Hi Tr. Ella,
Good day! We hope you and husband are doing fine there. We are fine here in California. We were
sorry that it took time for us to send you e-mail but we were thinking of you and the staff of Mt. Rushmore.
We missed the Graduation/recognition of the school but it was time for us to move on here. We requested
our relative there to send to us the graduation stuff of Rhianna. Our two children have been attending the
nearby elementary school since March. Rhianna is in kindergarten while Renard is in grade 1. We were
informed that Renard has passed the assessment tests. He will be in grade 2 on September. Rhianna keeps
telling me that the lessons are easy and from the tests she had, she will be on the first grade by September.
As we saw the lessons and homeworks, we could compare the studies the children had taken there.
The Mathematics that Rhianna is taking is comparable to the 1st quarter in our kinder; addition that equals
to 5; the alphabet. The journal writing is added to the homework where Rhianna has to think of interesting
subjects and makes 2-3 sentences. Renard is doing well in mathematics and in reading. The students here
are required to read books for 20 minutes every day. For Rhianna, we have to read aloud the books. She
can read the high frequency words and sentences. They are adjusting to speak louder in the classrooms.
They are quite shy. We are planning to enrol them in summer classes but the price per subject is quite
expensive, $ 285 for 3 weeks only. Since we already have subject matters for grade 1 and grade 2,
we might have some advance studies for them.
We attached our picture we had when we were in Universal Studios. Till the next e-mail. Take care and God bless.
Best regards,
The Zarraga Family: Rey, Veron, Renard and Rhianna
May 12, 2007
Dear Tr. Ella,
Happy Mother's Day to you!
Thank you for sending e-mails to me. Kaya lang po medyo busy po tayo dito. We had received
the graduation package of Rhianna. We were proud of her to achieve the award of most improved
in academics. Her picture in the diploma packet was nice. She was fully made up. I could not believe
that my little girl is growing fast. I had read the messages of parents for the children and that included
your message to Vince. A very touchy one. Congratulations to Vince. See how time flies when we first
met in Mt. Rushmore. We, mothers know how difficult to be in far places without our children by our sides.
Oops, I don't like you to cry. I experienced that in year 2002 when I had to go to the US, Renard was
3 years old while Rhianna was only 1 year old. Imagine the consul in the US embassy in Manila denied
visas for the 2 kids. His reason was for me to be able to return to the Philippines. In short, my vacation
that was supposed to be our vacation was cut short instead. I was calling them everynight and when I
arrived back, my baby was crying and afraid to come to me. From that time, I told myself not to go out
for long without my kids. That was also the reason that I did not come to the US ahead of them.
We received the progress report of Renard and Rhianna and they are making good in the school.
We could not thank you and Mt Rushmore enough for the good system the kids had received and of
course, the support of a loving mom, ehem. I picked up Rhianna first in the school and she gave me a
drawing of myself with a dedication of "I love you mommy because you rid to mi." I did not mind the
spelling but the thought of it really counts. It was Renard's dad who picked him up and when Renard
saw me, he told me that he was waiting for me. He had given me fresh flowers in a plastic water bottle
with purple art paper. How nice.
Cheer up. Here is for you: A loving mother is the heart of a family's happiness. A mother shares so
much, cares so much and gives so much.
Take care and best regards,
Mom Veron