Rounding the Final Turn

LCS Graduating Class of 2010 in a practice picture before their official class photo tomorrow.  Thank you to Volunteer Betsy Bowman, for her excellent picture taking at LCS throughout the past year.

We have been working so hard to continue that it is hard to switch our minds to bringing the school year to an end. However, our Philo Students are more than willing to motivate us to turn our attention to graduation. Amazingly, due to the hard work of the staff, teachers, and Volunteers, we are able to stick to our original graduation date of June 5th. I look forward to beginning my annual "negotiations" with the Philo class on the activities for graduation day. Philo and Rheto students will have a month long period of National Exam preparation at the school after graduation.

Continuing will still be a part of our game plan as the younger students will have their school year extended through June. LCS will end its year form the lower 5 grades officially on July 2nd. This fits with our normal procedures relative to Haiti’s Ministry of Educations program.

Indeed, we have become very good at continuing after uninvited disruptions. On Monday afternoon, students, staff, and Volunteers responded beautifully to a 4.4 aftershock. Volunteer Mary DeAgostino said, “My senkyem (8^th grade) English class jumped up from their desks when they felt the shaking, but then they stopped and waited for my instruction. I told them they could walk carefully out of the classroom.” With the help of some Philo students, teachers and staff were able to encourage students back into the classrooms and all classes resumed within a few minutes of the aftershock.

I would like to once again thank YOU, our very supportive community, for making it possible for us to expand our budgets this year to meet the extraordinary needs created by the quake. Your contributions to our Recovery Fund make it possible for us to re-arrange flights of volunteers, continue purchasing food for the extended schedule, and meet the other costs associated with operating under the current conditions, while sticking 100% to our mission.

Peace,

Patrick