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Julian and Claire – Small beginnings |
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Monday, 10 October 2011 00:00 |
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With the start of the new school term, Claire has a new class of children in her care to shape and bless. "I have 18 delightful four-year-olds," she says, "and they are from around the globe!" The children come from as far afield as Sierra Leone, the Netherlands, Korea, India, Niger, Ireland and the USA. As they are preschoolers, Claire is responsible for teaching many of the basics. "Lots of them speak English as a second language, so I am teaching them their initial phonic sounds – with a Kiwi accent!"
Only half of the children are from Christian backgrounds, with the balance being Muslim or Hindu. Every day they share assemblies where they hear Bible stories and songs. The school tries to get through the entire Children's Bible in a year, giving them an overview of God's plan for humanity, emphasising the one true God.
Prayer is very welcome, although there are a variety of positions the children use to practice it. The mix of cultures and perspectives comes out in some of the classic answers they give. When the class was going through the story of Jacob, they were asked where they thought angels lived. One child was certain it must be London! In answer to "What present do you think Jacob bought to Esau to say he was sorry for tricking him out of his father's blessing?" another child said, "Dunkin' Doughnuts!"
One of the curriculum requirements is teaching the concepts of past and present, so the children are embarking on a four week unit about castles. They are building cardboard castles, making puppet shows and playing dress-ups, with plenty of princesses. They will enjoy an old-style banquet and games as they continue to learn and grow under the care of Claire and the other teachers.
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