Dice are rolling

This is the time of new beginnings. As every new academic year is about to start, the quiet anticipation of a new group of students in our classroom, and the expectation of facing new challenges and of continued growth give us an opportunity for reflection.

It's true that for most of us, the scents of summer beaches or deep green mountains still engulf us with a nostalgic taste. But at the same time, little by little the inexorably looming beginning of class pulls our attention and engages our energy. By now, with the several meetings and training workshops we get closer and closer to that special moment of a first class with a new group that, whether they'd be willing to admit it or not, are ready to fill notebooks, turn pages by the hundreds, crack a joke in the middle of a tense class moment, and together write the pages of a significant experience in the lives of yet another bunch of avid, irreverent, inquisitive, challenging, energetic teenagers. And we are getting ready to step up to the task.

For the first time since its foundation, the school will have one coordinator for the entire English program K-12. It's true that I'll be only a couple of hours per week in Kindergarten and the Primary School, and that my hours at the Secondary section will remain at the low 12 I had last year. However, even on a supervisory visit to the Aconquija Ave building once a week, I'm confident that little by little we shall become part of one single project, one program with everyone's joint effort in pursuit of the same goals. The training workshop this year has had this objective in mind.

This year has started with a few good and not so good news.

First and foremost, we all join our positive energy and prayers to support Cecilia's therapy after surgery and current treatment. She's likely to stay home till full recovery. We look forward to welcoming you back onboard, Ceci.

We are saying a brief goodbye to Omar. He'll be away for a year devoting his energy and many skills to a family enterprise. Even though we'll sorely miss you, we wish you best luck in this new challenge you're about to face.

We're excited to have Adelita back in Secondary School. She has moved from 6th to 8th grade. However, since she is on maternity leave till around May or June, Silvia Inochea will continue in 8th grade.

To replace Omar, we're happy to welcome back Elvirita. She's really excited to take on the challenge of teaching 7th graders and to join the 7th grade team.

These first weeks of 2009, I've had to face different types of situations I'd never faced at CSP before, and I've seen you all share your concern and preoccupation for anyone of us at a particular juncture in our lives. Once again, let me just say how lucky I feel to work with a group of people who are not only excellent teaching professionals but also the warmest and most caring individuals as well.

I wish you all a most rewarding and enriching 2009.