I hope you enjoyed your day off from classes. Last year we had the bulk of our weather days off in February. Conversations with people who watch the weather for a living (and not the meterologists) say that this intermittent pattern of snow will continue for a while. Meanwhile, flocks of robins can be seen around the area. These birds are associated with spring.
It's time to celebrate the doldrums of winter: classes were cancelled on Thursday for the weather. Let's gather together and chase away the gloom on Thursday, February 13! Bring a dish or snack to share. The preschoolers are having ice cream sundaes to celebrate.
As a reminder, we close when Carmel Clay Schools have a two hour delay or close. I post on our webpages and that announcement is immediate, but the follow by email push notification doesn't auto process until early the next day. I also post on our two Facebook pages: the public and the private pages. Finally, I send out an email to currently registered students and staff for 2019-2020 year. In this case, your email may go into your spam folder (because I bcc this mail and it is quite large).
JASI (Japanese American Society in Indiana) is hosting an interesting opportunity on February 27, 7:00 at Marion University to hear a Buddhist Monk talk about communication. Find out more and reserve your seat.
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Cross Your Fingers
Q: Why do people cross their fingers when they "hope"?
A: Because people look at crossed fingers as good luck. Even before Christianity, the intersection of the first two fingers was thought to concentrate good spirits. Some also claim that crossing fingers was used among early Christians to recognize each other when Christianity was prohibited in during the early Roman Empire.~Kotaro Maruishi
Additionally, small children may cross their fingers to excuse themselves when telling a lie or cheating in a game. In Vietnam, this gesture is rude.
A picture is worth a thousand words: Texting and other communications often include emojis (a picture alphabet). What is the meaning implied behind these pictographs? Do people use them in different ways? Check out The Ultimate Emoji Guide!
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
We read two stories in Mark 6:1-13 which teach about teaching. Jesus usually has good success and results when he goes to a town. But, when he returns to his hometown, people look at him with disdain. This story reminds us of the old saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt." Jesus isn't able to heal many people because they do not believe and accept his help. In his master class, Jesus demonstrates that you can't always accept the support of the people who know you the best.
In the second story, Jesus sends his disciples in pairs to teach in the surrounding communities. He advises them to only take only the clothes on their backs and no money. He tells them to stay put and not move from home to home in a community. He tells them to "shake the dust" of communities that do not welcome you off your clothing: in other words, don't force your will on others or carry unwelcome feeling when you leave.
February 11: Join us as we talk about Mark 6:14-29. Since this story is pretty long, please read it in advance and bring your ideas.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30, room 100.
We played with plarn. Cutting and assembling plastic shopping bags to create plastic yarn was a nice way to keep our hands busy but still have conversation.
February 11: Join us as we learn to make truffles (my lazy, cheater style) for our sweeties and
crochet a small project. Bring plenty of plarn, extra shopping bags (to make more as needed), scissors, 8 ounces of semisweets or chocolate chips and 12 ounces of heavy cream and a container to hold your truffle mix. Optional: bring vanilla or liqueur other flavoring, powder sugar, jimmies, nuts, etc.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, upstairs classroom.
We haven't solved world peace, yet. This week we had some great discussions about American political hot topics including gun control. We compared our home country society and culture with observed American culture. We also enjoyed some side discussions regarding the Presidential address and various reactions.
February 12: Join the conversation. No topic is too complex for us to tackle!
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-11:30, upstairs classrooms.
Join your class as planned, but then lets adjourn to room 100 at 10:45 for a Valentine's Day social. Come and share the love. Bring a dish to share or your favorite ice cream topping/accompaniment for an ice-cream sundae bar.
February 13: Let's get together to celebrate! Meet in room 100 around 10:45 to celebrate our friendships. Bring a dish to share.
English for Kids: Thursdays, 9:30-11:30, room 100.
We planned to prepare for Valentine's Day in our classroom this past week. Next week we will celebrate Valentine's Day with a party. At the end of the class time we will meet the rest of the school to have a party.
February 13: Bring Valentines for your friends in class. We will make ice cream sundaes. Bring your favorite topping.
flocks: gathering of birds or animals
email push notification: an email that is sent out
auto process: something that is done without thought or direct action; computer process that happens without a person instigating the activity based on a set time or low use period
implied: suggested
behind: underlying
in pairs: two people working together as a team or items (pairs of socks, gloves)
clothes on their backs: travel with only the clothing you are wearing
stay put: stay
pretty (long, cold, hot, etc.): relatively, quite
hands busy: an easy project to occupy time to keep out of trouble
as needed: when necessary
solved world peace: a saying that means talking about weighty problems with/without solutions
hot topics: current events
side discussions: conversations apart from the main topic
tackle: approach a problem to solve it
share the love: show your appreciation or affection; join in and event for fun
topping: addition to a dessert to make it even more delicious
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