School Days, School Days

Joseph and Mary Primary Academy opened its doors today, ready to greet 250 students for the 2012 school year.

Our students tumbled out of school vehicles, came with their parents on the back of piki-pikis, walked in from neighboring farms, or—in the case of our forty girls—skipped 200 meters down the path from our dorms to school, all converging in a boisterous mob of royal blue polo shirts and red shorts or skirts.

We started our day with Morning Parade as usual—my second favorite part of the day. I love looking out onto a sea of eager faces (that are sometimes attached to very fidgety bodies) each day when I lead this assembly. After dismissing the students, there was a mad dash for the classrooms as they clamored to get inside. I’m thinking this is a good thing.

Then came my favorite part of the school day—the sounds of learning. From my desk in the head teacher’s office, I can hear preschoolers singing, kindergarten shouting their ABC’s in unison, and Mr. John’s lecture to the 6^th Grade about sentence structure. The echo of fourth grade desks being dragged across the floor tells me they are working in groups this morning. Ms. China is reviewing math concepts from last year with her 2^nd Grade.

Magic is happening.

After reveling in the moment ever-so-briefly, my day was a blur of processing school fees, distributing five sets of notebooks to each student, welcoming back each class, checking in on new students, coercing our photocopier to work, collecting schedules, taking inventory of schoolbooks, and…a whole list of things I’ve already forgotten. Which reminds me…I need to find our school bell.

I’m excited about the possibilities that lay ahead for the year…our first annual “Back to School Day” for parents will be in February, we’re opening a brand-new learning center equipped with five computers, and teachers are sponsoring ten different clubs in which students will explore interests beyond the academic subjects.

Aaaaaaaaand…if this director of education has her way, there WILL be a school talent show. (I’m already rehearsing my fire baton routine.)

No matter what, I know our students are receiving a quality education from people who truly care about them. Our teachers equip students to follow their own paths and dreams. We are transforming lives, one child at a time.