Team Building

Yesterday a group of 10 of us went down to Beit Sahour for some team building exercises. This year grades 5-10 will be working weekly with a group called PAIDIA. PAIDIA is an international organization with a  "mission is to engage individuals, especially youth, in ethical leadership development empowering them to transform themselves and their communities." To find out more about PAIDIA check out their website www.pidev.org or some videos on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/PaidiaMedia

We participated in some of the activities that our students will be involved in later. We got to check out their facility which is still in the process of being remodeled.  The really neat thing about PAIDIA is that not only are they building leadership, teamwork, and communication; they also are conservationist. Almost everything that they are using to remodel their facility is what can be considered trash. They are also teaching students to recycle and reuse. They are in the process of building a compost toilet. They are using old tires with cement to build the walls. It's a neat work in progress. Then we got to try their high-ropes course. Everyone who went up did a great job. Barrett, of course, had to out do everyone with this blind fold act!

My first year here, I was actually involved in a PAIDIA program with my 5th and 6th graders. They came to the school weekly and conducted team building and communicating exercises. The students loved it. Of course, they were missing a class each week and going outside. By the end of the school year, both classes had improved in their problem solving skills and communication with each other. I'm excited to be able to partner with PAIDIA again and see these skills develop in the current 5th grade class!

On a final note, we have a 5 day weekend! :) Whoo hooo!! It is the Eid (holiday) for Ramadan as well as Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year). So we are planning a day trip to Tel Aiv along with a lot of relaxing. I'll be filling you in on all the fun stuff soon!