Fall EFL planning

A dozen James Lees, Covenant Community, and Crescent Hill folks gathered Wednesday to plan the next term of English as a foreign language classes. The group agreed that the term should run from Monday, October 3, through Monday, November 21 (the Monday before Thanksgiving), accepted Sky (or Schuyler) Olt (Crescent Hill’s new seminary intern and an EFL old hand, pictured below) as a site coordinator, and agreed that we should ask Emiliano if he would serve as child care coordinator (with some compensation).

The lack of availability of a couple of teachers during September, plus the suggestion that terms not run too long, shifted the group towards the early October start date, even though this will mean Phil (pictured above), who facilitated the meeting, will need to tell some students involved in the Spanish-language ministry that September 12 will not be the start date. It’s possible that classes will not take place on Monday, October 31, which is Halloween. The group confirmed the 6:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. meal and 7-8 p.m. class schedule and the arrangement that class would only be canceled due to weather, etc. if JCPS classes were canceled.

Sky suggested that CHPC pitch in a Minute for Mission children’s activities leadership possibilities.

The three congregations involved split the meals along the following schedule: Week 1 (October 5-7): James Lees; Week 2 (October 10-12): CHPC; Week 3 (October 17-19): CCC; Week 4 (October 24-26): James Lees; Week 5 (October 31-November 2): CHPC; Week 6 (November 7-9): CCC; Week 7 (November 14-16): CHPC; Week 8 (November 21): James Lees (?). The congregations would be able to call on each other for help with meal preparation, set-up, and clean-up as needed.

Teaching assignments would stay more or less the same, which possibly a teacher or two recruited or brought back.

Prayers were requested for Rob Fohr, a fall/winter-term beginning class teacher who was hospitalized for several weeks, and also for Pastor Jane, who missed the gathering that she helped call to be at a family funeral out of state.

Phil also explained the transformation process at 1741 Frankfort Avenue, as it turns into a cooperative with a new name, new functions, a new look, perhaps new funds, and some new physical space (including possibly kitchen renovation). He said that EFL and Alcoholics Anonymous were deal breakers – in that he insisted those two programs get to maintain space. He said there might be opportunities for EFL teachers, students, et al. to be involved (physically or even financially) in some renovation/transformation, and invited folks to stop by during the next Fat Friday Trolley Hop event there, on Friday, September 30.

A group of teachers and teachers’ assistants agreed to meet at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, at Stephanie’s Fairmont Elementary School (at 1725 Abbie Dell Avenue) off of Charlestown Road in New Albany (IN) (over either the 2nd Street or Sherman Minton bridge) to share educational materials/curricula and ideas and take a peek at some of Stephanie’s EFL materials/equipment (including a smarr board – on the EFL wish list!). All are welcome, and detailed directions will follow.

-- Perry