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Providence School August 2011
Welcome
and Christine (VIII )- on maternity leave at present). That tells you two things:
Our newsletter of 2011 comes with a deep sense of gratitude to all in Ireland, Oz and the USA. It comes from 275 children, 10 teachers and 9 vocational teachers. If your computer is able to pick up the vibes from the ether above it says “Thank you”. Much has happened since we last wrote to you. Much more is to happen subsequent to this. So, having said thank you very sincerely to each one of you it’s time for a quick update. As compared to last year, there are 275 kids in school, 10 of whom are doing their NIOS exams. They are in 9 classes and these are the teachers teaching the classes: Pranamee (KG), Varina (I), Saker (II), Waidi (III),
Plumbing Class
1. Pranamee is new. She is doing a great job. 2. We have one more class added to the school; Class 8. As you can see, the software that drives Providence is in excellent shape. What the future holds only God can
Marda (IV), Iada (V), Bari (VI), tell – if He has the time. Maida (VII) ,
Soccer warm-up
Knitting Class
Exams Barisha, Bantei, Darihun, James, Laaihun, and Ribahun have just completed the first part of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) exam. They have done the Home Science and Business Studies exams. We were all very delighted when their results were declared. Actually they were more delighted than we were as they never ever thought they would get this far. It has provided them with the momentum to work hard for the next three subjects and for the exam to be conducted by the Ireland India Educational Foundation (IIEF). The IIEF, thanks to Claire, Marie and Peter, have established a firm connection with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). The latter has agreed to conduct an exam in 5 subjects and grant the children certification for the same. We don’t really think they realise what a fantastic service this will be for kids who otherwise would not have had a chance in life.
Gardening
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Developments - What's New? Let’s begin with what we prom- Presently, we are in the process of A lateral stem from all this is the ised to do. buying new tanks for the drinking beginnings of flower arrangement A 42 inch TV flatscreen has been
water – as promised.
for the girls. We have made very
installed in the hall for the kids. The Greenhouse: Thanks to the They use this to keep up with interventions of Dondor, we have what is happening in the world. The
computer
room
is
now
connected to the Internet and the classes have been getting to grips with search engines and emails. However, while we can control the Internet we have no control over the supply of electricity to the room.
a spanking new greenhouse in which
at
present
we
grow
and
furtive
beginnings.
Hopefully father time will sort out the ones with the naturally artistic eyes.
tomatoes, zucchini, chillies and We had a major mishap with our cabbage. It is doing well and it provision for the toilets and so helps in supplying some food for had to re-dig everything, repipe the children. It has also helped us everything and retreat from our to
introduce
horticulture
into former position. Oh Ted how we
school. For those of you that have thought of you! children, this is probably the most difficult of the trades because the results take a good while to be seen – kids can’t wait that long.
Greenhouse
small
School Cabbages
There has been negligence on our part: the buying of multi-vitamins never happened. Mea culpa.
New Toilets
School Awards Last year Dondor (a benefactor of Providence) instituted a special scholarship for the most outstanding boy and girl in Providence. The winners in 2010 were James and Laaihun (both now in Class VIII). Just so that you might know what exactly the award is for we have copied for you the citation on the plaque: “This is awarded to the student of the senior class of the school who best exemplifies the spirit of Providence School – Team Spirit, The generosity to walk the extra mile, Genuine concern for others, The strength to try and make the impossible possible. Keep up the effort. Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and discover they were the big things”. The process of selection was a combination of the votes of the two senior classes and the staff. The plaque was designed by Ted in the USA. 2
Providence School Newsletter, August 2011
Life after Providence... In 2009 the first class to graduate from Providence school left to pursue a variety of careers. Occasionally they drop in to let us know how they are getting on. All are currently working and quite a few are continuing their studies.
B ANRI, SHANKY AND STARLY
rly Shanky, Banri and Sta
AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST THREE OF OUR FORMER STUDENTS WILL SPEAK TO CLASS 6, 7 AND 8. THE IDEA FOR THE TALK CAME ABOUT AFTER THEY VISITED THE SCHOOL AND TOLD US HOW THEY ARE GETTING ON IN THEIR JOBS. THEY EACH HAVE GOOD JOBS AND ARE STUDYING, BUT SAY THEY WERE SURPRISED AT HOW DIFFERENT IT IS; DOING THE TRADES IN SCHOOL AND ACTUALLY WORKING IN THAT AREA. THEY ALSO WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE OF COMING FROM A SCHOOL FOR ‘UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN’. THEY SAY THEY WERE ONCE SHY ABOUT IT BUT NOW R E A L I S E H O W T H E D I F F E R E N T F O R M O F E D U C AT I O N BENEFITTED THEM.
WORKING LIFE THE FORMER STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN MANY DIFFERENT PATHS SINCE LEAVING THE SCHOOL. FIVE ARE WORKING AS CHEFS IN LOCAL RESTAURANTS (STARLEY, WANIBOR, JIMMY, WANDINIS AND LABIANGLIN), ONE WORKS AS A TRAINER OF NEW SALES PEOPLE IN AN INSURANCE COMPANY ( WANHOK), TWO AS TEACHERS IN A PRESCHOOL ( ALISHA AND SELENA), TWO ARE IN BEAUTY SALONS (BANRI AND SHANKY) AND ONE RETURNED TO HIS VILLAGE TO FARM BUT IS PLANNING A RETURN TO CARPENTRY SOON (DONKUPAR). THOSE WHO STILL STUDYING PART-TIME ARE BANRI, SHANKY, STARLY, MUTHOK, CELENA AND ALISHA.
Muthok and Kellin
Wanhok
Donkupar
Providence Football Tournament 2011 Thanks to the Waingdoh Royals FC, a local soccer team that has ‘adopted’ Providence, we were able to conduct a soccer tournament again this year. Eight teams took part, four girls teams and four boys. The Providence pitch was prepared as professionally as could be (given that it is short on grass...). The organizers brought bamboo poles to create goalposts, sand to mark the lines, snacks for the supporters and medals for first, second and third. The grass was cut before the game so the cuttings could be spread on the parts of the pitch with no grass (rogue cricketers ran on the pitch a bit too much).
Super Challengers
Both finals ended in nil-all draws, but were exciting none the less. The girls final was won by Team Superkids whose captain was Rastina and for boys Saibor led his team, Super Challengers to victory. The medals were given out by the players from the Waingdoh Royal FC and their coach, who is a former captain of India’s national soccer team. On the heels of the tournament the owners of the club have decided to give each student a new soccer jersey belonging to the club with Providence written on the back – much like the outfit the team wears for its national games.
Superkids
Keep in touch Once again, from all of us, “Thank you”. We are now proud members of Facebook. You can find the school’s page by searching for ‘Providence School, Shillong’. Failing that, our friends in Ireland will be keeping a blog on their site; www.irelandindia.org Our own website is www.providence.org.in and our email is providence4you@rediffmail.com