Inspired Anew

It’s been four years since we stepped foot in A.V. Bukani Primary School. In many ways, it felt like four months. There is such a comfortable familiarity with the township and with the school. There are faces we remember, with lots of welcoming hugs. And there are new faces whom we are excited to get to know. Within ten minutes of arriving, there is a meeting with the teachers and we begin our work.

Truthfully, our last visit in 2015 was challenging. The day before we arrived, one of the teachers with whom we had worked closely passed away from breast cancer. It was a sad and difficult time for the school. The school had several other teaching positions open and the Department of Education was dragging its feet to permit hiring of new teachers. (As it turned out, those openings lasted for months after we left.)  The library was barely used. One bright spot was the work on writing that our friend Randi Adleberg was able to do with some of the older students. But the lack of political leadership nationally and in the region was also evident in the school and community. Nowhere was it more visible than the road to the township – the only road – which was dangerously more potholes than tar. 

So we did not know what to expect when we returned this year. But what we see has inspired us anew. As we drove into the township, the first thing we noticed was a beautiful new road, with sidewalks even!  At the school, we saw that the returning teachers, near to our hearts, are bolstered by many new competent teachers. 

Mr. Lamani (r)
and Mr. Matyana (l)

The beloved principal, Mr. Z. Thambo, has moved to a supervisory position in the district. While we miss him, we are so pleased to see Ace Lamani as Acting Principal. Mr. Lamani is a gifted educator who has worked with us since 2008, first as a teacher and later as Deputy Principal.  He lives in the township and cares deeply about every child. He wears the mantle of leadership with a seriousness of purpose. We are very hopeful he will become the permanent principal. He is supported by an excellent Deputy Principal, Andile Matyana. 

Mr. Lamani has worked hard to build on the strengths of the existing staff and bring in committed new teachers. He has high standards and communicates them to the teachers. He asked Larry to work with teachers in grades 4 -7 to review techniques introduced in grades 1-3 in previous years -- Think-Pair-Share, Big Books and Read-Alouds. The goal of all three techniques is to engage the learners in developing their thinking and English skills, starting with hearing the language (Read Aloud) and speaking in English (Think-Pair-Share). Big books help develop an understanding of print and can be used to support content in other areas.

“I saw my learner do something I never expected”

Several of the teachers Larry is working with are new. One noted, “As a teacher, you know your learners. But today, I saw my learner do something I never expected from him.” Noting the student is not disruptive, but can be “playful,” she saw him engaged and participating in new ways with think-pair-share. The teachers are all looking for ways to get their learners to speak more, even the “shy” ones. In addition to classroom work, Larry has led professional development to work collaboratively on the issues. 

Larry was extremely pleased to hear more learners this year actively participating in Think-Pair-Share. When talking with their “Pairs”, they were using much more English in a more sophisticated way. AND, they were more likely to share with the whole group. Great progress attributed to the teachers since our last visit! However, the teachers and Larry all agree they will seek ways to get more learners actively engaged in the next two weeks.

Larry also saw that the upper-grade learners were better able to express themselves in writing. He passed out sticky notes to each learner after asking a question during Read Aloud, and was impressed that many immediately wrote responses and posted them on the chalk board.  This short form of writing seemed well within their comfort zone. Next step will be to engage them in longer attempts (which he knows they can do because of the success Randi Adleberg had during the last visit).

This next week Larry will continue to demonstrate for the teachers in the classrooms, including using Big Books to introduce science content. Then the teachers will take over the teaching during the third week while Larry observes and coaches them.  BTW, there is no school on Wednesday. It is Voting Day and it is a national holiday -an idea the United States should and must adopt. It’s called democracy. 

Larry continued to share his passion for singing with the learners, who exceeded his own excitement. This year he created two Big Books to support the singing of "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain" and "He's Go the Whole World in His Hands. (Read the blog next week to hear about a new adventure in singing with local children!)

Eileen has been working with Grade 1 learners– so much fun!  They know “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” in Xhosa, and she’s teaching it to them in English. They did A LOT of jumping this week, as she read “Jump, Frog, Jump” by Robert Kalan. It is valuable for them to see that English can be fun, and start connecting the language to words and phrases. 

An updated computer lab

The computers in the lab have been updated with the additional memory we were able to purchase and bring with us, which means they can run the programs that the students had been using in previous years to supplement their regular classes. The donated laptops we brought with us have had their new hard drives and Windows installed, but we are waiting for the Department of Education to provide the  school-wide license for Office so that can be installed, as well. While the wheels of the Department grind slowly, school leaders are pressing them to get this done. We are very excited about the prospect of a fully functional computer lab for the learners. 

Eileen is also working with the teachers on computer skills. She led an initial workshop for all the teachers on using the official laptops provided to each teacher, and she will work with small groups on particular skills.

A bright spot in the school is Alex Nowala, who supports the computer lab and helps with finances. Despite Mr. Lamani’s efforts, Alex doesn’t yet have a paid position in the school, only receiving a small stipend from the SGB (similar to a PTA but with much more authority). He lives in the township and has two daughters at the school. He is often the first one there and the last one to leave, with many in the school depending upon him for his skills and knowledge.

There is another “volunteer” in the school who works more than full-time for a small stipend,  Mr. Spokter, the caretaker (custodian with responsibility for everything inside and outside the school). In an area with few jobs, these men don’t wait to find one that suits them. They work tirelessly to support the school their children attend. What a gift they are.

Alive With Music and Joy

The school is always full of music, but especially this year. The choruses were rehearsing for a competition and we had the treat of watching them. Such exuberance - so full of life. It is wonderful to see the teachers encouraging the students to show their personal style and enthusiasm. 

We often remark that everyone sings here. It is a part of life, not a separate endeavor.  In our first year, I asked one of the teachers if a child is ever told not to sing.  She looked at me with a perplexed look, sure she must have misunderstood what I was asking since English is not her first language.  How could they ever tell someone not to sing?

Reconnecting with Family

One of the hardest parts of being far away is not getting to see the Mofu family, with whom we lived for our first three visits. It was wonderful to visit them and catch up. Our first year, Yanga turned 7 – He is now 17 and in high school in the nearby city of Port Elizabeth.  He is such a confident and caring young man. He loves his science classes and we are excited for his plans to become a paramedic. 

The two younger boys in the family are now in middle school, sweet and fun-loving. To the delight of all, there is a new toddler, Pam’s daughter Luminjano which Pam told us means “God's love stands with us through thick and thin.”  We were eager to meet Pam’s husband and were impressed with his warmth and caring. And we saw their home, a few blocks away from her parents in the township. They are fixing it up room by room, with their hard work paying off. 

What a Birthday!

Friday happened to be Eileen’s birthday and the teachers worked hard to cook up a surprise. As she entered the meeting room, the whole staff boisterously sang, “Happy Birthday,” dancing with balloons, and presenting her with a birthday sash and a cake. Such love and joy goes into everything they do. At the end of the day, all 1100 students sang Happy Birthday in English and Xhosa and another favorite song of Eileen’s. It  just doesn’t get any better.

And those teachers!!!!  What a surprise:

A Beautiful Fall

It’s been very hot here even though they are going into winter. Well, hot for us, anyway. Two days went into the mid-90’s. It’s amazing how cool buildings can be when they are built to keep cool. It only hits those temps for a few hours mid-day, and we wear light sweaters in the morning and evening. Fall is a beautiful time of year here.

Surfer in Port Elizabeth