News - Centru Tbexbix - Sunrise Centre

November 2009 Newsletter

Welcome to the November newsletter of Centru Tbexbix.

November was another month full of activity, also characterised by special projects which we have been working on for some time and seem to be close to materialising.

Book project

One such project is the second book which we hope to be publishing soon. Throughout November the children were working on the material for the book which will be entitled “I Love This Tiny Green Island”. It will be a portrayal of feelings and expressions (in writing, drawing, etc) about the special characteristics of “this tiny green island” both on a physical level as well as on a deeper subtler level. In the photo our older girls are creating a game where players are rewarded for benevolent behaviour and punished for actions which harm the environment, our heritage, etc.

Creating the Book

English time...

For almost four years now, the English Club has been a popular programme especially among the parents who are noticing the difference in school grades in English language for all the children who have joined since the programme started. For the last six months Katrine Kinch, our Danish volunteer, has had an active role in preparing and implementing a variety of activities for the English club, always with the objective to give the children as much exposure to English as possible, help them improve all the English language skills and have fun while learning. She writes:

"To be a teacher in the English Club with Katherine is the best thing for me. Not only do the children learn a lot, but I also end every lesson with newly gained experience. Planning the lessons and carrying them out might be challenging, yet rewarding in many ways. To see my idea put into practice, to see the children having fun while learning, to see them eager or concentrated - it all makes me delighted and motivated to carry on. One of the most important things is the discovery that learning is not necessarily boring. One can play and learn at the same time. Language games are much more fun than the teacher’s one-way communication.

That is why our children have been playing word bingo, memory games and circle games with flash cards. Of course they also need to practise their writing skills and use their fantasy.

For this reason Air group have written stories about our summer outings on behalf of Bixu (our summer mascot). We also look for appropriate pictures which they interpret in writing and afterwards read out aloud to the rest of the group. Water group have been working with consonant blends, and they are really good at the phonic pronunciation. Our youngest group, Fire, learn a new letter of the alphabet every lesson, and they simply love to colour, cut and paste the pictures beginning with the new letter in question. We begin every lesson with revising the vocabulary from previous times, and they are very eager to call out the words aloud.

Now my time as English teacher is soon over and I want to say good luck to the one replacing me. The more you engage in your job and the better you are prepared for your lessons, the more enjoyable it will be."

Our children like to read !

Reading club is another programme which has become popular. All our volunteers are involved in this. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, a number of children have a half-hour one to one session with one of us. Depending on their level of reading skills, a book is chosen and for half an hour the place is quiet… everyone is sitting in a corner somewhere, upstairs, downstairs, in the yard, on the stairs, completely immersed J Tutors check understanding and choose difficult words to write on flash cards for the children to take home to practice.

Chiara helping with reading

Katrine helping with reading

Apart from this, many times when the children are quick to finish their work they are “allowed” to go to the library and choose a book. The library is many times a “bonus” for good behaviour and there are many other instances when we include a few minutes of reading. Many of the children have now started taking books regularly to read at home.

Children at the library

In the kitchen

Making cookies is another favourite activity with our children. That is why whenever the opportunity arises, a special event like a farewell for one of our volunteers, or with Christmas approaching, all groups take turns to be in the kitchen, mixing dough and baking biscuits.

In the kitchen

Hosting schoolchildren

Apart from the new programme for schools Yoga Shoots, bringing pupils from other schools to Centru Tbexbix for an experience of Neohumanistic education, which we will write about in our next newsletter, this month we were happy to host a group of thirty girls from St Margaret’s College of Cottonera, who participated in a leadership seminar organised by their PSD teachers. In the photo Katherine is speaking to the girls about our food guidelines and other Centru Tbexbix practices.

Hosting School children

Good standards

Since we started receiving EU grants for hosting EVS volunteers under the Youth in Action Programme, we are constantly being assessed and monitored to make sure our programmes meet the benchmarks required to be able to continue benefiting from these funds. One such monitoring visit was done at the end of this month and we are happy that our performance till now satisfies the requirements of the European Union Programmes Agency.

Meanwhile:

Inspired?

There are many different ways how to contribute to the success of Centru Tbexbix. Through volunteering (in classes, administration, odd jobs, maintenance), donations in kind or financially, etc. The opportunities are endless.

One way to support the efforts of Centru Tbexbix is through the "Friends of Centru Tbexbix" scheme with a small monthly contribution by standing order. Centru Tbexbix holds the following accounts: HSBC 013-085675-001 and BoV 400-1705136-1.

For more information on how you can help, call us on 21/27 805130 or send an email to tbexbix@gmail.com.

This newsletter will be coming to you every end of the month, with the intention of keeping regular contact with the growing circle of friends of Centru Tbexbix, keeping everyone informed of what is happening as well as sharing the inspiration of this blossoming community project. The intention is to keep it brief and factual. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.