Education at Peery Matriculation School

Raymond, Quincy and Stacy  They are all part of our Scorpion group.

Today we have been assigned to education. After quickly positioning my frazzled hair and packing down two bowls of Lucky Charms, we are off to the school. We got there early so we could see the morning assembly. The kids are so well behaved as they say the morning prayer and recite the school mottos. They look so beautiful in their nice maroon and white uniforms and neatly combed and braided hair. 

The school is really nice.  Instead of calling it grades they call it standards.  The school is Kindergarten to 12th standard.  They have some classes that are taught in English and some in Tamil.  Scorpion group was assigned to the library where our volunteer coordinator, Derek, had curriculum planned for those struggling in comprehension and math.  This was so similar to when I worked at Silver Ridge in special ed.  We worked one on one with a child for 45 minutes each.  I had so much fun and so did Quincy.  Each student I had was very motivated and did their best to work hard. I felt like I was right at home.  I had so many ideas that ran through my head of what I could do with these kids to help them learn their English.  Some of the curriculum they have here is too Americanized and words that are used they have no reference to.   

Half way through we got to eat lunch with them.  We all gathered in the dining hall. The girls all sit Indian style on the floor in a circle with their house groups they live with.  The house moms supervise the food for their group.  Each girl has their own tin plate they eat from.  Rosie, one of my favorite girls from my house came and got me and showed me where to get the food and how it is done.  The food was white rice and several different curries.  It was tasty.  The girls all eat a certain way with their right hand.  No utensils are used except for us, American people.  One day I will have them show me and I will do it.  Maybe I'll get it on video.   

The rest of the day involved play time with the kids after their school was done and dinner and family time.  This is a short blog today.  There will be more later.  I'm so impressed with all that is going on at Rising Star.