School Begins!

On a little more serious note, and to the reason that we are really here, school began last Wednesday, Aug. 26! The first three days consisted of us getting to know the students and how things work around the school. This Monday began our first full week of school and the start of a little more work!

Brandon began all his P.E. classes this week. He has all of elementary P.E. as well as middle school boys P.E. He is great with the kids and they just love him! They hang on everything he says and does...I am going to be just Mr. Wilcox's wife soon! He works them hard too...they don't get away with anything during his class! When basketball season comes he is also going to help coach the varsity basketball team, which he is really excited about! Everyone is really thankful that Brandon is here because they have many more women staff than men, and they have really emphasized the need for male role models at school.

I (Melissa) still have not begun counseling students yet, as it is just the fifth day of school, and not all the students know me very well yet. However, I am putting together a lesson for each month of school that I am going to be teaching in each classroom. Each month will be a new topic and I will go into the classrooms for 20-30 minutes and discuss the topic with the students. So far I only have elementary school planned and these are the topics we are going to discuss: differences, conflict resolution/bullying, self-esteem, healthy living, happiness and playing, being a good friend, and handling emotions/anger management. I will also be meeting with all the new students in the next couple of weeks to talk to them about how they are adjusting. Something I was not planning on, but am now doing, is helping to coach the varsity volleyball team! I am getting more excited about it now, but the thought made me a little nervous at first! It has been a long time!

We are both really excited for what God has planned for us this school year. We feel like we were called here for a reason and we ask that you would continue to pray as we embark on all that he has called us to do.

We miss you all back home! Come and see us if you can!! :)