End of School Year

The Southern Hemisphere is in summer and the school year is ending.  Here are pictures of “end of year school events and graduation 2014."

External Exams are administered by the Ministry of Education at the end of each school year.  These exams are required to promote to the next grade.

Sister Holbrook helping give awards from the Honor Stage

The Senior Class and their Principal Fafafehi Fifita

Outstanding Senior Students and recognition leis

Graduation Procession down center aisle and up to the stage

Graduation Ceremony

Graduation Celebrations with leis placed layer after layer by family and friends

Graduation Ball ... a fanfare celebratory event for graduates and family

Floor Show

 

A Funeral For a Princess

Princess Elisiva Fusipala passed away.  She is a cousin to the King.  Members of the Royal Family traditionally belong to the Wesleyan Church and Royals must marry other Royals.  Nobel Vahai and Princess Fusipala married and moved to California.  While in California Princess Fusipala was introduced to the LDS Church, took the missionary discussions and joined the Church 1989.  Nobel Vahai did not join the church until after his death in 2005 and The Princess and Nobel Vahai were sealed in the Temple. (think about that).  The Princess' funeral was held at a Stake Center, but because it was a Funeral for a Royal Family member special preparations had to be made at the church.

All the benches were removed from the chapel.  A platform was set up for the casket.  A second platform was set up for the King and Queen.  Matting was placed on the floor to represent Royal Space and blue felt chairs were put in place for the Royal Family to sit on.  All other attendees sat in the over flow/gym area.  Speakers where the Mission President, Temple President, Area Seventy and Area Presidency Counselor (who is Samoan). It was a great funeral and the Royal Family was taught well on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Princess was taken by hearse to her village and placed on another platform.













The Princess was carried on the shoulders of 30 men wearing traditional mourning clothing of black shirts, black tupenu (skirt) and grass tavalas.  A band led the procession playing funeral march music while the pallbearers carried the Princess to the cemetery about 1 mile in distance.




























At the cemetery the grave was dedicated, a family member spoke, and then the pallbearers transferred the casket to the grave, capped it and then fresh sand from the beach was placed over the grave.  Note matting was placed on the ground everywhere in her honor and in respect for being Royal.

Family members in traditional mourning attire sitting on tapa matting at the cemetery.  After words a big feast had been prepared by the villagers for all who wished to stay and socialize.

What We Do at Liahona High

We were called to be adjunct professors and to teach BYU-H Dept. of Education courses to members of the Liahona Staff who need to earn their "teaching certificate."  A diploma or certificate are not required to be hired as a teacher, as all secondary schools are 'private.'  LDS schools require new hires to earn a 'teacher certificate' by taking 10 required BYU-H courses which are taught by ITEP (International Teacher Education Program) Missionaries.  We have a handful of teachers who are taking the courses each afternoon after the students return home.  During the day we prepare our lessons for the courses and do classroom observations and give general support to the school.  Right now Bryce is teaching Technology in the Classroom on Mondays, Sherrie is teaching Human Growth and Development on Wednesdays, and we co-teach on Tuesday and Thursdays Effective Pedagogy and the Classroom.               This is the best mission in the church!

 Faculty members and Sister Holbrook standing in the back

Men of the faculty huddled together in faculty meeting 

Sister Holbrook teaching one of her afternoon classes 

Elder Holbrook's Technology class 

 

Elder Holbrook asking his class a real hard question ... or maybe it was just a dumb question!

World Teachers Day

 

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, established World Teachers' Day with the purpose to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed by the vital work of teachers.  Over 100 countries observe WTD, including Tonga.  School was cancelled across the island and ALL the teachers from ALL the Education Systems marched in a parade from Vanu Wharf to Teufaiva Stadium.

 The Ministry of Education sponsors primary schools (elementary) Class 1 through 6.  Secondary Education (Form 1 – 7 as they call each class, corresponding with our Grade levels of 7 – 13) is sponsored by other Church Organizations, Roman Catholic Schools, Free Wesleyan Schools, LDS Schools, Seventh Day Adventist Schools, Ocean of Light Schools, Anglican Schools, Free Church of Tonga Schools, and Tokaikolo Schools.   The Minister of Education and Staff led the Parade followed by Liahona High School Band and other LDS school entries.

Other school entries then followed and the parade lasted 30 minutes.  

At the Stadium each school sponsored a performance in recognition of teachers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our performers.  They really like the camera!

It was an eventful day with a lot of effort made in behalf of teacher recognition.

Schools In Tonga

Liahona High is the Church's Flagship School in the Pacific.  Other church schools on the islands of Samoa, Kirbati, and Fiji are a close second, but Liahona is the largest and nicest facility.  Below are some pictures of classrooms with students and teachers.  These will not look so different from the classrooms you remember as a student, but probably not as nice as the classrooms you see in today's modern schools in the states. 

Below are some pictures to give you a comparison of other schools on the island. 

This picture is looking from the road across the grounds of an elementary (primary) school.

GPS stands for Government Public School and Kahoua is the village name. 

This is a  primary school Class 1 thru Class 6 

Notice the sign "From the People of Japan" -- much aide is given to Tonga from Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Here is a primary classroom.  Two-to-a-bench and table is the norm. This class has flooring covering the concrete, most GPS do not have this nicety.

All Secondary Schools are sponsored by outside organizations or churches.     Here are some pictures of a Queen Solete High School -- double story buildings 

Here is a math classroom ... notice the environment and bench / tables

 

 

Another high school visit took us St. Andrews Anglican High School

I casually walked around and took pictures while Elder Meyers was talking to the office.  I felt comfortable and walked into the art classroom and found the art teacher.  He saw my name tag and gave me a Tongan check greeting and then told me he was a returned missionary, married in the temple and lives in the village behind Liahona, named Kahoua.  We had a very pleasant visit and upon leaving I in turn gave him a Tongan check goodbye, which he warmly accepted.