study . live . teach
Trinity College sends their concert choir and symphonic band on tour each year–usually in the States, sometimes overseas. This year they’re touring Europe with stops in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, France and Austria. Their first stop in Slovakia was right here in Banská Bystrica to spend the day with Narnia Elementary School and give a concert downtown in the historic Town Hall.
We have two big events coming up in May and July as the school year comes to a close. Trinity Ensemble will arrive May 16 from Deerfield, IL to make Banská Bystrica the first stop on their European tour. In July we will join forces with a team from Judson Baptist in Nashville, TN to put on an English day camp for fifth and sixth graders from the community.
Standardized testing results are in for the 2015-16 academic year. This is just the third year Narnia eighth graders take the “Komparo” tests but it looks like the results are coming in pretty consistently excellent.
Every year kids from Narnia who are in sixth grade or older have the chance to attend baptism preparation classes in the spring. This year six new Narnia kids (including our Elisabeth) publicly professed their faith in Christ.
This week at the seminary we are being visited by the Slovak accreditation committee. Specifically, they are arriving on Wednesday to meet with us and review…? Actually, no one is sure what’s going to happen.
Probably the highlight of highlights for Narnia Elementary School is the end of the year preparation for baptism. From grade one students at Narnia take “Evangelical Religion” classes where they learn about Christianity and faith in Christ. But kids 12 years old and up have the opportunity to participate in three weekend retreats held at the end of each school year. These retreats are for kids that are exploring their faith and who are thinking about the important step of baptism.
[Read more…]
Pretty much ever since arriving in Slovakia Jana has been involved with Narnia Elementary School. For two years now she’s worked part-time at the school directing English language musicals for grades 1-6.
This year Jana starts a new chapter by going full time. Along with the musicals, she also teaches English and music to first graders. She’s very happy that she’s able to incorporate her Music Together training into all of those activities. [Read more…]
There are several points in the movie “Joe Versus the Volcano” when Joe (Tom Hanks) finds himself in a tight spot but somehow, and by no effort of his own, he is saved from certain peril. On one occasion he was miraculously saved after his yacht was sunk in a storm at sea. Joe had four large water-tight trunks that he tied together and used as a raft until he floated aimlessly up to very island that was his original destination.
At the end of the movie Joe, true to his commitment to save the islanders and despite a new found love and reason to live, jumps into a volcano to meet with certain death. [Read more…]
