In November when we visited the school for the celebration
of the first high school graduation, it was days of dinners, celebration,
speeches and schedules. Returning to the campus in May when the school year is
well underway is like coming back to all
the familiar sites and sounds of this place that has set such a high standard
for girls education in Rwanda. Waking up to lustrous Rwandan sunlight this
morning, I heard the girls assembling for the morning meeting in the circular
court in front of the impressive new Library and STEM Learning Center. Here are
400 girls now…they fill the patterned brick space and clap in appreciation for
announcements and a speech from one of the students. They certainly seem ready
to begin their long learning day!
This morning the girls had a special surprise gift for
Sister Juvenal the Headmistress. Last Thursday was the Feast of her Saint,
Saint Juvenal. The girls had ordered her a picture of all the students with a
portrait of Sister superimposed over the scene and a message of thank for al
her love and leadership. It was a very
sweet moment…all 400 of those girls delighted that they had surprised the
Headmistress who is always so aware of
everything that goes on on the campus and the progress of her students. A
lovely beginning to the day.
The rest of the day unfolded slowly as we recovered from our
long flights and reacquainted ourselves with the rhythm and sounds of the
school day at MGS. I had a very productive meeting with the new Dean, Dean
Christian. He is a remarkable thinker about education issues and what makes a
school successful. He is naturally “student centered' in his thinking and
commitment to the students. He values the “professional culture” that teachers
can establish when they share that commitment to and respect for their students.
As he begins his tenure as the Dean of Studies, he is focusing on getting to know
his teachers well and thinking about how he can support their continued learning
through thoughtful professional development activities.
As the day ends and the frogs outside in the rainwater pool
wind up their guttural chorus, I am reminded of how much there is to learn from
this girls school in Nyamata.
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