Some Spring Updates
Updates from the Ceramics Room
By Jameson
Black Forest Academy has now finished the third quarter for the year! It has been an extremely fun semester so far with two sections of ceramics 1, one section of ceramics 2 and (for the first time in my time here) one section of ceramics 3. As a teacher that has been through new beginnings for classes many times, I always look for new things to do and things that could be done differently than the last time I taught a class. This semester has been a good balance of new projects and updating previous projects to make them work more smoothly. Three times a week, students can access the ceramics room at the end of the day for half an hour. There are many students that are not part of the class that are able to learn how to make things out of clay. This has become a busy time with my classroom being filled with students working on clay and hanging out. It has been great to make more connections with some students that I have not been able to have in class yet and have a welcoming and comfortable space for them during Access Time. Some students seem to use it as a way to wind down at the end of the school day.
Ceramics 2 class working on their salt and pepper shakers.
Access time at the end of the day. The room is well used.
Detailed painting on a cylinder cup.
Field trip to a local Kandern potter
Two classes of advanced ceramic students were able to visit a local Kandern potter mid-March. It was so great for them to be able to see the potter work and also ask specific questions related to ceramics from a professional potter.
Here are the current projects we are making:
Ceramics 1 - Give One / Get One - Slab Mug Project – Students get to create textured slab mugs with the intention of making a set. One of the mugs should be given away to a friend / family and the other kept. When you are with that friend / family member you can share coffee or tea together with matching mugs.
Ceramics 2 & 3 - Kandern Inspiration Project - Both of these classes are working on completing their Kandern Museum show artwork for the upcoming art show in April. As a class, I brought each group to different pottery shops in town to study the style of Kandern pottery. Students were to work from a current or historical Kandern style for an artwork they create through hand-building or on a pottery wheel.
What’s Coming Up
Gnome Hunt 2024
Gnome Hunt 2024 will be happening the week after spring break! Each of the ceramics 1 students created a gnome with a personality. Over 40 gnomes will be hidden around the campus of BFA in a school-wide scavenger hunt. This year’s event will be more complicated with several routes of clues to follow in order to complete the hunt. It has been fun involving some of the students in some of the preparations and planning this year.
Second Annual Student Ceramic Art Show
A ceramics student art show will be held from the end of April to the beginning of June in collaboration with the local history and ceramics museum here in Kandern. Look for an update from us after the opening of the show. I’m so proud of my students as they have a genuine desire to connect with their German neighbors by participating in a show about Kandern.
Updates from the Health Office, Small Group and Family Life
In the health office we have sensed a theme these past few weeks, one that we, as Believers, often need a reminder of…God provides.
We saw God answer prayers for new staff (something that we have been praying about for the upcoming school year as two of our nurses are moving this summer) Our new nurse, Sarah, arrived in February. We have other staff who are expected to arrive this summer. Right now we are a team of four. (pictured left at the high school retreat)
An unexpected and surprising provision happened the other month…It was a Wednesday in January, when Zach and Kara were talking about supplies that we need in the health office or things that need to be updated. At the time we had a sports therapy table in our office that was getting a little wobbly and needed to be replaced. They looked up the price for a new table and saw that it wouldn’t be something in the health office budget at the time and would need to be revisited or we would need to come up with something else for the time being.
Thursday morning, we received a text from a Physical Therapist we partner with saying that she had a friend who just happened to be getting rid of a sports therapy table and that it would be free if we would be able to pick it up that weekend. That Sunday afternoon, the table was loaded into one of the BFA vans and brought to our office. (Pictured to the left) This table also is adjustable and is quite an upgrade from our previous table. The PT had no idea that Kara and Zach were looking at prices for one of them the day before. When we told her the story, she said she just felt a nudge to reach out to BFA.
We hadn’t asked and God still provided. His goodness can be surprising during times when we may not expect it or even be looking or asking for it.
Tuesday nights continue to be a highlight of every week as they are small group night! This year we have had some great conversations and I’ve seen the girls deepen their relationships with each other. We also meet every other Friday at BFA during lunch. In February we went on the high school retreat, where we stayed in a hostel across the border in Switzerland. We had a speaker come for the weekend and talk more about this years theme of ‘surrender’ and what that looks like in the Bible. We had small group discussions after the sessions, where we could dive in deeper as a small group. Some other high-lights included: ice skating, dodgeball tournament, mega relay, silent disco, snacks, walks, worship though singing, and the sun shining during our time outside.
Above: driving girls home after small group on a snowy night. They were thrilled about all the snow.
Left: A combined small group night last Tuesday before spring break with a bonfire, food, and fellowship at a bonfire pit that we hiked up to in the woods.
We keep learning more about German culture. The picture above with Amber and her scooter, was taken they day after the Kandern Fasching parade, when the streets are covered with confetti. Nathan’s German has really picked up and he can carry on some conversations in German. Both he and Kara enjoy playdates with their German friends from Kindergarten. The bilingual elementary school that Joelle and Amber are at just had an open house for the incoming 1st graders the other week. Kara was able to attend the open house and is thrilled to start learning how to read and write more, as that is not something they work on in Kindergarten/Preschool here. We just submitted Joelle’s application for BFA middle school for next year. She has loved her time at her elementary school, has made good friends and is looking forward to being an official middle schooler this fall.
Spring is in full bloom here in Kandern and the days are getting longer and brighter after a very rainy few months. Happy [early] Easter from our family to you!
May we all continue to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” 2 Peter 3:18
by Kristen
P.S. Thank you so much for your interest in what we are doing here at BFA! As always, we love to hear from you as well! Grateful for you!