New Year's Eve

Vannakam (This means hello in Tamil, the language here in Tamil Nadu),

What better way to start the new year than with a brand new blog just for the sponsors of the wonderful children here at Rising Star.  You all make it possible for these children to be here to receive a high quality education creating countless opportunities for them in their bright futures.  Every child at Rising Star loves their sponsors and is so excited to be a part of your lives through letters and photos; I hope through this blog, you will find that they will become a larger part of your life.

Check this blog often as their will be an update at least once a week telling about events that happen on campus.  Today, I am going to tell you about the children's New Years Eve.

The day started with a half day of school.  Every school day starts with a five to ten minute assembly that takes place in the beautiful courtyard of the school.  The children will recite prays and the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the National Anthem, and recognize children infront of the school for a birthday or other such awards.  After assembly finishes, the school day began.  Children at Rising Star learn every subject that students would learn in the United States. They are however taught their native language,Tamil, as well as English.

After lunch at noon, the students were released from school to finish their daily chores and play.  Playtime at Rising Star often consists of little organized games that the children start such as tag, soccer (football), cricket, and countless more.  At 4:00pm, the older boys organized a very competitive game of cricket.  

Left to Right: Pasitha, Malavika, Priya, Ambiga, Logeshwari, Soniya, and Theresa.

Christraj and Sathish dancing to Tamil music.

The volunteers and staff at Rising Star had a New Year's celebration planned for the children later that evening.  At 7:00pm, the Rising Star staff set off fireworks for the the children in front of their hostel (living quarters).   Volunteers put on music for the children to dance to and brought bracelets, noise makers, and silly string to hand out to all of the children.  If that wasn't just the cherry on top of the perfect day, the children then went to the Dining Hall to watch a holiday movie after the fire works had ended, none other than "The Grinch".  I wish that I could explain how much better a movie is when you watch it with 200 Rising Stars, but I don't know that I could sufficiently do so.  The ringing of laughter and bright faces makes any movie worth your time!

Photos taken by student M. Vignesh




Unfortunately every movie has and ending as did this one.  The ending came, the lights flicked on and the children started wish everyone a Happy New Year as they headed back towards their rooms to go to bed. Some of the older boys thought that it would be fun to make a sign for everyone when they came in for breakfast the next morning, so they spent a little extra time creating it out of some flower petals that had at one point been a celebration necklace worn around the neck of a volunteer.





The boys and their sign: Left to Right: Ashok,

Krishnamoorthy, Deepanraj, Rajesh, Joseph, and Shankar

Krishnamoorthy adding the finishing touches.



In honor of all the children here at Rising Star, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year.  Thank you for all that you do for these children. They love you so much and talk about you always! 

Take care until next time!