The View From Here

(Our Meskel Bonfire) A brief History (According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, with some grammatical corrections by MCH) Meskel has been celebrated for a millennium in Ethiopia. There are two occasions on Meskel. The first is “Demera” which is celebrated on the eve (September 25), bonfires are built topped by a cross to which Meskel daisy flowers are tied, The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church orchestrates in a ceremony to light the bonfire at Meskel Square which is the heart of Addis Ababa. Smaller “Demeras” are built at individual houses or villages, next day of “Demera” there will be Meskel festivity. In the morning of Meskel, believers use the ashes from the Demera to mark their foreheads with the sign of the Cross.  The ceremony is accompanied by spiritual songs and dancing (Mezmurs).   The Jews who lived in those days became envious of the cross, so they buried the cross and turned the place into dumping ground garbage. Over time the garbage piled up...

  (The Sunrise View From My Window Facing Northeast) Wow! What a great first week of school. We now have three classes spanning 9th-11th grades. And, what a terrific group of students! They are inventive, engaged, and determined to further their education. The 11th graders were already pressing their teachers to cover units that were missed last year due to the evacuation in the fall.  After three days of orientation, the 41 new 9th graders have received their iPads, and have been warmly welcomed into their Gojos, classes, and advisories. And, if the leadership they have already shown continues through the year, the whole school will be lifted to a new level. Faculty are getting into their routines and their classes are showing how they can cover the essentials of the Ethiopian curriculum while expanding their student's knowledge in greater depth. Our goal is to become a model school demonstrating that students can become more fully engaged and demonstrate higher thinkin g ski...