Posted Sunday, January 14, 2007

INTERNATIONAL DAY: It's a Whole New World for HCS Elementary
Volunteers needed for a newly revamped International Day, March 23.

While the world is “smaller” than it ever has been and one can travel half way around it in a 24-hour period of time, Hillcrest will be bringing a cut of this to your elementary children during March 2007! It’s a whole new world to us as we venture to learn an appreciation for cultures and countries in a hands-on way.

First we will have each class explore their selected country with their teacher (including art, music, and computer teachers) and their International Day parent. They will have a mini-course on the various aspects of their country including uniqueness of the culture, mission outreaches, geography, history, government type, languages spoken and what the flag looks like. They will be learning (and doing) their country’s art in their art classes, while learning a song and possible dance in their music classes. The upper elementary will use computer techniques to research and develop presentations.

Next, as an extension of International Day, we will conduct missions-centered chapels during the month of March, including Spiritual Emphasis Week. We hope to have several different countries represented by both life-time and short-term missionaries. As a Christian school, we would like to expose our children to the importance and impact of missions, as they will be the future of world evangelism.

Then International Day, MARCH 23, after the morning of regular academic classes, we will come together for an international lunch. Parents will be asked to prepare food from the respective countries (recipes provided). Children K-Grade 6, along with the helping parents and teachers, will have the opportunity to taste the flavors of the countries. After lunch each child will be presented with a passport which they will then be able to have stamped as they “fly” from country to country. Older grades will also gather information about the countries at this time, and write them in their Passport/programs. Privileges and/or prizes will provide incentive for the students to gather information.

Following their “flights”, the world of children will convene for an assembly, to listen and participate as each class presents an aspect of their country through music, dance, art, flag parade, and power point mini-presentations.

How can you parents be involved?

• Please offer any expertise you may have to the International Day Parents and coordinators. If you come from or are otherwise familiar with a country (even if not the one for your child’s class), offer to help teach an aspect of the country to the class. If you have any interesting art objects or souvenirs, they will be helpful for the displays.
• Volunteer to help setting up
• Cook or bake food from your child’s class country (or another if you have your own good recipe)
• Assist students in being a part of the food preparation

International Day, March 23 Help:

• serving food,
• helping at the country displays to stamp and disseminate information, etc.
• clean up

This is a wonderful way to get your volunteer hours as you enrich and enlarge our children’s world!If you would like to participate in the planning stages, please contact Martha Gross at 805-501-5055, or marthagross@sbcglobal.net. You can also contact Debbie McPhearson If you know any missionaries who may be willing to speak to our children, please let Martha Gross know ASAP!