A Reading Challenge Competition, World Book Day, and more.April 23-- Day 2 was a very busy day in Fès! We began with a peaceful breakfast at the hotel. I especially enjoyed selecting sugar cubes from a mini-tagine for my coffee. After breakfast, Hicham picked us up and took us to Marguerite School for a tour and to be on the jury for a reading competition. After visiting classrooms and meeting the administrative leaders and some teachers, we sat down to prepare for our task as jury members. It was my first time on a jury for a competition. It felt very official! It was fascinating to watch how seriously the students prepared for this competition and how patient they were as the adults set up, reviewed the rubric, and got things in order. Their eagerness to participate was endearing and admirable! After the prizes were awarded, we said our farewells. It was a wonderful way to learn about how reading, public speaking, and preparing for competition all play a role in Moroccan classrooms and schools. Another notable takeaway came when we noticed a young student crying after she did not win one of the top awards. Hicham pointed her out and said, "Can you see that she is crying? That is okay. It means she cares. That is a good thing." It was an excellent final thought as we watched Hicham approach and congratulate the winners but also those who worked hard and cared about their performance. After saying farewell to Marguerite School, we drove to the ALC Cafe for a quick lunch and to check in on the World Book Day festivities. We found the ALC and its courtyard cafe to be a true place that creates community and connects people. We sat at a table and quickly met Ayoub (pictured below) who is an expert on the Fès medina, a photographer, and perhaps also one of the most proud residents of Fès. He shared many new facts about the medina as well as some of the ALC initiatives he supports. We immediately started following his instagram site @ayoub_louizi, which features beautiful sites in Fès! After our visit to the ALC Cafe, we headed to a school that is very close to Hicham's heart: Mohammed Belarbi Alaoui Jr HS. While he is placed at a public high school this school year, he made it clear that this is the school where he feels most at home. We visited specifically to see a special Moroccan student presentation entitled "The Heritage." After visiting a math class, we had the great honor to watch a class skit-like performance entitled "The Moroccan Heritage." The students set up all kinds of Moroccan artifacts at the back of the classroom, which we were invited to view. It was like a mini-museum! Next, they presented a play (in English) to tell the story of young Moroccans and their relationships with each other. It was charming, and we especially enjoyed how they embedded Moroccan clothing and artifacts to recognize and honor those items in a public space. We learned a lot! While I couldn't take photos of the students during the performance, the classroom with the artifact-set up appears below. ![]() When the principal appeared towards the middle of our visit, Hicham motioned for him to come and meet us. We didn't yet know who he was, but Hicham put his arm around his shoulder, turned to us, and said, "This is the greatest man in the world. This is my principal." Wow! Once again, we noticed the positive relationships that Hicham nurtures and values, and admired how this made a school feel warm and friendly immediately. After our visit to Mohammed Belarbi Alaoui Jr HS, Hicham took us to a scenic overlook not far from the school. The views of Fès were stunning! After visiting Mohammed Belarbi Alaoui Jr HS, we headed back to central Fès so Hicham could prepare for his American Language Center evening Adult Class. We had another moment to relax in the courtyard, then headed into a different classroom to meet Hicham's adult students. We introduced ourselves, and then each student told us their name, age, and their line of work. It was incredible to hear the range of fields! There was a chemistry PhD student, a tannery owner, a businesswomen, and more. We watched again as Hicham engaged students, used the whiteboard, and projected the textbook content on the tv in the classroom. During the evening class, Whitney, Lisa-Erika, and I got to learn about a new Moroccan dish from the students: Pastilla. Each student shared their favorite food and many said "pastilla." We had not heard of it, so after class, Whitney and I headed out for a late (9:45pm! ) dinner to try it out. It was delicious, and also quite unlike anything I had tried before. Here's a recipe for pastilla that I plan to try out sometime! It was a great way to end a very busy day of learning! Before I fell asleep, I wanted to share some details of the last two days with my 9th grade PASS students, so I made them a video overview. Here it is!
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AuthorAmy Frontier teaches at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Archives
September 2024
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