Like Disneyland for Teachers

 Lilly celebrated her 9th birthday today.  Its hard to believe she is so old.  Actually, its only hard for me to note that I've been with her for an entire 9 years.  But she carries herself like a much older child and has for years.  She treats others with respect, strangers and adults as well as other children.  She is caring and worries about other people's feelings.  She is mature and she is brilliant and she is still child-like and sweet and loving, and we are so lucky to know her so well.

For her birthday, I brought muffins in to school.  Her teacher asked me to bring them at the beginning of lunch, and the kids could all sing to her in the lunchroom and then Annika and I could stay and eat with them.  It was loads of fun being in her school during the day, and watching her relate to the other kids and the environment around her.  Most of the boys crowded around one end of the table, and although they weren't very chatty with the girls, they did join in singing Happy Birthday nice and loud.  The girls chatted with me while I waited for Lilly to buy her lunch, and they were so excited to learn it was her birthday.  They were a lovely group of kids, and I feel so happy with where she has landed.

I was in her classroom yesterday morning as well, at the coffee morning for 4th grade parents.  This is where the grade level teachers invite the parents into the school for a chat about how the class works this year, and to answer any questions.  Her teacher came across as a seasoned and confident teacher who is very open to new ideas and updates.  They are integrating iPads into their classroom on a one-to-one scale, and finding exciting new ways to use them.  We will watch our kids grow as writers and mathematicians, and her teacher adds an extra focus on geography.

One parent asked a question about rotten language.  He's been hearing swear words from his 4th grader, and wonders how the teachers and the school manage language.  Lilly's teacher took the question very seriously, and made it clear that he does not put up with foul language.  Whenever he hears it, he says that language is not appropriate for the classroom.  Upon saying that once, the kids will police themselves.  From his desk, he will sometimes hear a child whisper to their neighbor that language is not appropriate for the classroom.

The kids sometimes run in the halls, he said jokingly.  This is the worst behavior they face.  Of course, kids lose focus and can't sit still, but that is part of being 9 years old.  These kids may lose focus, but they always stay well-behaved and respectful, compassionate and resilient.  He said that this school is like Disneyland for teachers.  Teachers stays here for ten or even twenty years, which is rare in the international school circuit.

I marveled at the kids over lunch.  Many of them spoke to me quite comfortable and confidently.  When they heard it was Lilly's birthday, they clear the space of honor for her at the lunch table.  Everyone sang out loud and clear.  And as they cleared their things to go to recess, probably half of the children went out of their way to thank me for the delicious muffins.

Jakarta may prove challenging in many ways, but this school has already made life here smooth.