Is it time to teach already???

Even the teachers can have trouble starting the school year. I have found this to be true as I have stayed very busy the past few weeks. However, it is good to be settling. Look forward to more updates soon about the previous weeks. For now, I want to tell you about the school to which the Lord has brought me.

Academia Los Pinares is located on the top of a mountain in a community called El Hatillo. The climate is incredible! It has been so nice and pleasant up here (and sometimes cool) when the city below has been sweltering. The school has almost 800 students--I have a lot of names to learn as I will be the librarian (or Library Information Specialist as we are called these days) of all of them.

I was introduced as a new teacher in two different chapels on Thursday (once to the 7th-9th graders and then to the 10th-12th graders). However, I have seen little of them since that first day of school. The two half days went well; I had no classes and stayed busy with all the prep work to be done before students can check-out.

This week is full of "first days" for me. I have a full week of orientations with the elementary classes (24 that range from Pre-K to 6th grade). Today I saw one class of each of the following grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 5th grade. Each class gives me butterflies, because each class is another set of students with different ideals and expectations.

The 5th grade class today was where I saw Jesus today. I have been especially nervous about how the kids would react to me since they have loved the previous librarian (who is still here at the school until December to help with the transition). They are still young enough to love you to death but old enough to reject the change. They expressed a heart-warming amount of love and appreciation for Mrs. Birky. Yet, they also welcomed me and were excited to have my guidance. Jesus spoke through those children to show me that every single one of us has special gifts and qualities that no one can replace. However, we can all be appreciated for what we can offer. I could not have asked for a better welcome than from that group of students today.

Now for the fun part...the pics. [Thanks, Mom, for the digital camera. I have definitely been using it a lot since the summer.]

Outside view of the library. The door to the left is where the students enter the classroom area (separate room attached to the library). Under the awning is the main entrance. The library is the top floor; the bottom contains the administrative offices.







When you walk through the glass front doors, you are surrounded by light--the amount of windows brighten the room considerably. The space is open and extremely welcoming. [And look, Jayne, no room for bulletin boards :)]











Standing at the main entrance, looking to the left, you will notice the circulation desk and the Easy and Juvenile sections. The right side of the room has a table with two computers, the magazine section, and the high school literature.



View from the middle of the library, looking at the main entrance. You can also see the office located behind the circ desk. If I were to turn around directly from looking at the entrance, I would be looking out the window at the soccer field next to the gym.



The library is fairly long. Here I am standing in the Easy section. I love the carts of books--very attractive and easy to keep organized. Several large, stuffed animals allow the kids to have free reading time and relax during the browsing time for each class visit.



The classroom area isn't large, but it is very useful to be set apart from the library with little distractions.

That's all for tonight. Love you all and miss you--especially, you, Christopher Nicholas Big Boy!