Jungle Ball

 At the center of Sylvester Village is a community 'park' with soccer field, a large palapa, and plenty of room to run around and play.

Prior to our second soccer match last school year, versus the Linda Vista School from Blue Creek, we moved the school's volleyball net to the village so that the Casey Community School and Linda Vista School girls could have a friendly volleyball match while the boys played soccer.

The initial introduction of the volleyball court in the village was a success.  It created a co-ed sport opportunity that could be enjoyed by both students and community members. 

 In the late afternoon it has been common for groups of kids to come to the field to play volleyball and soccer. 

After the workday in Gallon Jug is done, groups of adults join in on the action and the games steadily grow more competitive. 

Even a parrot decided to stop by and check out the action.  As someone who has limited to no time for soccer, I've enjoyed being able to head over to the village a few times a week to get in on the games. 
In a few weeks we will begin having volleyball practices and officially add a new sport to the docket at the Casey Community School, which in the past has only had boys soccer. 


An Homage to Pouch Water

Though preparations for the impending school year have been happening since before last school year ended, today was the first day that I've been back in the school since leaving for the summer.  We have three hardworking ladies from the Gallon Jug sauce works that are helping to give the school a thorough cleaning. 
With the warm weather and hard work I picked up the first bags of pouch water for the school year earlier today.

Pouch water, for those unfamiliar with the concept, are little bags of drinking water, that happen to come in big bags.  I wont pretend to know the commercial or environmental impact of such packaging, but I do find them quite enjoyable to drink, and you can't help but to toss them when giving them to kids - which also makes them fun - though none have yet popped like a water balloon.
I've come across pouch beverages other places during my travels, but only in Belize have I seen them so closely resemble ice packs, which they do serve reasonably well as.  My go to treatment at the school for everything from headaches to bug bites is to have the ailing student hold a pouch water on the spot that hurts until it cools off, and then drink the water.  Works every time.
My favorite pouch water memory to date happened while snorkeling in San Pedro.  As people returned to the boat, the crew offered them beverages.  One guy asked for a water, just as he was biting into it an overzealous friend slapped it away, thinking that it was an icepack.

Thank you pouch water for the refreshment and entertainment!

Casey Community School Graduation 2013

Enjoying their final moments as students.

Last minute program check.

Mr. Tom ready to play in the opening procession.

Class Awards

Class Awards

Two of our Kindergarten graduates.

Sharing the gift of song.

Graduate Addresses

 

Almost that time!

The graduated class of 2013

'The Candle Song' a Casey Community School tradition.

The first candle is lit by the valedictorian.  The flame is then passed to the Standard 5 students.

 Congratulations Class of 2013!

End of the School Year (mostly) in Photos

School Trip
First stop:

The Belize Zoo is a simple but beautiful zoo.  Set on a small acreage outside of Belize City, the zoo was opened in the early 90s to take in abandoned animals that were used in the filming of a movie. 

 Only animals native to Belize can be found in the zoo.  All of the animals were rescued (many of them 'nuisance' animals that would have been killed), or animals born in captivity.  

 

The purpose of the Belize Zoo is to provide educational opportunities for Belizeans to learn about the wide array of animals found in this small country.  Most Belizeans don't get the opportunity to interact with wild animals on a daily basis, like those of us lucky enough to be living in Gallon Jug.

 Even when you do see wild animals every day, it's still pretty awesome to see a jaguar close up!

Can you spot the jaguar in this picture?

Fifty-three of us visited the zoo.  The cost $53 Belize ($26.50 USD).  In Belize, and even in Gallon Jug there are many misconceptions, misunderstandings, and 'Old wives tales' about the animal inhabitants.  There were many signs like the one below trying to dispel these harmful myths.

Second stop:

 Old Belize is a museum/ educational center that shares history of Belize from the time of the Maya to the present day through interactive displays.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention that Old Belize has a water park too!

Jaguar Researchers Visit Casey Community School

We have a group from Virginia Tech in Gallon Jug doing research on the jaguar population in the area.  Around 100 trail cameras have popped up around Gallon Jug as part of the research. 

 On the second to last day of school we were lucky enough to have the researchers stop by to show us some of the pictures they have captured, as well as give the students a chance to learn how the trail cameras work.

 And of course, the students got to get their pictures taken while doing their best jaguar impressions.

Last Day of School

Cleaning, games, and watermelon.