This is a reprint of the e-mail that Br. Ray sent each of us today:
To our Missionaries,
Tomorrow, you will begin your long-anticipated journey from Manhattan College to Namibia! This global awareness adventure will impact your lives, the lives of your future students and the schools you will be teaching at in the future. This trip will not only broaden your horizons as a future educator but it will also promote within you a sense of global awareness and global thinking - a MUST for highly effective teachers of the 21st century.
I have faith that each of you are ready for this life-changing experience. It will be an exciting adventure! I have no doubt you will bring the charism of De La Salle and the Ideals of Kappa Delta Pi to the young people of Namibia by reaching out and "touching their minds and hearts." You need only to bring the essentials: a willingness to get your hands dirty and a desire to help others who are less fortunate than you.
I hope you bring your small "mirrors" with you as a reminder that you are going to be "reflectors of the light" - the light of knowledge, truth, understanding, and love to the people you encounter on your journey.
Sometimes we get angry at God when we see poverty, hunger, conflict, violence, etc. and ask Him, "Why do you permit this stuff to happen? Why don't you do somthing about it?" I would expect his answer to be: "I certainly did do something. I MADE YOU!" Each of us is truly one of God's angels on earth. He has given us everyting we need to make a difference. You can also be sure that God has gone to Namibia to prepare for your arrival and will be with you and protect you as you do His Work. He will give you the strength to carry out this mission.
.
I wish I could be with you - I know you will all do well! I especially would love to be there for the sessions of reflection on your experiences. I'm sure that the Owl of Minerva will be with all of you. I especially want to thank the Dean, Dr. Nicholson, Br. Augustine, Dr. McCarthy, and the members of the group who worked hard and came to all the meetings in order for this trip to become reality.
I celebrate you, your generosity, and your courage to volunteer to help these young people of Namibia! We will pray for you each day.
Enjoy the Journey!
Brother Ray
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
So soon!
Words cannot begin to describe how excited I am for this trip. I cannot believe how soon it is! I have been stressing out about all of the packing and the little details but once I think about our arrival in Namibia and how incredible of an experience it will be, it all seems more than worth it! This is a once-in a lifetime opportunity and I am so thankful that I was able to take part in it!
One Step Closer
There was a special feeling that I used to get that would take over my mind and body when I used to lace up my sneakers for a basketball game. It was a feeling that I got when I had faith in myself and in my teammates. This feeling let me know that we had prepared ourselves as best as we could for those four quarters spent on the court, to do what we had set out to do. Everything was silent in a noisy high school gym, but I stayed focused and could feel the composed energy of my team lifting me to believe that anything was possible at this instant. This feeling only lasted a few moments at most, but in those quick blurs, my mental preparedness and confidence meant everything, not only to me but to my teammates as well. Once I graduated high school and no longer played basketball competitively, I lost this feeling, this rush to do what I was so ready to do and so passionate about. I spent the first three years of my college career trying to find this alternate state of consciousness in other things. I think I finally have found it...
As I sit here trying to organize and reorganize my thoughts, nerves, apprehensions, excitement, and my luggage(yikes!) to prepare myself for this journey, I realize something that is key. It is within these wee hours of the night that I begin to feel that rush take over me as if I were stepping onto the basketball court once again. My body goes off to another place, my mind follows, and it is only my team and I taking action together, reaching for our common goal. This full body and mind experience is at first unfamiliar. But immediately, I bring myself to the conclusion that teaching and learning is what my team and I have spent years on opening our minds to and working to perfect, this is what we do best. This is our passion.
We have not left the USA yet, but I am already learning so much about myself as a teacher and how I want to be a life long learner. I am so ready.
As I sit here trying to organize and reorganize my thoughts, nerves, apprehensions, excitement, and my luggage(yikes!) to prepare myself for this journey, I realize something that is key. It is within these wee hours of the night that I begin to feel that rush take over me as if I were stepping onto the basketball court once again. My body goes off to another place, my mind follows, and it is only my team and I taking action together, reaching for our common goal. This full body and mind experience is at first unfamiliar. But immediately, I bring myself to the conclusion that teaching and learning is what my team and I have spent years on opening our minds to and working to perfect, this is what we do best. This is our passion.
We have not left the USA yet, but I am already learning so much about myself as a teacher and how I want to be a life long learner. I am so ready.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The 12 Virtues of a Good Teacher
(12 key virtues listed by DeLaSalle)
I. Gravity (Seriousness)
Teachers earn respect by acting with dignity. They cultivate an assured and calming presence.
II. Silence
The classroom atmosphere should normally be harmonious and quiet, leading to more effective teaching. The teacher will not talk too much.
III. Humility
We are human. We make mistakes. We therefore never abuse our powers and instead make pupils feel respected.
IV. Prudence
Teachers use their common sense, understanding what they need to do and what they need to avoid when dealing with children.
V. Wisdom
The teacher’s knowledge and experience is applied with sound judgement. Wisdom may take time to acquire.
VI. Patience
The teacher who can keep cool, composed and even-tempered will be a better educator.
VII. Reserve (Self-control)
De La Salle wants teachers to control themselves and show restraint in the face of annoyance.
VIII. Gentleness
Firmness and authority is tempered with kindness and courtesy such that the teacher is always approachable.
IX. Zeal
The Lasallian teacher is dedicated and committed whether it be in class preparation, correcting work, encouraging effort, supervising or coaching.
X. Vigilance
The teacher is to be observant and discerning so as to promote values and prevent damage and danger. A caring teacher is vigilant.
XI. Piety
The teacher, knowing each pupil is a child of God, will confide them to God’s protection while doing everything possible to prepare them for life.
XII. Generosity
This puts service before personal convenience. De La Salle wants teachers to be unselfish in their giving, always available and approachable whether in or out of the classroom.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
We Will Soon Be Off To Namibia
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| Map of Namibia Click to Enlarge |
This is the first of many blog posts detailing the trip of 8 Manhattan College students to Windhoek, Namibia. The students will be accompanied by Dean William Merriman, Dr. Karen Nicholson, Br Augustine Nicoletti, and Dr. Peter McCarthy. The purpose of this long journey to the other side of the world is to visit and work in The Bernhard Nordkamp Center.
The Bernhard Nordkamp Centre is part of Catholic Aids Action and occupies premises in Katutura owned by the Catholic Church in Namibia. It regularly serves as a haven for over 250 children. The BNC objectives are to provide these children with a balanced programme of activities which will meet their individual needs, but above all, will equip them to be positive, well educated and contributing adult members of society. To achieve this, the Centre has provided sporting, cultural, social and hand craft opportunities for its children. To date, the Centre has operated its educational programmes in an ad hoc manner, driven largely by the commitment and skill of the volunteers available. This provides no certainty for the Centre and no continuity for the children.
During the last year, as the Centre has helped enrol children in local schools, it has become evident that their success as adults requires greater emphasis on succeeding in their academic lives. Their sporting and cultural achievements now need to be repeated in the classroom. To do this effectively, the Centre cannot rely solely on itinerant volunteers. Even though its Director, MaryBeth Gallagher has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of Elementary Education, she cannot provide overall leadership as well as the teaching for the wide range of activities in which the children are engaged on a daily basis at the Centre.
So the BNC’s primary mission is to facilitate education as a means of combating the very eroding effects of poverty. That must be one of the most important building blocks in developing healthy, positive and enthusiastic children firmly rooted in participation in quality education. To move ahead to the next level of providing a balanced and wide ranging skill set to equip these children for their future lives, it is vital that the Centre introduces a positive and proactive educational component which supplements the children’s school programme and further provides an environment in which homework and study are paramount. For most part, their home environments do not enable any form of quality learning.
During the last year, as the Centre has helped enrol children in local schools, it has become evident that their success as adults requires greater emphasis on succeeding in their academic lives. Their sporting and cultural achievements now need to be repeated in the classroom. To do this effectively, the Centre cannot rely solely on itinerant volunteers. Even though its Director, MaryBeth Gallagher has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of Elementary Education, she cannot provide overall leadership as well as the teaching for the wide range of activities in which the children are engaged on a daily basis at the Centre.
So the BNC’s primary mission is to facilitate education as a means of combating the very eroding effects of poverty. That must be one of the most important building blocks in developing healthy, positive and enthusiastic children firmly rooted in participation in quality education. To move ahead to the next level of providing a balanced and wide ranging skill set to equip these children for their future lives, it is vital that the Centre introduces a positive and proactive educational component which supplements the children’s school programme and further provides an environment in which homework and study are paramount. For most part, their home environments do not enable any form of quality learning.
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