Thursday, July 15- Visiting Sir Samuel Baker SS

I finally got the opportunity to return to Sir Samuel Baker SS, the school I taught at last summer with IC Teacher Exchange. Lindsey and I took bodas bodas out there, and it was so nice to just have a 15 minute boda ride as opposed to a 40 minute ride to Keyo SS.
I am amazed at the physical changes at SSB. The Belgian government has partnered with SSB and is building a ton of buildings there. They have renovated most of the building and built several new classroom blocks and dormitories. They have also added a fence around the front part and a brick wall around the back part, separating it from the bush. They have renovated the room where we watched the prefect handover ceremony last year. It has tile floor and wooden and glass doors and is now so beautiful. The students plan to use it for a dining hall and are waiting on the furniture to arrive. They have also built a new kitchen off of the dining hall. Renovations on the administrative offices and the assembly hall are currently happening, and then they will work on the staff room. The school is so beautiful, and it was so nice to be back.
While there, I spoke to a student and asked him about the dormitories. He looked at me and said, “Lisa?” I replied back yes, and he said that he had been in contact with me throughout the year. He turned out to be Ocan Joel, a student that I had email correspondence with throughout the year. Joel gave Lindsey and me a tour of the campus, and it was so great to see that he was doing well. He is on an IC Legacy Scholarship, and he should be sitting for his exams this year.
I also saw Grace, my partner teacher from last year. It was so great to see her, and she was so exited to see me. We had a great reunion. She is doing well, and her children are living closer to her, so she is able to see them often. She reported that her S4 students from last year tested very well, which is a great accomplishment. I also spoke with several other friends as well as the head teacher and the deputy head teacher.
It was a great visit, and I felt like I had come home. I had such a great summer at SSB, and it was so fun to return and see all of the great changes. Hopefully, they can continue to progress and improve the school and guide students to successful lives.