Monday, January 7, 2013

JEAN'S OLD ORDER MENNONITE SCHOOL-1

 
I felt I had to put on the first post for 2013.  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy, New Year.  We had Christmas at our house this year because we are moving and just wanted the last Christmas in our old house.

Part of this post is going to be by myself, today and another part of it from Marilyn on Friday.  This is the school that our daughter, Susan, goes to.  It is an Old Order Mennonite School.  It goes from the first grade up to the eight grade.  Eighth grade is the highest grade that our children go to school.

Our original school had been built many years ago.  David and I went to school there.  Any work that had to be done on it was done.  Every year the school was inspected by the local building inspector and it passed-until 2012.  We were planning on an addition to the old school to make it a bit larger.  The plans were all drawn up and our school board was going to apply for permitts when the school did not pass the inspection.  The school had originally been grandfathered in when the new regulations on buildings went into law.  But over the years, even though we did all repairs on it, it was not in a condition that the inspector could pass last summer.  The building wasn't falling apart-it's just that new regulations had been passed and the school didn't make them. 

The discussion came up as to what it would cost for us to repair the old school.  After figuring out what it would cost to fix it to meet the regulations-it wouldn't cost much more to build a new one.  So it was brought before us after meeting (church) one Sunday and explained-then we voted-to build a new one.  The old school was torn down and the new school was built on the foundation of the original school-extended a few feet so the school would be a little bigger-which it is.

As our Bishop told Marilyn, one thing led to another.  While the school was under construction the board realized that the desks, book cases, etc. really looked old.  They had scratches, scrapes, etc. just from normal use.  So all the school desks including the teachers and book cases were all refinished by our members-while they were constructing the school.  The board decided they would put the same wooden floor in the new school that was in the old school-so all those floor boards had to refinished.  Those that were damaged were replaced and more boards were added for the extension.  All those boards matched when they got done.

The new school has more windows than the older school, but they are smaller, so we ladies made new curtains for the windows. New shades were also purchased for all the windows. After looking at some of the books that are in the school had been used for many years so they had to be replaced or updated.  We did put the same bell on top of the new school that was on the old one.

All this was done in eight weeks.  The building was done by Old Order Mennonite, Amish and Englishers.  There are a few Amish children that attend our school as they don't have their own school, yet.  Where we are moving Susan will still attend the same school.  We will be further away, but it is the same which is important to her and us.  Martha and Joseph's children go to the same school, so between our families, when we get our new house built, transportation will not be a problem. 

The picture at the top is the one our Bishop liked the best when he saw them, so it was put on top of my post today.  The new school was inspected by the building inspector and passed "with flying colors" as my Mother says. Marilyn will have more pictures in her post on Friday. 

Hope you like out new school.

Be With God,
Jean

67 comments:

Veronica said...

Great post from Jean. Thank you Marilyn. I have been reading and not always commenting as I have been so busy dealing with family affairs. My father has been very sick and we had to put him in the hospital on Friday. It has kept me very busy being with him there and taking care of my mother also. I hope everyone had a happy New Year and that 2013 is another blessed year for all. I am so happy things are coming along so well with the blog Marilyn. I always look forward to knowing more about Jean and the family. Well I am always praying for you all!! Time to get ready to head to see my dad so God Bless everyone. Veronica

Laura said...

Dear Jean and Marilyn,

I am so very happy both of you are working towards keeping these wonderful insights and "conversations" going with us! I just wanted to thank you both very much for your time and efforts.

I do have a couple of questions for Jean (I hope they have not been asked before):

Do any of your family or other Old Order Mennonites write stories, poems, or songs (as a hobby)?

This probably does not happen very often but if someone does not marry (for whatever reason), do they live with their parents or siblings as they get older?

I hope you both have a wonderful day!

Laura

P.s. Marilyn, I really enjoy hearing about Pierre too :)

Vickie said...

Thank you Jean. What a beautiful looking school. I love it that so many parts of the old school are reused. Amazing that the old floor boards could be taken apart and reused.

How long will it take for Susan and the other children to travel to school?

Countryside Reflections said...

Thank you for your post Jean. Does Susan walk to school or is it too far? If a child wants to continue on for more education beyond the 8th grade, are they allowed to? Or is it not permitted because it would have to be a public (English) school?

I'm looking forward to more of your posts.

Anonymous said...

Jean, enjoyed the post about Susan's school. Its great so many things could be used again.
jodie from MO

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Everyone,
There are more pictures of the school and play grounds on Friday. It is slowly getting into the warmer weather here.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

/haooy new Year Veronica,
I will be praying for you, your Dad and the rest of your family. I know how hard it is, at times, to take care of your parents. I took care of my parents for over 13 years.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Laura,
I have written down your questions for Jean. Pierre will be coming from time to time on New York State of Mind, too. He wants to have his say, too.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Vickie,
I wrote your questions down for Jean. It was hard for me to believe they had the patience to take the floor apart and put it back together again.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Countryside Reflections,
I have writtten all your questions down for Jean to answer. She is getting lots of questions which is good. She knows what to make the posts about.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Jodie,
Glad you liked about the school this morning. I am glad they could use to many times again.
Marilyn

annie said...

This is a wonderful post, and it's amazing how quickly it was built and the way materials were reused. Do teachers have to have extra schooling to teach, or is it just one of the grown students who take over the job as needed?

Chasity said...

Thank you Jean and Marilyn for the great post! I love how things from the old school could be fixed and used in the new school! Very neat!

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you for coming, Annie. I thought that was really fast to get the school built, too. I have written down you questions for Jean.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Chasity,
Glad you enjoyed the post. More is coming on Friday. I think it was neat that they reused a lot of items, too. I like you doggie, too.
Marilyn

Elaine said...

I love Jean's posts, please keep them coming!
Love your Pierre too Marilyn!

denimflyz said...

What a great post this morning. Thank you Jean, so, so much for sharing EVERYTHING that you share. Please believe that you have a great following, and please do not stop, Lord willing. I find your recipes, and what you and your family do is wonderful and gives me clues into my ancestory. My grandparents were Old Order Amish, but left during rumspringa, but still lived old order. It gives me clues as to what I was taught.
Have a wonderful week.

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you for commenting Elaine. We will try to keep those posts coming. Pierre will be putting his posts on too, ever now and again.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you denimflyz,
Thank you for all your compliments. I am glad you enjoy everything. Your family is very interesting-you grandparents being Old Order Amish.
Hope you have a wonderful week, too,
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Hello Jean Marilyn everyone who has posted and those looking in

Jean thank you for this post and all your others-hoping your move goes to plan and the packing up etc is going well-all good wishes to you and your family

It is lovely to know so much of the old school could be used for the new one

I think someone may have asked already but I would really like to know your daily routine with timings -also what pastimes do you enjoy when time allows


Marilyn thank you for asking Richard -Richard thank you for your message and as you say at least I am still able to post even if it is under the anonymous setting

It has been a very wet day here in Scotland-but last week the days were almost spring like good enough to hang out washing

Fionalina

Anonymous said...

Hi Jean, Happy New Year! I really enjoyed reading about your new school and the joint effort by the Mennonites, Amish & English to build it in such a short time using some of the same materials from the old school. I am glad that Susan will still be able to attend the same school.
I have been reading all of your posts on Amish Stories and NY State of Mind and love the recipes!! Looking forward to hearing about the construction of your new home!

Anonymous said...

Veronica - I meant to say sorry to hear about your Father-I am sure your parents appreciate everything you do for them-thinking of you all

Fionalina

Anonymous said...

Hi Jean, Great posts always, giving much "food for thought". I hope all will go smoothly with the move and that you'll all be in the new home soon. New school looks wonderful. So the old adage goes: "many hands make light work". Prayer, receiving God's wisdom, knowledge, discernment etc is most essential in each believing Christians life. There is nothing better than living ones life as the Lord leads-for His glory and our good. Blessings to all! A fellow sister in Christ, Carol

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Fionalina,
Thank you for commenting and all your compliments. We really appreciate them. I will see that Jean gets them and your questions.
It is cold here, but it is suppose to go up to the 50's by the end of the week-I hope.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Anonymous,
I am glad you have been reading Amish STories and New York State of Mind. I will tell Jean what you said. I now Jean wishes you a Happy New Year, too.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hello Carol,
Jean and I both appreciate your prayers this morning. Bot being Christian though different religions, we say Amen to your prayers. Thank you for comming.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

This is funny. This morning I got a call from Jean. The man that takes their milk was there and let her see her post this morning on her ocmputer. At the time she called, she only had about 15 comments on this post. The washing machine had 23. Jean called me to tell her she was being out done by a washing machine as far as comments. I told her it was just the morning and more would be coming in as the day went on. When I get off here-I am going to call she and tell her we have 26 comments and she has now surpassed the washing machine. LOL
Marilyn

trump said...

Marilyn looks like I'm that magic 24 on the comment count, and like another reader said "its very nice that some items from the original school were saved like the floors.


Now Susan will be able to say that her mom and dad walked the same floors as children, so that's a really nice touch. I would love to see the inside of that school maybe down the road (if you can get access to that).


And since we have sadly witnessed more school shootings since the Nickel Mines Amish school incident maybe Jean could tell folks again ( we covered that at one point on my own blog) what has been added to help keep these children as safe as possible.


I know its really impossible to keep these children 100 percent safe when they are at school, and I know of a few of the very simple steps that the Amish/old order Mennonites have taken like cell phones for teachers and maybe locking of the school doors when class is in session.


One big question that I have is, has any parent checked on the safety and making sure that the teachers are following those safety rules like a locked door during class?


Since those teachers are still human and can make mistakes and maybe not totally follow those rules, are some of those parents checking to make sure that for example Susan's teacher is doing everything that's required regarding safety! Richard

trump said...

Marilyn I was going to be number 24, so you must have typed your 2 comments while I was still working on mine.

So a very good start for what is Jeans first real post on your blog, and I see some good questions that were asked so that should make Jean happy this week! Richard

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Richard and thank you for coming. You have some very questions, that I will give to Jean, I am sure she will answer them. I think that is a concern on all schools around. I am glad that Jean is getting all these comments and questions. I put together a post last night and now I know all you went through for your posts.
Marilyn

Rosemary said...

Thank you, Jean, for your post about the new school. It is wonderful how so many worked together to get it built in such a short time. I like thinking about the old bell still calling children to school. Rosemary

Gisa said...

Happy 2013 dear Jean and dear Marilyn from Berlin, Germany. I do have 1001 questions.

Crafts4others said...

That is so sad the building to be torn down. I love old buildings.

I was wondering (besides the bible) is there certain magazines or books the Amish and Mennonites enjoy reading?

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Rosenary,
So happy you like hearing about the new school. The bell is still there. I llike it too.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Gisa, Feel free to ask any questions. I will forward them to you Jean. Glad to hear from someone in Germany.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hello Crafts4others,
I think they thought it was kind of sad to take the old school down, but on the other hand it was progress. I like old buildings too. I have written down your questions for Jean.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Don't forget that Jean' recipe coms on Wednesday and more pictures of the shcool come in my post on Friday. Monday, Martha, will be here for a few weeks and she tells of Kevin and Bridget's wedding.
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Hi Marilyn, As a reminder to all, Christianity(believing
God, therefore Bible believing/Holy Spirit filled through Jesus Christ-God's only begotten Son) is through ones personal relationship to the Lord though Christ. Religion is man-made. This the Lord has shown me since my husband and I received Christ as Saviour and Lord of our lives 35+yrs ago. "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word..." Continuing to look forward to each post. What a great beginning! Blessings to all, Carol

Lowell & Faye said...

I really enjoyed today's post about the new school. It looks so much better than the four different "country" schools that I attended back in the 1940s. I sure enjoyed that time, as I'm sure the children enjoy going to the Old Order Mennonite School. Such wonderful memories I have and such wonderful memories they will have.

New York State Of Mind said...

Dear Carol,
I too an a Christian. Have known the Lord for almost 50 years.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hello Lowell &amp: Fay.
Thank you for your comments. I wish I had seen the old school before they had torn it down and built the new one. I am sure the children will have wonderful memories like you.
Marilyn

Wendy said...

Happy New Year
Thank you Jean for sharing

Blessings

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you for coming Wendy. I know Jean wishes you a Happy New Year, too,
Marilyn

sheila said...

Dear Jean, I had a long comment posted but something happened and lost it. Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate reading your posts and look forward to them.

Sheila in Illinois

Meredith said...

So nice you were all able to join in and create what was needed for the children. The next generation is so important.

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Sheila,
Thank you for your compliments to Jean. I will see she gets the message.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hello Meredith,
Thank you for your comments. I am sure JEan agrees with you.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

On January 25th, Jean's Grandmother, Olive, will tell us about wood cooking stoves. I still have to get the post from her. So anyone who is thinking of using or getting a wood burning store should be interested in this. Olive's first will be telling about it and then, if anyone, has questions will answer them in another post. I have met Olive a couple of times at Jean's and at David's Grandmother's funeral. Just thought I would let you know what's coming.
Marillyn

New York State Of Mind said...

I can't even spell my own name right.
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Hello Marilyn-don't worry about your name -we all have days like that

Thank you for always keeping us updated-the wood stove post sounds good- and looking
Forward to the recipe tomorrow

Hopefully Jean now knows how much we enjoy her posts and appreciate all she shares
With us

Fionalina

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you Fionalina. This is one of my days.

Glad you are looking toward the wood burning stove. Someone asked about it and we had to find someone who knew how to use one. Hope you enjoy the recipe.

Jean couldn't believe all the comments she has. She knows some of them are mine, but still. I am surprised to, I really didn't think we would get as many as we did.

Marilyn

Anonymous said...

I am glad so many people have commented Marilyn-it has been nice to see

Fionlina

New York State Of Mind said...

It sure has made Jean happy. She will be with us for a while. She kind of thought maybe people were getting tired of her, but she can now see, we are not.
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Marilyn I am glad Jean is happy and her mind is at rest-I could never be be tired of her-we are very lucky that she is willing to share so much about her life-

Fionalina

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you very much Fionalina.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Tomorrow Jean's Recipe will be on.

Marilyn

Lowell & Faye said...

Marilyn,

I remember my mother using a wood burning cook stove, but one thing I have wondered about over the years is this: The first cook stove I remember did not have a temperature gauge on the oven. I have no idea how she could have regulated the heat to bake the pies, cakes, bread, beans etc that she baked. I'm wondering if Olive would have any knowledge of that. If so, I sure would like to read it.

Lowell

New York State Of Mind said...

Hello Lowell,
Olive and I got done a little while ago with two posts. One will be on January 25th and the second on February 1st. Yes, she does mention what you are asking in her posts.

Marilyn

Veronica said...

Lots of great comments on the posts Marilyn. Sure hope it puts Jeans mind to rest as to how much of a blessing she is to all of us. My father came home today from the hospital. We have some challenges ahead but he is so happy to be with my mom. Just wanted to comment so you and Jean know I am always thinking of you all and praying life is treating you well. God Bless Veronica

New York State Of Mind said...

Hello Veronica,
Jean and I are so happy with all the responses. We didn't think we would get so many. Glad you father is home. Your Dad and family ar ein our prayers. Please come by when you get a chance.
God Bless You and Yours,
Marilyn

Nancy said...

Jean,

I want you to know I read and enjoy all your posts. I'm naturally a quiet person, so don't comment often, but I always appreciate you. Thanks for sharing your life with us.

Nancy

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you Nancy, I will tell Jean.
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing the new school. Is the Old Order Mennonite 8th grade education sort of equivalent with the K-12 public school (English)education?

Michelle

New York State Of Mind said...

Thank you for coming Michelle and I have written down the note to ask Jean.
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Don't forget folks rhere are more pictures of the school coming tomorrow.

Marilyn

Drakes said...

Do you have an email? I have questions about old order mennonites.

New York State Of Mind said...

Jean who is the Old Order Mennonite lady that puts on the post does not have a computer because it is against her beliefs. You can e-mail with the questions and I will pass them on to Jean. My e-mail is:
lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com

Marilyn