Time to Celebrate!!

This was a week of celebrations at YISS!  Celebrating life...especially the lives of students and teachers!  So many opportunities to celebrate the gift of life that God has given us!  While I was packing boxes to make my move to my new apartment, I found this quote:

Live vibrantly!

Learn continuously!

Love deeply!

Leave a legacy!

As I look back at this past week, I have seen so many examples of colleagues and students doing just this as they celebrate the life God has given them.

Last Sunday evening we celebrated the lives of those teachers and administrators who will be leaving YISS after the finish of this school year.  Many of them have lived their lives at YISS so that others see Jesus!  They have left a legacy!  It is never fun to let go of those who have impacted us, but we can celebrate them and pray for them as they move on to what God has for them next.  It was a great time of celebration last Sunday evening in the YISS cafeteria and the new MPR as we hosted a farewell dinner and time of worship and prayer with those who are moving on!

  Some of the yummy food that we enjoyed at the

                YISS Staff Farewell celebration!

Some of the staff selecting the food they desired!

Bev Birmingham, current Elementary Principal  

getting some tasty pulled pork!              

Headmaster Ray Johnson saying words of farewell to the staff who will be leaving!

                       A time of music worship celebration!

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Last Monday began the final week of After School Activities for this year at YISS!  Yes, I did some celebrating because all of the work that is put into making these activities happen is completed for another year + it was a successful and joyful time.  Below are a few pictures from some of the ASAs from this past week.

Girls' 4th & 5th Grade Basketball ASA! (You can also see the T-shirts that the kids wore on Thursday representing their House Team on Field Day!)

Taekwondo Instructor, Master Kim, presenting the trophy to my buddy, Noah, for the most outstanding pupil in Quarter Four!

    This little man, Zach, will be leaving with his 

 parents at the close of the school year.  His parents

both teach at YISS and will be heading to Michigan.

A couple of the students who have enjoyed Ms. Lee's ASA called 10 Artists Children Should Know.

Ms. Buster with her beginning Speed Cup Stacking ASA students

during their last class.                               

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This week was the week that the students who were selected from their individual classroom teachers as the Guardian student for Quarter Four came together to celebrate their excellent role modeling of our Guardian character traits.  Mrs. Franck, our Elementary Chaplain, works with the students selected each quarter as Guardians of the Quarter on a large project of art.  We will see the finished product this coming week during out VBS assemblies.  She always does an amazing job with our students in putting together this creative piece!

Mrs. Franck explaining to the Quarter 4 Guardians about the Guardian project.  They cut small strips of magazine pages with the appropriate colors and make a large "painting."

      Joshua and a couple girls working on the Guardian project!

Continuing to work on the Guardian project for this year!       

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Wednesday evening was another great evening of celebration as the 2nd and 3rd grade students performed their Spring Concert: All Creation Sings!  What a joyful celebration of the gift of music and God's creation!  Ms. Weir, the music teacher for Kinder through Grade 3, did a tremendous job of using the gifts of each student in sharing about God's creation.  The concert ended with a beautiful song of celebration, Whole World in His Hands.  You can see a video of that on my facebook page + a few other video clips from the concert.

Students in Grades 2 and 3 performing on Wednesday evening. Ms. Weir, the director, can be seen directing on the left of the photo.

Third Grade performing a song during the concert!

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Thursday was the day that almost all of our elementary cherubs look forward to - our annual Elementary Field Day!  All students, teachers, and administrators are placed on four House Teams for the entire year (Blue Sharks, Green Gators, Yellow Hornets, and Orange Tigers).  They receive points throughout the year for showing good sportsmanship, participating in team events, or demonstrating consistently our Guardian Way Honor Code.  Field Day is the culminating event and although very competitive, it is so fun to see students help other students on another team when they might fall down or get hurt.  I love it!  We had beautiful weather and Ms. Buster and Mr. Resende, our Phys. Ed. teachers did an amazing job of organizing all of the many events that took place on the YISS Soccer Field.  They also incorporated parent volunteers and used our Pink Panther High School kids to assist in the activities.  One parent commented to me, "I can't believe that all 450 + elementary students are out here participating on this one field and everything is so organized!"  The Blue Sharks (the team I am on) edged out the Yellow Hornets of the Field Day win.  We are still not sure of the overall totals for the entire year.  It will be very close between Blue and Yellow.  The kids will be so excited to find out!

One of the teachers took this photo during the Administrators' "Drop and Pop" competition that started the day.  I won this event last year, but on my way to a repeat win, I accidentally popped my balloon between my legs and I ran back to my chair to regroup and I leaned back and almost went backwards off the chair.  Mrs. Birmingham was right beside me and came quickly to make sure I was OK.  I had a great laugh about the experience.

  Kinder and grade 1 students having fun with the large parachute!

Some of the Blue Sharks who are teachers or administrators.

The High School Pink Panthers and their instructor, Ms. Wiley helping

at the Field Day!  They were great!!                     

This little lady was so funny!  She is passing a sponge filled with water over her head, but she didn't want it to touch her hair! :-)

This little man was in the relay race where you had to 

put a wiffle ball between your knees and place it in a 

bucket, then run back for the next team member to go.

First graders bowling!

There was lively music being played over the loud speakers during 

the Field Day.  I started doing my "dancing" and this parent finally 

decided to join me - after her son persuaded her. :-)          

Another fun relay race!

        Some of the parent volunteers who assisted on Field Day!

4-way Tug-of-War between the House Teams.  So much fun!

Blue Sharks trying to win the Tug-of-War!        

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Friday morning Dr. Joe Hale, Director of NICS, came to YISS to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the original NICS school in Seoul - International Christian School of Seoul!  Students heard a brief history of how we have come to be able to enjoy our current beautiful facilities at Yongsan International School of Seoul!  Dr. Hale gave a very clear illustration of stewardship using the parable of the talents from Matthew.  Teachers and staff, who have been with NICS in Seoul for 10 or more years were recognized and celebrated!  

Dr. Hale sharing with all of the elementary students

                  about the history of YISS!

Dr. Hale presenting gifts for long time service to YISS to these four   

Korean staff.  Left to right: Dr. Hale, Mrs. Hong (Business Office),  

Mrs. Won (Bus. Office), Mr. Kim (Head of Facilities), and Mrs. Kim

(Admissions and Immigration).                          

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Saturday morning was a very special time of celebration at YISS!  At 10:00 AM the graduation ceremony to celebrate the graduation of 67 seniors began!  What a tremendous ceremony!  It was the first year that teachers lined the auditorium aisles and greeted seniors as they processed to the stage! It was also a first for the senior to have a special tribute for their parents during the ceremony.  The valedictorian gave the signal at the appropriate time and seniors stood and left the risers on the stage and went into the auditorium to present a rose to their parents and thank them for all they had invested in getting them to this point in their lives.  I loved when we did this at Mercer Christian Academy, and Saturday's tribute by the YISS graduates was indeed very moving.  Below are a few pictures, but you can see more and more video clips from the celebration on my facebook page.

Headmaster Johnson welcoming the seniors and their families and friends to graduation!

Chairman Park and Headmaster Johnson presenting seven graduates with scholarships from the Korean Foreign Schools Foundation.

Student Body President, Sam Lee, giving the Closing Blessing and

            leading the graduates in the moving of their tassels!

This is my friend, Boem!  He was one of the seniors who was selected by his peers to present a speech on YISS's core value of Truth!  I was so proud of him.  He has suffered with Spina Bifida since birth.  He gave a great message to his fellow graduates on the Truth!

I had a very nice surprise at graduation!  Sam Lee's   

brother, David, came from California for the graduation.

I was so impressed with his growth and maturity!  David

and I had gotten to know each other very well when he  

was at YISS in the elementary school.              

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After the graduation celebration and reception, I went to one of my favorite little coffee places - Sweet East.  I always have so much fun with the owner of this little cafe and her two faithful employees.  When they get busy, I tell them that I would be glad to come back and help them,  They always smile and say, "Oh no."  However, Saturday a group of about 20 YISS teachers arrived for a special baby shower for one of the former YISS teachers who came back for the graduation ceremony.  I got up and started clearing tables and cleaning table tops.  Then went back to the owner and told her I would take the orders of all of YISS people so that they could serve everyone else in the cafe.  It was so much fun! Some of the customers asked if they knew me.  They said, "Oh yes, he is one of our bosses at school."  I had such a great afternoon of serving at Sweet East.  The owner and her son told me that they would get even with me later! :-)

Here I am at Sweet East with a cleaning cloth behind the counter getting my instructions from the owner and her son.  We had such a great time!

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We have one more week with students.  Please pray as teachers complete grades and comments for Quarter Four.  Pray for the VBS that Mrs. Franck has organized for the three afternoons of June 1, 2, and 3.  I will be involved in some of the skits and teaching activities.  I would value your prayers as well.  Still so much to do before students leave.  My packing is going well.  My delightful "son" and friend, JiSang, will be coming on the morning of June 6 to help me move some of the hanging clothes and a few items I don't want the movers to move.  

Thanks so much for your love, care, mail, prayers, and support.  You are very special to me.  Can't believe I will be heading home for a break on June 13.  Where has the year gone?

Love, Gregg

Concerts, Mini-Concerts, Projects, PTO, & More...and Only Two Weeks Remain!

What a busy week!  So much going on as we finish another year at YISS!  It was a week full of many events that kept me busy trying to get to see each of them.  In addition to all of the concerts, mini-concerts, class projects, and regular routine events, it was the final week for Seniors.  They will graduate on May 30.  That is always a fun time and I am looking forward to it.

Monday began with Grade 4's special Asian Global Fair!  Students and teacher have been learning about Asian countries in Social Studies and the unit culminated with a global fair where students prepared a project to highlight a particular place in one of the countries.  Students went from display to display with a clipboard of suggested questions to ask each presenter to learn as much as they could on the various special places!  It was so exciting to see students present about their project and also ask questions of other presenters. Many parents attended as well as other students throughout the school.  Such a great time of learning!

   Philip presenting and students taking notes on their clipboards!

Just a few of the displays, presenters, and interviewers.

Katie did such a great job of presenting!        

I really liked these two young men, Taehoon and Ansu, as they presented concerning Mt. Everest!

A sample of the displays.  I loved this one since I had visited the Terracotta Warrior Museum back in 1983 when I visited China for the first time.

Another presenter presenting and answering questions.

And one more!

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Tuesday I was able to complete my interviews with the teachers I had been assigned as lead evaluator for during the 2014-15 school year.  I have enjoyed these conversations with these teachers giving them encouragement and constructive assistance in making improvements in those areas where they may need additional growth.

In addition, I was able to continue making my visits to the various After School Activities.  It is hard to believe that activities will end this coming week for another school year.  One of the students in the Ceramics After School Activity was waiting with me for her father at the front reception desk at the close of activities on Tuesday.  I noticed one of her Ceramics' projects.  I asked if I could take a picture.  She was happy to give me permission.  Here is a sample of what the students in Ceramics have been working on this quarter.

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After making sure everyone was picked up from their ASA, I quickly finished a little project in my office and headed out to get a bite to eat before I got to perform with the Elementary Band at the Elementary & Middle School Instrumental Pops Concert.  The conductor of our bands at YISS, Ms. Jessica Zakula found out I love music and love to conduct so she asked if I would enjoy conducting the final piece that the Elementary Band would play at the concert.  Since January, Ms. Zakula has been working with about 15 fifth grade students in an After School Activity each Monday called "Beginning Band" and I always stop by to observe.  They have come along so well.  So I was honored and delighted to be asked to be part of the concert.  It was so much fun! (I am sorry but I could not upload the video clip of my conducting performance in this blog.  It says the file size is too large.  Sorry. :-(  You will have to view it on Facebook if you want to see it.)

A group of elementary students who performed in Tuesday's Pops

                          Concert!  So proud of them!

Grade 5 and 6 Band performing at the Pops Concert.  This young lady 

is now in Grade 6.  She was one of our star students in Grade 5 and   

still continues to be such a great role model for our students in Grade 6.

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Wednesday during Elementary lunch we had a special visit from four Middle School teachers who were involved with the Middle School Spirit Week.  Wednesday was the day students and teachers could come dressed as their favorite "Super Hero" or cartoon character.  Four teachers came to elementary lunch particularly to surprise a kindergarten student whose father is a teacher in the Middle School.  The kids loved it!  As soon as they noticed the four Middle School teachers dressed in their outfits, applause erupted throughout the cafeteria and each grade wanted the characters to come to their area of the cafeteria.  

    Middle School teachers with our kinder cherubs at lunch.  From

left to right: Mr. Carlsen (his son staring up at him), Ms. Murphy,

                               Mr. Walker, and Mr. Mooi!

Here they are again making a huge hit with our students.  To the right is Mr. Mooi who taught in Grade 4 last year.  The kids loved his costume!

This is Mrs. Pitts on one of the MS Spirit days.  I   

believe this one was about musicians.  Carol's husband

took a marker and tattooed her arm.             

Carol's hubby, Mr. Samuel Pitts supposedly representing a certain music genre.  Both Sam and Carol have been sooooooooo helpful to me in the area of technology.  They will be leaving YISS at the end of this year, and I will miss them greatly!!

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Thursday was another very full day! It was the day for the annual PTO Luncheon to recognize volunteers who had served so faithfully as PTO Board members and those who would be joining the Board.  A very yummy catered luncheon (from Suji's) and special music performances from the Middle School students were enjoyed by volunteers and administrators present.  Our elementary principal, Mrs. Birmingham, had written words to Stevie Wonder's song "I Just Came to Say I Love You" and had worked with the high school computer apps class in videoing students, teachers, and administrators in singing and dancing our thanks to this song with a new titles and words: "We Just Came to Say We Thank You."  The PTO volunteers were surprised and delighted with the performance that the computer class had prepared on video.

A special performance by this String Ensemble at the PTO luncheon!

Some of the PTO volunteers serving on the PTO Board.

Another group of PTO volunteers at the luncheon.             

My very tasty Reuben sandwich, etc. at the PTO Luncheon.

 I have known these two special ladies ever since I arrived at YISS.

They have been so active in the PTO and were recognized for their 

                                excellent work over the years!

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On Thursday evening was the final music performance in the elementary school for Dr. Al Harding  Al and his wife, Lynelle, have grown our music department so well!  They will be moving to Irvine, CA where their son, Joey, will attend university.  It was the 4th grades' music concert, It's Gotta Be Jazz!  It was a great evening and everyone did an excellent job!

Poster and program cover for the 4th Grade It's Gotta Be Jazz concert on Thursday!

Fourth graders with Dr. Harding preparing to take a bow at the opening of their concert on Thursday evening!

Several of the special soloists in one of the Jazz songs!

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Friday was a day full of Chapels and OASIS Assembly as well as a number of interesting discipline situations that needed to be handled.  Yes, kids are kids anywhere in the world.  And Friday we had our share of situations that needed the attention of all of the elementary administrators.  I am thankful that all seem to have come to positive conclusions.  Keep praying for us as we close the year!

In the middle of the Chapels and meetings to handle discipline situations, I had the privilege of stopping by Grade  1D.  They have been working on a unit on dinosaurs and fossils.  Friday they were learning how to be archaeologists with the aid of their teacher and a little kit that allowed them to go through the process an archaeologist would go through while uncovering fossils.  It was so delightful to watch them at work.

       One of the first grade "archaeologists" uncovering a fossil!

Here she is describing what she is doing to the rest of the eager first graders!

Ms. Weir was subbing for Mrs. Thomas on Friday afternoon and  

she is asking questions to get the students thinking about what needs

to be done by an archaeologist and the use of her/his special tools.  

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The week ended with a wonderful Saturday evening at Yonsei University!  It was the evening of the annual Spring Concert of the Yonsei University Men's Glee Club.  I was anticipating this event ever since I heard them last year and have gotten to know the conductor as well as some of the members of the Glee Club.  Saturday evening's concert was great!  The Men's Glee Club had asked the Ewha Women's University Chorus to join them in this concert.  They were excellent as well! A wonderful way to finish a very hectic week!  So great to sit and relax and enjoy great music and reflect!

Above is my friend, Eric Lee, conducting the Men's Glee Club during one of their beautiful selections.

Above Conductor Lee directs the combined voices of the Yonsei Men's Glee and Ewha Women's Chorus!

The conductor of the Ewha University Women's Chorus directing her ladies during the third section of the concert.

After the final encore selection by the Yonsei Men, Conductor Lee invited any alumni of the Yonsei University Men's Glee Club to join them in their final traditional closing number.  So much fun!

     After presenting Eric with the traditional flower bouquet of

                  congratulations. I had a photo taken with him!

Above I am posing with the President of the Yonsei Men's Glee Club!  

He was so thrilled that I had come to the concert.  Most of the men think

I am some celebrity because I write so many comments about their music

on facebook! :-)                                    

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I want to close this week's post with some names of new staff who will join us in the Elementary School at YISS for the 2015-16 school year.  I know they would value your prayers as they prepare to move to South Korea and begin their adjustment to life in Seoul as well as the life within the community of Yongsan International School of Seoul.  As you think of them, your prayers for the following would be appreciated:

*  ES Principal: Mrs. Sara Willetts is coming from Beanstalk International Bilingual School in Beijing, China to join our elementary administrative team.

*  ES  Classroom Teachers:  Mr. David Benedict is coming from our NICS sister school in Turkey to join our elementary team in Grade 5.  Mrs. Mary Hannah has just graduated from Northern Arizona University and will be joining us in the lower elementary.  Ms. Domenique Roberts will teach in Grade 3.  She joins us from Chadwick International School in South Korea.

*  ELL Teachers: This coming year we will have two full-time ELL teachers: Ms. Candace Swift returns to teach with us.  She had taught at the former ICS-Seoul school before it became YISS and has also taught in Buenos Aires and Kunming, China.   Mr. James Lantz has been teaching English in the Korean public schools for four years and will come to YISS as the second ELL teacher.

*  Upper ES Music Teacher:  Ms. Tori Palmer joins us to teach music in the upper elementary grades.  She has been teaching in Korea and comes with a background of teaching music and theater. Tori also has a Masters in Education in ESOL.

Thanks so much for your prayers.  You are such an encouragement to me!  Thank you for your love, care, notes, emails, packages, prayers, and support.  I hope you enjoy a great week!

Love, Gregg