at their scheduled times, but that is about the only thing which has stayed the same for teachers at Campion Academy. Having to jump back and forth from in-person learning to a virtual classroom, and sometimes a mix of both, teachers are having to adapt in more ways than one.

Teachers are having to keep up with constantly-updating safety precautions and to remain flexible with sudden changes to their everyday routines. One day, they could be giving a lecture in the classroom; and the very next day, they may find themselves leading class from their kitchen table.

One thing is certain: teachers have to be prepared for the unexpected.

Jill Harlow, Spanish and English teacher, describes a little bit of what her days look like. “When I walk into my classroom, I’m running around sanitizing the desks, trying to switch on Zoom while students are walking in, and thinking to myself, ‘Ok what am I doing in class today, and what can I do to engage those one or two students on Zoom?”

This pandemic has challenged both new and experienced teachers.

Cindy Santana, who has been teaching at Campion since 2005, has come across many obstacles in the jump between virtual and in-person education. “Just using Zoom was a learning curve,’’ Santana commented. “Teaching for nine hours, grading, and doing the prep on top of all that makes for long days. When everybody’s here, you are a team; you have readers and other teachers to bounce ideas off of, but when we’re all on Zoom, we kind of operate in a vacuum. Sometimes, you feel like you’re going it alone.”

Campion’s chaplain and Bible teacher Nancy Meszaros, in her second year of teaching, has learned to use a variety of presentation tools to keep students interacting, but still recognizes the challenge the socially-distanced classroom presents. “I feel like sometimes my creative juices are no longer there. I want class to still be fun and engaging, but with so many regulations that always change, it’s hard to keep track and can be really draining.”

As the director for spiritual activities on campus, Meszaros added, “Another thing that has been difficult with this pandemic has been trying to find creative activities and programming to reach students spiritually. A lot of activities require mingling and close interaction, and we can’t do those things anymore.”

In spite of all the challenges, teachers have stayed positive and continue to make learning as engaging as possible.

“God has blessed us through everything. All of us have learned to adapt. Students are still learning, and teachers are still forming positive relationships with them. Even online, we can laugh or have deep spiritual conversations that bring us together. And there is light at the end of the tunnel–we are all looking forward to being back on campus together in the coming weeks,” Harlow said.

–Sami Hodges is a senior at Campion Academy; photo supplied

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