Maricopa Village Christian School students thank Council for donations

June 3, 2016

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

In the life of a young student, the only thing worse than too much homework is having to hoof it to the local museum for a class field trip.

While Maricopa Village Christian School students have not had to make any school trips by foot, the school did face a troublesome predicament last year when their only school bus broke down in March of 2015.

As fortune would have it, Gila River Indian Community was able to give the school a helping hand by donating one of the Community’s fleet vans, which has since been used for educational field trips and other school activities.

In appreciation for the donation, ten Maricopa Village Christian School students, including head teacher Larisa Quijano, and the school’s church pastor Christopher Morris, traveled to the Governance Center, May 18, to sing and give thanks to GRIC Council.

“We had heard that the tribal council had wanted to hear us sing so [we were] able to come here and perform for them,” said Quijano.

The students, Quijano, and Morris, all traveled to the Governance Center using the donated fleet van, which from Maricopa Village Christian School, located on Baseline and 79th Ave., is about 42 miles one-way.

The ten students sang and played ukulele for Council members, preforming America the Beautiful, God Bless America, and hymnal 1 John 3:1, “…which says ‘behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should be called the sons of God,’” recited Quijano.

After the musical performance, the students introduced themselves to Council, speaking of their families and the districts they call home.

“We are so thankful for the support that they give us,” said Quijano. “And we pray for them that they will be blessed,” she said about the GRIC Council.