Holy Cross re-opened today after a 2 week break. I heard a couple of teachers say what I always do at the end of a long vacation -- "if I just had a few more days..."
We began the day with news of a tragedy. One of the children in Standard II was killed in a car wreck in Guatemala over Easter weekend. She and her family were there for her grandmother's funeral and unknowingly drove off into a place where a mudslide had washed out the road awhile back. There is an older sister who also attends Holy Cross. The family has not returned to San Pedro yet. I spent time in both classrooms this morning, providing what comfort I could, allowing the children to share stories and concerns and saying prayers for Gabriela and her family. Many of the children and teachers didn't learn about the accident until they came to school this morning. In chapel on Thursday, we will honor her life and say special prayers for her and her family. The children in both classes are making cards for her family. It was a very difficult day. So sad to lose a young child so suddenly.
Work continued on construction projects at Holy Cross over the break. The cafeteria floor has a new coat of paint and looks so nice. The classrooms were cleaned top to bottom and were sparkling clean to greet the classes today. The bottom floor of the new septic system has walls and a floor. I still don't understand how all this works but will be anxious to see the rest take shape.
There is also now a large flat area of land behind the library and adjacent to the construction shed. Somebody has shoveled a whole lot of sand since the St. Luke's team began filling in that space in February.
There is a new teacher in Infant I. Ms. Nadime had the opportunity to transfer to a school near her home of San Ignacio. Our new teacher comes from St. Barnabas School in Central Farm -- the site of an earlier St. Luke's mission trip. She worked all weekend making the classroom her own and was hard at work with her class today.
It's very quiet here in Paradise Villas. Most of the long-term residents have returned to the US or Canada. Rentals are way down because of the economy. This tourist season has been even bleaker than last year. It is hoped things will pick up soon.
I must go and put the finishing touches on my income taxes. I was all set to move into the 21st century and e-file them yesterday, only to learn that my return is not eligible -- it contains too many copies of one particular form. So.... I will print and mail, the old fashioned way. With the experience many of us have had with the mail, I think it's good that I applied for an extension before I left home. Snail mail lives up to its name in Belize.
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