September/October 2010
Stephanie Lücking (president) and Leonhard Kleinschmidt (special education student) traveled to Darjeeling end of August. Leonard Kleinschmidt worked in our school as trainee for four weeks.
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A sabbatical year allows Stephanie Lücking to go to Darjeeling in September/Oktober 2010 and March-April 2011. On location she can take part in school life and talk to teachers, the headmaster and DUCES board members about the future development of the school.
Detailed conversation with Rohit Pradhan (headmaster and managing director of our partner association DUCES) about the school year 2011
Registration for the new school year is going on since October 2010. The new school year will begin March 7, 2011. Teachers and nursery nurses visited families in the surroundings to inform families about the new school. Some parents decided to register their children in December 2010. They can pay the complete school fee or a part of it. The conditions (e.g. committed teachers and school direction, good building, toys, health insurance for the children) are very good. In addition our school fee is small compared to other schools in Darjeeling. Our idea is to run the school with a mixture of paying and financially supported families. Therefore we will admit 12 -15 pupils to our school supported by direct sponsorship or by our association. The selection of the supported children is one of the most difficult tasks for Rohit Pradhan. The procedure for this will be like last year: First information about the families will be collected and then we will visit them in their home (more hovels to German standard) to get an impression of their life conditions.
We like to start a new prenursery class (children at the age of 2.5 to 3 years) and complete the other classes (nursery and lower kindergarden) according to our demand. We have decided that the maximum number of pupils in a class shall be 15. At least new teacher is needed for the next school year. 2 of 9 applicants for the teacher position were selected after the interviews. The final decision will be taken in February. Perhaps it is possible to employ both applicants. Homework mentoring is planned for the next year, because many parents are not able to read or write. They cannot support their children when doing homework. We will offer literacy courses for interested parents.
Following events are scheduled for the coming school year:
- Start of school year March 7
- Half-year exam beginning of July
- Environmental day on July 14 (tree plant event) within the Forestry Week
- School excursion
- Teachers Day on September 5
- Final exam beginning of December
- Christmas party
- Blood Donation day (parents)
Exchange of ideas with teachers
Leonhard Kleinschmidt and Stephanie Lücking supported the teachers at work respectively introduced new exercises for pupils. There is a curriculum for children at the age of 2.5 to 3 years in India. It comprises the area of numbers, letters, colors, rhymes and language exercises. In addition the English language is introduced. There is a fixed schedule like in European schools. The pupils sit at a table and do their exercises using books and booklet. They learn rhymes and songs by heart. Active games can be made outside thanks to the big playground. Pupils can play with a rocker, rocker horse, slide and so on after the breakfast break.
The teaching of such study contents with weekly tests, midterm and final exams is unfamiliar to people in Germany. It even seems daunting to us. But when we observed the motivation and discipline of the pupils learning numbers and letters and doing their homework voluntarily, we got into a thoughtful mood. We were deeply impressed.
We had the possibility to discuss teaching methods and report cards with teachers. From the very beginning we did not want to dictate the teaching process. In springtime Stephanie Lücking will once again have the opportunity to prepare and communicate specific teaching contents. Now she knows the abilities and needs of the pupils. The youngest pupils will get the largest classroom, which will be furnished in a more appropriate way for the pupils.
Highlights in September 2010Play and fun
Leonard Kleinschmidt and Stephanie Lücking tried to introduce a new game every day. The children liked playing with the parachute towel in particular.
- Half-year exam beginning of July
- Environmental day on July 14 (tree plant event) within the Forestry Week
- School excursion
- Teachers Day on September 5
- Final exam beginning of December
- Christmas party
- Blood Donation day (parents)
Exchange of ideas with teachers
Leonhard Kleinschmidt and Stephanie Lücking supported the teachers at work respectively introduced new exercises for pupils. There is a curriculum for children at the age of 2.5 to 3 years in India. It comprises the area of numbers, letters, colors, rhymes and language exercises. In addition the English language is introduced. There is a fixed schedule like in European schools. The pupils sit at a table and do their exercises using books and booklet. They learn rhymes and songs by heart. Active games can be made outside thanks to the big playground. Pupils can play with a rocker, rocker horse, slide and so on after the breakfast break.
The teaching of such study contents with weekly tests, midterm and final exams is unfamiliar to people in Germany. It even seems daunting to us. But when we observed the motivation and discipline of the pupils learning numbers and letters and doing their homework voluntarily, we got into a thoughtful mood. We were deeply impressed.
We had the possibility to discuss teaching methods and report cards with teachers. From the very beginning we did not want to dictate the teaching process. In springtime Stephanie Lücking will once again have the opportunity to prepare and communicate specific teaching contents. Now she knows the abilities and needs of the pupils. The youngest pupils will get the largest classroom, which will be furnished in a more appropriate way for the pupils.
Highlights in September 2010Play and fun
Leonard Kleinschmidt and Stephanie Lücking tried to introduce a new game every day. The children liked playing with the parachute towel in particular.
Manual training
Leonard and the children made a car out of a plastic bottle, bamboo sticks and twisted caps during handicraft class.
Sandbox
After four days of work the sandbox was inaugurated. Thank you once again to all people donating us toys for the sandbox. We decided to have the children playing at the border of the sandbox. They should get accustomed to the rules (e. g. do not throw sand). The precaution was not necessary. The children were playing with sand mold and shovel. We did not take into account that it is not easy to get the sand off the childrens clothes and faces. Friday will be the day for playing in the sandbox in future because this is the day for having a bath at home (the school director hopes).
Teachers day
The teachers day was celebrated on September 5. All parents were present and the teachers had prepared a small event program (dances, citation of rhymes, speeches)
Teachers, school board and we as guests received the traditional Kattas (scarves) in return for our commitment.
Zoo visit
A zoo visit took place on September 24. Free admission and packed lunch was donated by the zoo administration. Some parents accompanied the children during their first zoo visit. This made possible a half hour walk with the children that were fascinated by boars, tigers, leopards, pandas, fishes and parrots. It was a splendid day for all participants leading to the idea to make a zoo visit every school year.
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