The school bus drivers have uniforms. The government now requires all school bus drivers to wear uniforms. We aim to please.
Transportation manager Oswald
Looking good. Left to right, Xavier, Oswald and Eric, all good drivers.
Any shade of blue is favored by me. This is modeled by the same three men.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Urukundo needed additional classrooms to meet government requirements to ensure there is enough space to help stop the spread of the virus.
That meant additional teachers needed to be recruited for the Learning Center. These six include two math teachers, a science teacher, a librarian, an English teacher, and an early childhood teacher. Headmaster Irene introduced the new teachers.
Exterior view of completed construction.
Interior view of completed construction.
Lunchtime at Urukundo Learning Center. Kids, kids, kids. The tables in the front are for the staff and teachers.
Kitchen workers are ready to serve. Amin, Seraphine, Gilbert and Onesmo.
Teachers enjoy good food.
Water is an essential part of life in Urukundo. Pastor Yves, Mama and Sarah deliver water after the kids start eating. From experience, I know kids tend to drink in place of eating. Mama’s rule: eat and then drink.
How to wash the hands of the 3- and 4-year-olds? That was the question. This helpful step is the answer.
With government permission and Covid-19 protection in place, Urukundo Learning Center doors have re-opened for all of its students in January.
This was the first time for preschool and Primary 1 through 3 since the pandemic began. It was the first day ever in school for the 3-year-olds..Students in Primary 4, 5 and 6 returned in November.
First day back to school.
They came.
On foot
By bicycle
Even moto
And, of course, by Urukundo’s bus
Lining up for the wash station.
Washing hands. Math teacher Elias assisting.
This 3-year-old is ready.
For the little ones, cleaning their hands with a squirt bottle sanitizer seemed the best method. Teacher Rosemary does the honors.
One of our cleaners, Gerald, is the helper in this task. Little ones are too short to use the wash station.
A temperature check is necessary. Science teacher Eugene shares that responsibility.
It takes many helpers to reach our goal of every student and teacher checked. Head of Discipline Viateur helps to move students faster to class.
These new students are waiting for classroom assignments in Primary 1, 2, and 3.
Our preschool has three levels: 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds. Little faces tell the stories.
Face masks are a problem for some.
This 5-year-old is not at all happy to be back in school.
Rethinking. OK, he remembers. Maybe it’s not so bad.
Teacher Solange, with 4-year-olds, works magic with distractions. Tomorrow will be better.
Older preschoolers are glad to be back. Teacher Callixte with 5-year-olds.
Preschool teacher Sylvia with 3-year-olds.
Primary 3 students and their teacher ready for serious study.
The first day of school is always exciting, and returning after a shutdown because of coronavirus was even more so.
Most of these kids had not seen each other since March, and here it was November.
It has always been the tradition that I walk our kids to school on the first day. I did that this year also. I rose early, dressed and sat at my desk waiting for my kids to arrive, ready for the walk to school.
In other years, I joined 26 kids on that walk, and it was a lot of fun. The kids laughed, joked and sang as we bumped across the football field. They chased each other. They were excited. School is the best place for them to be, and seeing friends again after a break is such a joy.
In 2020, I was walking again, but this year was definitely different. I walked with only two kids, not 26. Face masks hid the joy. Distancing even with only two made bumping and jostling impossible. Singing did not happen as singing may spread the virus. What was once a time of joy now has a sad overtone. It is so hard for the kids when they can’t run to their friend and hug that friend as they gather for opening exercises. Now they go directly to the classroom. There is no opening exercise.
I must say the teachers have followed the rules set in place. They are assigned a post. Two are at the gate with sensor thermometers. Others are manning the 20 wash stations. Each teacher has a bottle of green liquid soap and is ready to squirt the soap into eager outstretched hands.
Green liquid soap
After washing, they are directed by a guard to move directly to their respective classrooms.
The teachers, students and classrooms are ready.
In our school, each child has a desk. This is not true in public schools. Distancing is easier for us. We also limit the number of students per classroom. In public schools, a classroom can have 60 students. I am not sure how they will handle distancing.
School has begun.
Urukundo Learning Center is blessed.
Our students now have 40 tablets equipped with a new learning process, ProFuturo. This project will promote digital education and is supported by Salesians of Don Bosco Rwanda.
The container was full of wonderful teaching gifts for the Urukundo Learning Center.
The donation includes a teacher laptop.
Irene is a very happy headmaster (principal). His school is moving into the 21st century with technical support.
Several months ago, I shared with you about the need for wash stations at the school and inside the compound. We needed one wash station for every two classrooms. You were wonderful, and US$515 was raised. I was so happy. Well, as is the norm, things change, and new criteria for the wash station were sent out by the board of education. The changes required a large wash facility to be built at the entrance to the school compound to accommodate the children as they enter the school. It must have running water. Cost now is US$2,500.
Benjamin drew up a plan, and it was approved. By Nov. 2 when school is set to open, hopefully it will be completed.
I’ll follow up with photos with kids next month. The tiles catch the drainage after washing. I really am not sure how this will work. I have questions. As of now, no answers. I am pleased to say that thanks to Forest Hills Rotary in Pennsylvania, USA; the late Tom Nunnally of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; and Rotary International, we already have our own supply of water. Water from the source would be a large added expense.
As the photo above shows, we are in the process of constructing a permanent wash facility with 20 faucets, adding plumbing and drainage.
Not sure this makes sense. The cost has gone from do-able to almost impossible. God in charge.
One section.
There are 20 stations.
Not completed yet. Work in progress.
The last two classrooms have been completed, and we have space for the distancing required for our students, thanks to the generous support from donors.
Notice the new construction is handicap accessible. It is less expensive if the paving is done when building takes place.
Look, Mom. No steps.
