End of the 2008/09 School Year

Life Skills Class
AKA ~ Coffee House

Our Life Skills class/Coffee House took place on Fridays. We had our last one before final's week.
This semester we had a once a week class at our house to give the kids pointers on life beyond HS. We talked about things like: how to do laundry (in the States); finances & budgeting; writing thank-you notes (that is cultural to North America and not South America); simple car maintenance; general household maintenance; life away from home for the first time issues; and of course, how to make excellent iced coffee. :o)
We love having the students into our home, and value this time to build relationships with them.

The week before finals week was Spirit Week in the Junior High and High School.
This day was Crazy Hair and Clothes Day.
I think both Nate & Lizzy fit right in for this day.
~~~
Karen's EFL Class

At the end of each semester, I host breakfast at my house for my English as a Foreign Language (EFL) class. Everyone brings something and it's a great way to interact together and practice that English they have been studying all semester.

Here are the students that came to breakfast. Only half of my class of 18. I have a wide mix of people in my class...high school students, college students, doctoral students, business professionals, pastors, and more. It's a fun class and I love interacting with them.

Karine & Gaby, two HSers in my EFL class. They came to the AVA HS play.
~~~
"Curse You, Jack Dalton"
A One Act Melodrama

Seven students & one staff member made up the cast of this Spring's HS play.

Hero Jack Dalton (Nathanael) saves his sweetheart, Bertha (Mishaela Parker), from the horrid villain, Egbert Van Horn (Andrew Johnson).

The villain is caught, the hero gets his girl, and everyone -- except the villain and villainess -- live happily ever after.
It was a awesome play with some super acting!!
Lots of laughs for everyone who attended!!

Hannah with her hero, Jack Dalton!

Lizzy wishes they had a Junior High Drama Club. She'd love another chance on the stage.
~~~
After School Fun

We went to the mall as a family so celebrate the ending school year, and watched Night in the Museum 2. What an incredibly funny movie! We really enjoyed it. It was in English with Portuguese subtitles.
~~~

Spring Piano Recital

All four of the kids participated in the piano recital. We are so blessed to have such a great piano teacher here at AVA. They all take lessons at school during the school day. It is great to hear how they improve each semester.

Hannah with her friend Susan Moon.

Lizzy with her Swiss friend Sarah Hollenstein.
~~~
Senior Banquet

Each year our Junior Class plans a banquet honoring our Seniors.
This year's theme was "Night with the Stars."
We all enjoyed a wonderful meal of regional foods, entertainment, & fun.
The Seniors are given a gift to help them remember their time at AVA. This year they got a box with their class picture and verse on it. Very cool.

Ronda Hagar shows us the regional foods that we had to eat...vatapa, feijoada, file, and arroz Para style. We then had a super, yummy variety of regional ice cream flavors and cakes, like cupuacu, tapioca, acai, abacaxi, bacuri, and more.

It was fun having a HSer of our own at the banquet this year.
The banquet is attended by the HSers, the Senior's families, & the HS staff.
It was a great evening for everyone who went.
~~~
Awards Chapel
Awards Chapel is the last Friday of each year.
Students get various awards for Bible memory, Reading, Honor Roll, Athletic Ability, and more.

Praise Band led worship for the last Chapel of the year.
Nathanael is one of the keyboard players for Praise Band.

Caleb with his class as their various awards are presented. Among his awards were Bible, Reading, A Honor Roll, and Perfect Attendance.

Some awards Hannah received were Bible, Reading, and A Honor Roll.
Nathanael & Elisabeth also got a bunch of awards, including the A Honor Roll.
We're proud of all four of our kids. They did great this year!
~~~
Amazon Valley Academy
HS Graduation
June 5th, 2009

AVA graduated 6 Seniors this year. We had a great graduation ceremony.
Here the seniors are singing the hymn "In Christ Alone."
May each of them always live in Christ alone.

Here we are with Mishaela Parker, this year's Valedictorian.
Congratulations to all of our Seniors!
You guys are all special to us and we will miss you!