TOP 3 MAY 2014

MAY 2014 -  ITEP HISTORY – Tongatapu/Liahona High School

This has been a busy month on the Liahona High School Campus:One of the main focuses of the ITEP missionaries has been observations of the student teachers.  We have 7 teachers finishing up their student teaching, so this has been a very busy month for the 3 of us - Elder Aland, Sister Aland and Elder Meyers.

Sister Aland and Sister Meyers are also teaching one last piano course on Monday afternoons to Young Single Adults and adults as well.  There are 12 students in the class and Sister Wood is also assisting and will take over helping this course proceed on campus, as well as in other stakes around the island.  The 30^th of May was another piano recital and two more keyboards were awarded.  This makes 7 stakes we have covered to date and 13 keyboards awarded.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TEACHERS

SOMETIMES THEY SIT ON CHAIRS BUT THEY ARE GOOD EITHER WAY

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A TWO MONTH PIANO COURSE

May 21^st  -  Training with Jacobsens – We had some wonderful and eye-opening training with Elder and Sister Jacobsen in Auckland.  First of all, as we came into the office, we were warmly greeted by everyone we met throughout the area office, even though it was a bit chilly outside, especially compared to the warmer climate of Tonga.  Shadowing them in the office as they got all things ready for the upcoming principal’s conference was a great induction to some of the activities we will be part of.  They also reviewed many procedures and  other job minutia that will be part of our new calling.  It was very enlightening. Also, on Saturday we were able to get acquainted with the area around Auckland and we began to recognize what a beautiful and diverse country we will have the opportunity to discover.

May 26-30  - Principals Conference in NZ.  This conference was a enlightening, very informative, but mostly a huge boost to the morale of the leadership in the South Pacific Schools.  We observed great instructors, had a chance for much participation and felt our spirits lifted and rejuvenated.  What gratitude everyone had for all the time and effort that went into planning and presenting this event.

The last day, the last hour, we were privileged to hear Elder & Sister Rasmussen report on their mission to Kiribati.  Such sweet service they gave as they totally immersed themselves into the lives of the good saints and schools of Kiribati.  Both were tremendously blessed.  The Rasmussens wish they had more time there and may someday be back. 

On the side, Elder Aland has finished up teaching an Administrative Internship for Vika Kaufusi and that has been a great accomplishment for her and for him to help with.

DORA SHOWED UP AT OUR LUNCHEON

ITEP MISSIONARIES, ELDER AND SISTER JACOBSEN, BRENT CHOWEN AND JON SHUTE

THIS IS THE TONGAN TEAM

May 31^st.  – We arrived in the airport at 1:30 am and got home at 2 am.  Whew!  What a trip there and back including the 4 hours bonus of being delayed in Auckland airport.  We did give away 2 pass along cards in the process of being delayed.  This evening we all went out to eat with Elder and Sister Webb as they will be flying out on Monday , June 2.   Their accomplishments in the humanitarian aid department are truly remarkable and as the Reynolds from the area office said, they are the best!!  They served in Ukraine at the same time we served in Russia and we have spent many evenings sharing our heart- warming missionary stories.  How we will miss them!  aving

aving

PLANTING A FENCE IS SO EASY TO DO. . .

FIRST OF ALL, YOU JUST PUT STICKS INTO THE GROUND . . .

2ND YOU JUST WAIT FOR IT TO GROW SOME MORE

PRETTY SOON IT IS ALL FILLED IN AND THICK ENOUGH TO KEEP ANIMALS IN. . THAT'S ALL!!

April's TOP 3 Events

HISTORY REPORT for  APRIL 2014 from ITEP - Tongatapu

April 1^st – SIOP class began and we had 31 students enroll, so it was an Elder & Sister Aland Team Teach effort.  Most of the class entailed the teachers presenting to the teachers as each one of them covered one of the 30 SIOP features.  The teachers went above and beyond what we could have offered them and certainly expanded their understanding and enlarged their capacity to teach all the SIOP skills.  They all passed the course and one of the many comments we received from the teachers is as follows: 

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to sit in your class and allowed us to grow on

our own. In the states we don’t have in-services like the one we just had where we can

always go back and relate gospel principles to our teachings. Moving to Tonga has

definitely blessed my life as well as my family. I have taught MATHEMATICS for almost

15 years at East High School(SLC, UT) and enjoyed every year of teaching but there

was always something that was missing but I couldn’t get a hold of it until we moved to

Tonga. The first week as a teacher, I felt so much peace teaching MATHEMATICS and I

knew what I was missing for 15 years. I was finally able to teach MATH and use Gospel

terminology in my Math Class. It felt real and it felt SAFE to finally share my testimony

as I teach.

April 3^rd –Elder & Sister Aland went with  Folau to the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board to begin the process of accrediting the ITEP Teacher Certification program.    We felt it was a very positive visit both in what we were able to gather and present and also in their reception of us representing the ITEP program.  The packet was compilation of the BYUH - ITEP program and included the syllabi from all courses as well as credentials of ITEP teachers. 

This month we had 2 additional piano recitals and were able to place 6 keyboards in different wards throughout 2 stakes.  We are working together as a team to accomplish this also.  Sister Meyers and Sister Aland with the help of Sister Funaki and soon, Sister Wood.

April 10^th. – We participated in the Teacher Inservice Day with the theme of “Hastening the Work – Olympic Style – Faster, Stronger, Higher” The Meyers spoke at the opening ceremony and then we broke into 3 different groups that rotated through the 3 themes:    Alands presented Faster,  Edwards presented Stronger and the Johnsons presented Higher.  It was a delightful day spent with them all and we were so grateful for their association and participation.  This culminated in a dinner cruise around the bay and food, more food as well as fun, music and  dancing.  What a great event and a boost to us all.

  April 15-17^th - We were able to attend the National Sports Week here in Tonga where all Tongan schools competed in track and field events.  This was great sports entertainment as well as crowd participation.  We also were able to meet and welcome Elder & Sister Simmons, who will serve as the ITEP couple in Vava’u and Elder & Sister Wood who replaced the Johnsons as the ITEP couple over the 5 Middle Schools.  We look forward to working together with them in helping the ITEP program to move forward

 

Team Teaching -" How to work smarter, not harder"

We team taught at this part of the teacher's inservice.

THIS ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS IN UTAH - What a fun event they get to enjoy every other year, and how lucky we were to be here at the right time to enjoy this evening with them!

WE WERE INVITED TO DANCE  - and we thought the other senior couples were following us on the stage, but they didn't.  Oh well . . . IT WAS PRETTY FUN!!!

THIS WAS A VIEW FROM THE SHIP AS WE SAILED AROUND THE BAY. . . WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK HERE TO CHECK OUT THIS ISLAND SOME TIME.

ONCE AGAIN, JOHN ENJOYS ONE LAST CHANCE TO DANCE THIS EVENING!

Having fun with the Haveas, Ola Vaitai, Lautais, & Tamaline Tu'ifua

Valenitaine Maunga & husband and Peni & Silivia Tonga - some FUN Tongan friends!!

Leaving the boat - one last photo op with Maopa & Sula & husband

STUDENT BODY SHOWS THEIR SPIRIT AT THE TONGA NATIONAL SPORTS EVENT - APRIL 15-17 - '14

ANOTHER PIANO RECITAL AND KEYBOARD AWARDED IN MU'A

THIS IS OUR LIAHONA HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY & SPOUSES AT THE INSERVICE TRAINING - APRIL '14