Another teacher bloggs

Hannah Zellmer, a fellow missionary from The Prayer League has been teaching at LAMB School for almost a year. You can read more about her experiences on her blog Adventures Along the Way.

LAMB School Facts

If you are interested in knowing how many nationalities have been represented at LAMB School or how many books are in our library, you can now click on the link on the right called LAMB School Facts.
In the future there will be more numbers and information. We hope you will find it informative and fun.

Laughter with Ovi and Rupom

Is it too hard?
Do you feel well-prepared?
How big are your classes?
Do you miss us?
Do you have classes together?
Are you making new friends?
These are some of the questions we excitedly asked Ovi and Rupom, LAMB English Medium School’s first O-Level graduates, when they returned after their first month at school in Dhaka. We welcomed our former students to a party with all of the LAMB teachers and Gr. 9 & 10 students to celebrate their graduation and test results.
Both Ovi and Rupom are studying A-Level’s in Dhaka. They assured us that they feel challenged, but also well-prepared for their classes. Favourite things about going to a new school are having AC in the library, and having a few days when classes start late in the afternoon!
At the party we spent time reminiscing and laughing over old memories and asked God’s blessing on Ovi and Rupom as they continue their education.

Last day and then some

Once again we have come to the end of a school year, once again we have celebrated and said our goodbyes; but this year is different for a couple of reasons.


Our first two O Level students (O Levels are the old English tenth grade exams.) did not get any certificates from LAMB School, their exams were held at another school and their results will be published in August and certificates issued a couple of months after that.
They are now on their way to further education, it looks like they will be in the capital, Dhaka.
Another difference is that the headmaster is not going to be here the next six months.
We have shared the responsibilities amongst the people who remain and it is good to see new people take on - and do well with - added responsibilities.

Give thanks to God for His faithfulness and lift us up before him in prayer; pray for the children we teach, for the staff who labour to ensure the best education we can give and for all the families who are part of the school.

Glory to God

Sports Day 2010

Three teachers were away today so we rearranged the schedule to say Sports Day for the four youngest grades. We had great fun and it almost felt like we could have won the World Cup.



We have only one week to go after this, exams are done, report cards are being finalized and we are working hard to get ready for the celebration of the last day of school.

Registration

One of the requirements for registration of LAMB School is that we take a photo of the school building with the children and teachers standing in front.
We have been asked to separate the primary from the secondary section. In this photo the children in preschool, kindergarten and grades 1 to 5 are standing with their teachers in front of the main school building.

Registration

Thank you to all who prayed for our visit to Rajshahi on Monday, 24 May 2010.
We felt God has prepared the way for us. Not only were we able to stay at one of our teachers' home; Jayanti's mother and sister provided excellent hospitality (and are excellent cooks.)
At the Primary Education Office we were able to meet with both our Assignment Officer and the Deputy Director who were very helpful in encouraging us and pointing out the areas we need to work on in our application. It was encouraging to see the professional level of work of both.
Please pray that it will work out for the Deputy Director to visit before we close for the summer on June 24th, and that we will be able to get all the corrections to our application made before then.
Please also pray for wisdom to plan for how to maintain appropriate standards for both national and foreign students while complying with Government of Bangladesh regulations.

First First Grade Reunion

On Thursday, 20 May 2010 the entire first grade from 1997-98 were gathered at LAMB for a reunion party. It was a unique opportunity for the six friends to get together. In the evening we had a good time of remembering. During the day the six former classmates spent their time revisiting LAMB and the school and the past.
One of the best photos from then, probably taken in 1998, was a pyramid they made in one of the classrooms at the guesthouse.
We recreated the formation in front of the school. See for yourself how they have changed.

The big test

Rupom, Ovi, their parents and teachers wish to use this occasion to thank all who have prayed for LAMB School and for the first batch of O Level (Grade 10) students.

The first of their final exams will be held today, 11 May 2010, 30 kilometers (17 miles) away in Dinajpur. The last exam is scheduled for 10 June. Please continue to pray for Ovi and Rupom as they take their test.

Easter Break

This week the children there are no classes at the school. We celebrate the Kingdom of Peace and the gift of Life through Christ's death on the cross for us.
Please pray for the Kingdom of God to come and live in and amongst us here in Bangladesh.
Please pray for the government inspection of the school on 6 April 2010; that the government officials will actually come, that they will like what they see, and that we will be able to show them sufficient and good respect. This inspection is a part of the process to get government registration for grades six, seven and eight. This registration will allow us to have students take compulsory exams which the government is introducing this year for all students in grade eight.
Please also continue to pray for our work permits and visas for 2010. We are still waiting for one work permit (the headmaster's) and visas for various foreign staff at LAMB.

Work Permits

Every year all foreign staff at LAMB, including at the school, apply for work permits from the Government of Bangladesh to work here. This year the work permits have been delayed as the government is looking into why we are all here.
The officials who have visited us from the local police station have been very helpful and have helped us as we seek to answer the queries from the government. Over the last couple of weeks we have received some of our work permits and give thanks for those.
Please pray for the remaining work permits.

Government liaison

It's been a hectic day...
Today started early, an application needed to be ready for departure at nine. I won't bore you with details about government registration details but this one has to do with the ministry of education - or at least the regional offices thereof knowing about the school.
We left right at nine and made it to Dinajpur where a friendly government official told us that it didn't make sense to start the process now since the matter would be moved to a different district from July.
During our talk we also asked for advice about the new standardised tests which the government administer and with getting books which the government distributes. He told us that Sunday was the deadline for requests for these. A little calculation of time - deducting the next two days because they are our weekend, left us with today for getting all the papers ready.
We went back to LAMB and except for a stop to pick up three people injured in an accident and getting them to the hospital went straight to our local education office. When we arrived there at about one the new municipality education officer gave us until two to submit lists of all students in each grade, their parents' names and their religion. A kind lady in the same office pointed out that this was about an hour away.
Back at the school we cancelled lunch break for all teachers who can type in Bangla and got to work. I left LAMB at three fifteen and was able to submit the papers - they kindly pointed out we had made a mistake, which I was able to correct on the spot. They then proceeded to offer us some of the school books we need for this year and asked me to come get them on Sunday.
I arrived back at LAMB at exactly four for almost three hours of parent teacher conferences.
I am grateful for the staff who all pitched in to help type the names in Bangla, to those who couldn't and so were asked to cover classes, to one who brought me hamburgers in the afternoon, to the finance people who got the banking information late yesterday afternoon so we could make the trip to Dinajpur, to the driver and our PR coordinator who came along on the trip. I am also thankful to the government officials who were so forthcoming with help and information today.
Most of all I am thankful to God who planned it so that we made the trip; had we not gone we would not have known about the deadline and missed it once again.
(In previous years we have been able to purchase books legally. The government has made it illegal to print and sell these particular school books because the free books weren't making it to the students.)
I am thankful to God for protecting us on the way.
Please pray especially for one of the injured people we brought to the hospital; she is stable but in a critical condition with possible internal injuries.

Happy New Year 2010

Tomorrow a new semester starts at LAMB School. We look forward to having the children - and teachers - back to fill the otherwise empty buildings. We look forward to learning and to the blessing it is to see our students grow.
Last semester was a busy and challenging time, we started out short on staff, but by the end of the year; we interviewed teachers on 31 December; our staff numbers were up to what we feel is the need.
We praise God for the visas that allow us to bring in foreign staff, and for all the national staff who are at the school.
Today it looks as if the first day of school will be a little chaotic, four staff members will be late or possibly absent because a train was derailed near Joypurat on the line between Dhaka and Parbatipur; two teachers are away because of weddings and one is on a boat trip.
Fortunately we have been able to cover the schedule with former teachers and students who are back at LAMB on holidays.
Please continue to pray for work permits for foreign staff and for national science teachers.