Selles uudiskirja numbris räägime lähemalt eesti kooli pesamunadest.
Lapsed on selles klassis igas vanuses: Eliisbet (2a) ja Oskar Org (4a); Isabella Tipton (3a), Annalisa (3a) ja Lukas Seli (5a); Albert Aaron Martin (5a), Kristjan Laan (14a) ning Naya Kiibus (4a).
Eliisbet ja Oskar kolisid 2010. a jaanuaris ema Elin ja isa Tõnisega Los Angelesse. Eesti koolis hakkasid nad käima 2011. a sügisest. Mõlemale meeldib seal käia ja alati tahavad nad sinna minna. Oskar kinnitas, et talle meeldib kõige rohkem meisterdamine, kuna ta tahab ka kodus asju oma kätega teha. Eliisbetile aga meeldib mängimine. Eestis käivad nad igal suvel, et külastada seal elavaid vanavanemaid. Seal neile meeldib väga, eriti suvel maakodus, mis asub Võrumaal Kaika külas. Selle kohta ütleb Oskar Eliisbetile, et see on Kaika linn (mõjutused suurlinnas elamisest!). Mõlemd lapsed räägivad kodus vabalt eesti keelt. Eesti koolis hakati käima, et saaks olla koos teiste eesti lastega.
Isabella on käinud eesti koolis kolm aastat. Tema lemmik on teiste lastega vahetunnis jooksmine ja
lõunasöök. Isabellale meeldib ka joonistamine, kunstkäsitöö ja laulmine. Tüdruku ema Sigrid on eestlane, isa ameeriklane. Eestis pole ta veel käinud. Kodus räägitakse enamasti inglise keeles, laupäeviti ja pühapäeviti suhtleb ta Skype’is vanaema-vanaisaga aga eesti keeles. Isabella lemmik eesti asjaks on Lotte film, tatrapuder ja šokolaadikohuke!
Lukasele meeldib eesti kool väga. Talle meeldib õpetaja Leila, sest ta on tore ja hoolitseb õpilaste eest. Talle meeldib ka see, et saab mängida oma vanema venna Thomase ja teiste eesti kooli
sõpradega. Lukas on koolis käinud 2aastasest peale. Nagu vanem vend Thomas ja noorem õde Annalisa, on Lukas estalian, kuna ema Helena on eestlane ja isa Garry itaallane. Lukas pole Eestis veel käinud. Ta saab eesti keelest väga hästi aru, kuid rääkimine ei tule kergelt.
Ka Annalisa armastab eesi kooli. Talle meeldib laulutund ja mängud õpetaja Leilaga. Ta laulab neid laule isegi kodus ilusas eesti keeles. Tema lemmik on "Põdral maja metsa sees" ja "Kes aias". Annalisa pole veel Eesti käinud. Ta teab eesti keeles palju sõnu ja on samahästi kui kakskeelne.
Albertile meeldib eesti koolis käia. Saab mängida, süüa ja seal on klaver. Albert on Eestis sündinud. LA eesti koolis on ta käinud 2 aastat, täpselt sama kaua, kui ta on Californias elanud. Eestis on käinud koos ema Olesja ja isa Ardoga ning talle meeldib seal väga. Ta igatseb Eestit siin olles. Albert räägib kodus eesti keelt. Talle meeldib lennata lennukiga ja näha vanavanemaid ja koera.
Kristjan on eesti koolis käinud 7 aastat, ning tema lemmik on ringmängud ja lõunasöögiaeg. Ta on Eestit külastanud kaks korda. Talle väga meeldib seal sugulaste keskis istuda ning eesti keelt kuulata. Eriti tore on, kui tädid vahetpidmata teda toidutaldrikutega meelitavad!
Kristjan armastab rosoljet, head eesti kartulit ja vorsti!
Ka Nayale meeldib Eesti majas käia. Kõige rohkem meeldib talle käsitööd teha ja mängida. Viimane suur lemmik oli emadepäeva näidend. Eestis pole ta veel käinud, kuid teab, et must leib talle ei meeldi, kuid kiisu-kommid on väga head. Eesti keelest saab Naya suurepäraselt aru, kuid ise räägib inglise keelega läbisegi. Eelistab rääkida inglise keeles, kuigi kodune keel ema Jaane, isa Hanno ja õe Yetega on eesti.
Kuna pesamunade klassis on lapsi palju, siis seal on ka õpetajaid lausa kolm, Leila McLaughlin, Milvi Laan ja Kaie Pallo.
Õpetaja Leila McLauhglin on oma hingelt ja sünnilt võrukas,
kuigi enamiku elust on ta elanud Pärnus. Ameerika-mail on ta olnud juba 16 aastat, mida Leila isegi ei usu. Hariduselt on ta algklasside õpetaja ning töötas Eestis oma erialal 2 aastat. Siis, kui aga tõmmati raudne värav eest, läks Leila maailma uurima ja seiklema. Algatuseks tegutses ta paar aastat Soomes, siis rändas edasi Inglismaale. Ameerikast pidi saama tema rännutee viimane peatuspunkt, et siis juba tagasi Eestisse minna ja paikseks jääda. Aga tagasi minna ta ei osanud. Kui Leila oma abikaasa Harryga kohtus, siis oli selge, et siia mandrile jäädaksegi.
Oma elukutse juurde on ta siiski kaudselt jäänud. Nii pika staažiga lapsehoidjat annab vist otsida, kui seda on Leila.
Kui ta 16 aastat tagasi siia saabus, siis paluti teda kohe eesti kooli juurde appi. Tegi ta seda tööd 7 aastat. Siis tuli väike vahe ning uuel ringil saab täis kolmas aasta. Tagasi tulles oli eesti kool täitsa muutunud. “Kui enne tõid emad oma lapsi kooli juurde, siis nüüd tullakse terve perega,” räägib Leila. “Tegelikult ei jaksaks, aga kohusetunne piitsutab.”
Seoses pisipoja sünniga on Leila enda elu väga muutunud. Ei ole kerge nii mõnestki asjast loobuda, ning seepärast ongi ta pingutanud. Tore on laupäeva hommikuti sõpradega kokku saada.
Õpetaja Milvi Laan on sündinud ja kasvanud Los Angeleses. Eestis on ta käinud kolm korda.
Milvi on lisaks pisikeste klassi õpetajale ka eesti kooli eestvedaja. See kohustus kukkus talle sülle. Ta ütleb, et kui tavaliselt saavad inimesed päranduseks kas kinnisvara või ehteid, siis tema sai kooli. Tal ei ole küll pedagoogilist haridust, kuid oma ema kõrvalt ja teda paaril viimasel aastal kooli juhtimisel aidates valmistas ta ennast selleks ette. Milvi suurim põhjus eesti kooliga jätkamiseks on ema Karini mälestus.
Milvil on kaks last, Helena ja Kristjan, kes mõlemad usinasti alati eesti koolis on. Milvi on iseseisev kinnisvarahindaja Wells Fargo pangale (real estate appraisals for Wells Fargo Bank). Tänu paindlikule ajakavale jäksab ta tegeleda nii oma laste kui eesti kooliga.
Kaie Pallo teeb lastega muusikatundi, mis meeldib neile väga. Õpetaja Kaie Pallo on sündinud Võrus. Ameerikas on ta elanud juba 12 aastat. Eestis oli ta luterikiriku Kanepi koguduse organist. Seda tööd jätkab Kaie ka siin, on eesti koguduse organist ja LA eesti segakoori dirigent.
Eesti kooliski õpetab ta lastele laulmist ning saadab rahvatantsutundi klaveril. Kaie ütleb, et lapsi on tore õpetada. Kõik ajavad noodis sõrmega hoolega järge ja on väga püüdlikud, ka need, kes hästi lugedagi ei oska. Ja kui lõpuks laulud selged, siis on nad ise selle üle väga uhked ja õnnelikud.
Tänavune kooliaasta hakkabki läbi saama. Jäänud on veel viimane tund, kus seekord vaadatakse ühiselt ühte eesti lastefilmi.
Tekst Kadi Dugan
In this issue of the newsletter we’ll talk about the Estonian School’s youngest ones.
There are children of all ages in this class. Eliisbet (2 yrs.) and Oskar Org (4 yrs.); Isabella Tipton (3 yrs.); Annalisa (3yrs.) ja Lukas Seli (5yrs.); Albert Aaron Martin (5yrs.), Kristjan Laan (14 yrs.) and Naya Kiibus (4 yrs.).
Eliisbet and Oskar came to Los Angeles in January 2010 with their parents, Elin and Tõnis. They began attending Estonian School in the fall of 2011. They both like to go there and they always want to attend school. Oskar confirmed that his favorite thing to do is build, since he likes to construct all kinds of things at home, too. Eliisbet, however, likes to play. They visit Estonia every summer to visit relatives. They really like it in Estonia, especially during summer at their country home, which is located in the Võrumaa village of Kaika, which Oskar, when speaking to Eliisbet, refers to as Kaika City (an influence coming from living in big city). Oskar likes to visit Estonia in the summer, because then they can stay in the country home where they can run and play to their hearts’ content and do interesting things. Both children speak fluent Estonian at home. They began attending Estonian School in order to be with other Estonian children.
Isabella has attended the Estonian School for three years. She really likes attending Estonian School – her favorites are playing with other children and lunch. She also likes to draw as well as attend arts-n-crafts classes and, of course, singing! Isabella’s mother is Estonian and her father American. She has not been to Estonia yet. At home she speaks mainly English, but on Saturdays and Sundays she communicates via Skype with her grandmother and grandfather, but in Estonian. Isabella’s favorite Estonian things are Lotte film, buckwheat porridge and chocolate farmer cheese pattie.
Lukas likes Estonian School very much. He likes his teacher Leila as his teacher because she is nice and she cares about the students. He also likes that he gets to play a lot with his brother Thomas and his Estonian School friends. Lukas has been coming to Estonian School since he was 2 years old. Like his older brother, Thomas, and younger sister, Annalisa, Lukas, is “estalian” because his mom Helena is Estonian and his dad Gerry is Italian. Lukas has not yet been to Estonia. He understands Estonian, but speaking it is not easy for him. Lukas and Thomas’ sister Annalisa loves Estonian School! She loves the songs and games we play with Teacher Leila. She even sings them at home in very nice Estonian. Her favorite ones are “Põdral maja metsa sees” and “Kes aias, kes aias, mesilane aias.” Annalisa has not been to Estonia. She knows many Estonian words and is virtually bi-lingual.
Albert also likes to attend the Estonian School. It’s good there, he says. You can play there, eat and – there’s a piano there. Albert was born in Estonia. He’s been a student at the Estonian School for two years, exactly as long as he’s lived in California. He’s been to Estonia with his mother Olesja and father Ardo and he really likes it there. He longs for Estonia while here. Albert speaks Estonian at home. He likes to fly in an airplane and see his grandparents and dog.
Kristjan has attended Estonian School for seven years and his favorite activities are circle dances and lunchtime. He has visited Estonia twice. He really enjoys sitting amidst his relatives and listen to them speaking in Estonian. It’s particularly neat that his aunts continuously ply him with plates of food! Kristjan loves rosolje, good Estonian potatoes and sausage!
Naya, too, likes to go to the Estonian House. She particularly likes handicrafts and playing. The most recent favorite was preparing the show for Mother’s Day. She has not been to Estonia, though she very well knows that black bread is not to her liking, although special Kiisu candys are very good. She understands Estonian very well, but speaks English mixed with Estonian. She prefers to speak in English, but Estonian is spoken at home with her mother Jaane, father Hanno and sister Yete.
Seems like this year there was not one child who didn’t enjoy attending Estonian School! The teachers and parents are doing a great job!
Since there are so many of the youngest in class, there are three, (yes, three) teachers — Leila McLaughlin, Milvi Laan and Kaie Pallo.
Leila McLaughlin is by soul and birth from Võrumaa, though for most of her life she has lived in Pärnu. She has lived in America for 16 years, which even she is not able to believe. By education she is a grade school teacher and worked in Estonia in her profession for two years. But when the Iron Curtain liftedl, Leila went to explore the world and seek adventure. At first she spent a couple of years in Finland; then went on to England. America was to be her last destination, from where she would return to Estonia and stay put. However, she didn’t know how to go back. When Leila met her husband, Harry, it became clear that she was to stay here. At some level she has remained true to her vocation. To find someone like Leila, who has been a nanny for such a long time, would probably take some effort.
When she arrived here 16 years ago, she was immediately asked to come help at the Estonian School. She did that work for seven years followed by a short hiatus. It’s been three years now since she returned to the school. Returning, she found that the dynamics of the school had totally changed. Earlier, mothers brought their children to school, but now the whole family comes, says Leila. She feels like she really can’t do it, but her commitment to the school drives her. With the birth of her little boy, she finds her life has changed significantly. It’s not easy to forego one thing or another and because of that she has pushed herself. It is great to come Saturday mornings to meet with friends. Leila invites you to come to Estonian School!
Teacher Milvi Laan was born and raised in Los Angeles. She’s been to Estonia three times. In addition to being a teacher for the little ones, she is also the head of the Estonian School. That responsibility was an inheritance that fell in her lap. She says that normally when people get an inheritance they receive either real property or jewelry. Instead, she inherited the school. Though not educated as a teacher, while helping her mother direct the school over the last couple of years she prepared herself for this next stage in her life. The biggest reason for Milvi continuing to undertake this responsibility is in memory of her mother, Karin. Milvi has two children, Helena and Kristjan, who diligently attend Estonian School. Milvi is an independent real estate appraiser for Wells Fargo Bank. Thanks to flexible shceduale she has ample time for her children and other wonderful things, such as the Estonian School.
Kaie Pallo teaches the music classes for the children, which is always fun and full of giggles and laughter! The children really like the singing and dancing classes. Teacher Kaie Pallo was born in Võru and has lived in America for 12 years. In Estonia she was the organist for the Kanep congregation. She continues to do that work here where she is the church organist and director of the Los Angeles Estonian Mixed Chorus.
At the Estonian School she teaches the children to sing and accompanies the folk dance class on the piano. Kaie says it is fun to teach the children. All of them are high achievers. Even those who can’t read very well use their fingers to follow the notes. And finally when the songs are learned, then they themselves are very proud and happy. Surely she will continue to teach singing as long as the school exists.
This year’s school year is coming to a close. Only one class remains, where things will be done in a more relaxed atmosphere and everyone gets to watch an Estonian children’s movie.
Text Kadi Dugan
Tuleb välja, mida üksteisest – ja üldse elu väärtustest – tegelikult arvatakse. Igapäise elu väikesed igatsused ja suured draamad elustuvad laval.
Selle aasta veebruaris tunnustas president Toomas Hendrik Ilves nelja inimest Valgetähe III klassi teenetemärgiga. Üks neist hinnalistest aumärkidest leidis kodu siin kaugel Californias töö eest, mis on tehtud Eesti heaks. Teenetemärgi saaja on Mare Taagepera, kes on orgaanilise keemia professor nii California Ülikoolis Irvine’is kui ka külalisprofessor Tartu Ülikoolis. Tunnustus on töö eest kahes projektis: avastusõppe edendamine ja Eesti Metsaülikooli arendamine.
Seekord tuleb juttu Los Angelese eesti kooli poisteklassist ja nende õpetajast Biret Rebbasest.
He is nine years old and has been attending Estonian School for as long as he can remember. Tommy understands Estonian very well, but he doesn't speak it very much. He likes the Estonian School very much. He likes how his teacher Biret teaches. In addition, he likes getting together with his friends, playing and eating lunch! Tommy has been to Estonia a couple of times and enjoyed it each time. His most vivid memory is eating strawberries given to him by his grandmother. Growing up, his goal is to become fossil researcher/scientist, lifeguard or business leader.
Los Angelese Eesti Majas oli Eesti köögis põnev ja hariv koosviibimine. Seekord oli külas Los Angelese maakonna keskhaiglas (LA County US Hospital) töötav traumakirurg doktor Peep Talving. Vaatamata mehe väga tihedale töögraafikule õnnestus see pikka aega planeeritud kohtumine lõpuks teoks teha. 
Päikseliselt soojal Lõuna-California kevadpäeval käisid kuulsad eesti näitlejad-lavastajad Andrus Vaarik ja Egon Nuter Los Angelese Eesti majas ning mängisid maha eesti tuntuima kirjaniku-näitekirjaniku-lavastaja Andrus Kivirähki juba kümme aastat populaarse etenduse “Meri ja Orav”. Kirjanikuhärra oli ise ka kaasas ja lausus enne etenduse algust paar sõna. Publik itsitas ka seal, kus asi oli tõsine. Tuli välja, et meiekandi rahvas oligi kõige kõvema naeruga! Mis saab olla näitlejatele parimaks tänuks, kui selline menu.