Hello David,
Thank you for your email. I hope this email finds you in good health and that you are keeping yourself
safe from this virus. Back here things are quite complicated but I thank God we are managing ok.
School: Currently, we are only three staff who come into school ( Mr Alfred, Neema and I) the rest are
working from home. Neema and Mr Alfred aren't allowed to go into the orphanage side. They only do their
work at school and leave.
We have put some very strict rules for people who come into the school, eg washing hands with soap
before entering the office. I don't accept visitors unless they are officials, and parents have to ring before
coming into school, this is if their issues can't be dealt on the phone, eg borrowing books etc.
Homeschooling: As you already know the Bethany children are being taught at home by some of our
older boys and girls. Mariam and Anna Samson are also helping with the teaching. This is working well
but it needs more structuring especially for our KS2 pupils.
Village children: We have a program of weekly homework, parents come into school to correct their
child's homework every friday. This is strictly monitored. They are not allowed to enter into classrooms or
offices. Each parent has a time slot, however this hasn't worked as well as I thought it would be. Therefore
this week I am going to introduce a new system 'homework correction point' where parents will straight go
there and pick their child's work and leave the school site immediately afterwards, ofcourse this is after
they have thoroughly washed their hands with soap.
Adding on, class teachers also do phone village parents every Monday and Wednesday to check if their
children are doing their homework. This is what is currently happening but if this goes on for sometime
then I guess we will have to adopt a different approach. Everyone is still adapting to this new way of life
which is honestly frustrating!
Thank you for all you do.
Every blessing,
Emmakulatha