One of my fav shots - Kokrobite Beach

Wisdom Kids

Wisdom Kids

My Classroom

Grade 6 Students at Wisdom

Final Exams at Wisdom

I witnessed an event at Wisdom that under the circumstances most people would think it impossible. The last week at WIsdom before "vacating" for Christmas Break was FINALS WEEK! I did not know this until the last week in November when my principal told me to begin typing exam questions for each subject based on all material I taught from first semester. All grades would be taking a final exam and each student would pay about $2.00 for the exam to cover ink and paper cost. Ken, the principal, had a old computer from last year and a new "used" he had just purchased for this school year. If you could have seen Sir Eric, Sir Anthony, and Ken typing exams for the entire school. They typed every day all day for almost 2 weeks. Most teachers in the school do not have computer or typing skills so there was a limited number of teachers available to type the exams. A used printer was purchased just in time to print the exams. Printing is very expensive in Ghana so buying the printer was the right choice! My students in Grade 6 took a math, reading/comprehension, grammar/english, science and religion over 4 days. The mood around the school during exams was very different from what I have experienced in the US...the students were excited about exams!!!! I watched several of my students study by recopying their notes for each subject (this took many days). I reserved $25. from the Handbags by Ghana sale to pay the tuition for one of my students for 2nd semester but I was not sure who the scholarship would go to until exams were finished. Wonders, had been a great student all semester, he was respectful, a quiet student who always encouraged others to follow the rules, he lead by example, was diligent with his studies, and was a member of the computer club. Wonders had the top score on the math exam which was an 88% I was so impressed with how much he studied for this exam. He scored higher than some of my other students who had ranked at the top of the math class all semester. Wonders was awarded the scholarship for next semester. He will be able to attend Wisdom worry free and his family will be able to use the money that was set aside for school fees on something else the family needs. Thank you again to all my friends and family who purchased a Handbag made in Ghana...you made it possible for Wonders to receive this well deserved scholarship.

A Christmas Miracle

I have arrived home in the good old USA! I thought it would take me longer to readjust to the daily conveniences of life in the US like a car I can drive, running water, toilets that flush, refrigerators that work and any kind of food you desire but I have jumped right into American life again without hesitation which has surprised me but also scared me a little how easy it was. When I was in Ghana I was very aware of the amount of time I was away from my family and friends, I could feel it but after seeing my family and friends over the last few days I have felt like I just saw all of them 2 weeks ago. It is a very weird feeling!

I would like to share with everyone that the tuition for 4 of my Class 6 students for one semester at the Wisdom Academy in Kitase, Ghana will be paid for through a generous gift from Jack Reed and Nicole Vulgaris, a true Christmas miracle!!! 1 semester at Wisdom costs $25.00. 1 year is $75. This will allow those students to come to school everyday. Many times if a child is late on a payment they are not allowed to go to school until payment is made, this sometimes takes days which puts the student behind in his/her studies. I had a few students this past semester that missed 3 days in a row every month when school fees were due. If anyone would like to sponsor a student at Wisdom for 1 semester or possibly a full school year please visit....www.ghanawisdom.org