Another month passed like a blink of an eye, and we successfully found ourselves in the second half of the first school trimester.

After almost a month and a half, I am finally writing about our progress in kindergarten. We are in the second half of the rainy season and the middle of the first school trimester. Classes started on January 9 and will end on April 6. Then there will be a one-month holiday and the second trimester will begin.

So what's new?

Last time we closed the post with the sidewalk, so I'll start from there today.

As you can see in the picture on the top, we completed the sidewalk. Although there is still room for its extension, the original plan has been fulfilled.

In addition, we have two 500W solar panels on the roof that are filling a 200Ah battery. There is also a control box that regulates the current going into the battery and, last but not least, an inverter that transfers the electric current from the battery to the wiring in the house.

There is also progress with the water. We have built a platform for a water tank into which water will be pumped when there is enough electricity. From there, it will flow by gravity to the kindergarten. There will also be a bathroom and toilet under the water tank platform.

The last major visible new feature is the doors. Installing the doors was probably the most complicated task of all of the above.

Let's talk now about the core of this post which is children and school program.

Children arrive at school between 7 am and 8 am, but the gate is open from 6 am, and the education starts at 8 am. From Monday to Thursday, school begins at 8 am and finishes a 3 pm. Friday is a half day, and school ends at noon, just before lunch.

For children who stay near, walking to school takes about 2-5 minutes. For those who live farther, it takes about 15 minutes to walk. The smaller children (3 years old) are usually accompanied by their older siblings, parents, or guardians.

When the children arrive, they go to the playroom. Just before the class starts, they greet each other, sing, dance, and pray. They go through previous work on the Talking wall. The Talking wall is an activity when the teacher sticks everything they have learned on the wall. Whenever children want to revise or teach each other, they go to the wall and do so.

From 10:00 to 10:30 is a snack break, and then the lesson continues until noon when lunchtime starts.

Children who stay nearby usually go home to have their lunches, while for others, someone from their family brings the lunch for them.

After lunchtime, the education continues with various programs. Depending on the day, they have reading, storytelling, playtime, or TV educational program. (Since the electricity is there and our teacher's family has the TV, we can have this program).

On Wednesdays, just after lunch, there are clubs. For now, children can choose every time what activity will take place. It can be music, poetry, ballet, or drama.

And finally, Fridays are devoted to PE lessons.

Surprise

To finish up, for those of you who came to this site other than through the link in the email, I have a song created in Zambia that you can download for free by entering your email HERE.

(The link will take you to our NGO's website, where you can enter your email and download the song.)