Time flies … & time to fly..

September! The start of the new school year, new beginnings, new resolutions to work harder (for some!), new pencils, new uniforms, new teachers … and who doesn't love new stationery? September in Uganda is also the busiest school season and the start of the third & final term, when S4 & S6 students sit national exams.

It is, therefore, the most significant and most intense time of the year for the 220 'candidate' students, not to mention their teachers. All other classes take internal exams as normal, but as this is the 'promotional term', only the overall pass mark allows a student to move up next year. The pressure is on and there is talk of little else but exams and revision timetables.

With this term definitely in full swing and the publication of both O' level and A' level exam timetables, it's all sounding very official; the clock is definitely ticking.

Our brains have been pulled back 'through the wardrobe' into school mode with many 'to do lists'  - in sharp contrast to our relatively relaxed UK-based summer of battery recharging, catching up with families & dear friends, doing some UK work, celebrating birthdays, weddings .. plus eating improper amounts of cheese & olives in Europe! 

On the immediate list: budgets, building site finishing, drainage-improving, annual reports & accounts, renewing our NGO status, exam techniques again, teacher observations, library sessions, story-readings, revision lessons, student chats and staffroom discussions!

And over the next few months, there will be hellos and greetings to new staff and colleagues, some welcome reunions, but inevitably also some sad goodbyes. . but more anon...