Teachers’ Day 2019
On October 4th, our school hosted Teachers’ Day events. The students in each class had come up with interesting and creative ways to spend time with teachers within one lesson. Students from grade 1 congratulated their teacher Ginita Petrovica with wishes attached to bright and colorful maple leaves. Grade 2 and 3 students greetes their teachers Ligita Treimane and Guntra Jansone with questions about their childhood, favorite subjects and other questions of interest to children. Grade 4 congratulated their teacher Sigeta Naudiņa with apricot muffins and other homemade gifts. Grade 5b students greeted their teacher Linda Brunava with a theatrical exclamation, while grade 5b students greeted their beloved teacher Santa Krūmiņa with roses and songs the children had learned. Grade 6a allowed their teacher Gundega Paure to play the role of a real lady with a fan and a hat for a moment, but grade 6b delighted teacher Anita Orehova with cookies, juice and candles. Grade 7 students tested their teacher’s Kristīne Vecbērza’s wit with tricky questions. Grade 8 had provided champagne and marshmallows to enjoy while watching the movie with their teacher Anda Bernāte. Grade 9a teacher Lienīte Gūtmane was introduced to the tasting of different meals, while grade 9b entertained their teacher Edgars Kviesis with questions and puzzles. Teachers Alla Ankmane and Sigita Rathena enjoyed elaborate cocktails and travel videos together with grade 10. Kristīne Neifelde, the teacher of grade 11, was greeted with a theatrical performance and various games. Students of grade 12 delighted teachers Vilnis Zarakauskis and Aija Valgelina with tea, chocolate cake and heart-warming conversations about life.
After these events in school, all teachers went to celebrate the holiday outside the school.
Asnate Feldmane
The first camp on our list was Vacation Bible School (VBS) camp. Bro. Mike Heim from First Baptist Church of White Oak, TX brought a team, and for a week, along with the youth of Talsi Christian School, we had camp for students of TCS grades 1-6. Since TCS is growing this was the biggest VBS camp: 140 people total, which is the maximum amount of people we can host at TCS, due to the limited space. Bible stories, crafts, music with motions and even sports taught kids about the Armor of God; how to defeat Satan and be victorious in Jesus. At the end of the camp during the church service many kids gave their lives to Jesus – what a day it was!!!! This is the camp where relationships between TCS high school students and primary school students are built; parents are thankful to American Christians for providing such wonderful camp. We thank and pray to God that we will be able to grow students in their walk with God during next school year.
The second camp was the Orphan camp – this was our 21st summer!!! It was a miracle that we had this camp, because people who were initially planning the camp had to cancel. Then 2 faithful families stepped in: The Sheridans from White Oak Community Church and The Middletons from Wildwood Community Church of Norman, OK and a young girl Magan Shalea from Lovelady Baptist Church Ada, OK – 8 people total did the camp! I was proud of students and graduates of Talsi Christian School who came and helped! The school cooks need a big shout out, they had our back through the entire summer, making sure the camps were always properly fed.
The third camp was the Youth camp: Seko Man (Follow me!) We celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Youth Camp! Brent and Karen Cooper from Lamar Baptist Church, Arlington, TX responded to God’s call to start the camp. This camp was set into motion through prayer; 12 years ago I saw that the majority of our students came from non-Christian families. I wanted somebody to teach them about the Bible and the core principles of leading a life fulfilled through God. Then after two years of praying and seeking answers, Brent and Karen asked: “Why not us..?!”
Another highlight of our summer was the visit of Choir of Singing Women of Oklahoma to TCS. Oklahoma Baptist Convention has official partnership with Baptist Convention of Latvia. So, 140 women came to Latvia to serve with worship songs and testimonies! It was very special: the choir that has sung in large Cathedrals and in Carnegie Hall in NY, sang in the gym of TCS. The ladies did a fantastic job. The gym was packed and I thanked God for the opportunity to introduce our guests with the Ministry of Talsi Christian School.
School year at Talsi Christian School is coming to the end and we thank God for a blessed year! Our students have done really well academically. We just celebrated our Scholastic Achievement night – students who have received awards in regional and national subject competitions as well as their parents were honored in a special celebration. We honored 92 students, which is 1/3 of our total student body. We thank God for every one of them!
Our students have developed a long-term relationship with children of Kakishi orphanage and the boarding school of our neighbor region. Many of these children come to our Orphan camp in the summer. Once a month TCS students go there to put on a program, share their faith, pray, play with kids and do spiritual teachings in small groups. It is a special time for both parties, – orphans and disabled kids from the boarding school meet
We are getting ready for the upcoming summer camps. We will have VBS: June 15- 19. Bro Mike Heims of Baptist Church of White Oak, TX is bringing a team to lead the camp. Orphan camp will be June 21 – 25; Bro. Bruce Hess of Wildwood Community Church, Norman, OK is bringing a team for this camp and The Youth camp is planned for June 27 – July. Brent and Karen Cooper; members of Lamar Baptist church Arlington, TX are bringing a team to lead the camp. Our youth will be small group leaders, interpreters and helpers in the camps and I am already excited what great things God will accomplish through these camps.
Talsi Christian School has outgrown its facilities. We started TCS in two several hundred years old buildings; in 1999 we finished the first addition with cafeteria and junior high classes; in 2005 we finished handicapped accessible high school building and gym. In order to accomplish the last building project we had to raise about a million USD and I thought we would never need to build again!