Today Mrs Speed and I took the 2014 team to see the project funded and built by the 2012 team. It was an emotional day and we were so pleased to have Ruwantha with us for the occasion
To remind you this is what the building looked like when we arrived in July 2012.
Just like this project it looked like a daunting task but we managed it.
As we arrived the children presented us with betel leaves.
Then we were taken to the playground for some king coconut juice.
It was very refreshing.
The children had spelled out 'welcome' in flowers. The building looked beautiful.
The playground was a wilderness when we arrived in 2012.
This numbers board was painted by some of the 2012 group.
And so were these desks...
Becky, Tom and Hollis found their siblings names on the peacock board.
And this alphabet board was also done by the 2012 team.
The same pre-school teacher was there, she remembered us and we presented her with some Rookwood tea towels.
The children sang some songs including 'twinkle twinkle little star'.
And then they demonstrated a game of chase...
The children were very well behaved.
Ruwantha made a speech which Natacha responded to.
The children clearly love their new classroom.
The rules of the Centre.
The 2012 team. I know that many of them are following this blog.
Here they are at their opening ceremony. We are looking forward to ours on Friday morning!
And for Rachel B, yes we did see the Super Moon! Mrs Speed and I braved the late night mozzies and took dozens of photos. It was a national holiday here.
In other news.... Mrs Baines I'm afraid Freddie's suitcase has died. It was ripped in transit and now the zip has also broken. I hope you don't mind if we take him to buy another one tomorrow.
Thank you for the kind comments about the blog. We enjoy writing it although it is very time consuming and uploading it to the internet is very hit and miss which is why the blogs are not in the right order. We have no wifi and 3G is patchy.
To those of you who feel your children have not featured in enough photographs - sorry! Some students are very good at avoiding the camera and it is hard to keep track of who I have included. I will try to upload a couple of 'wordless' blogs later today, apologies if some photographs are repeated.
And finally to Henry, William and Mollie, I miss you loads and look forward to seeing you on Sunday. I hope the house is in one piece! Love you all lots from mum xxxxx
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What a lovely account and how lovely to see what the 2012 group help to build. I'm very proud of all our children, what a wonderful experience to have at 15 & 16 years old.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading more soon, love to you all xx
Fantastic to see the 2012 project thriving and looking forward to seeing the results of your hard work later on this week. Sam will be interested to see this blog if he ever gets up! Love The Machins xxx
ReplyDeleteHi, I must have been half asleep in all those briefings by Mr Knight as I was convinced this trip was to build on top of the 2012 building - zip for me in terms of observational skills! It must have been great for the team to see how much the last project is being used and know that theirs will be similarly valued. Plus it must be very humbling to see how welcomed they are. Wonderful. G, nice bit of camera dogging although you have starred in a few lately so fair dos. We are all fine, I still wrestle with the heat pump on the swimspa regularly, nan moans about the heat, Theo wants the Gruffallo on the main TV on rotation, Chris moans about the careless attitudes to electronics, Ed loom bands for Britain - he has alphabet beads now!!!! Prepare for a 'Georgia' bracelet, necklace, key fob, pencil case, socks, trousers......we all love u and miss u. Xxxxx. Mum
ReplyDeleteYup. I too thought that the current project was to build on top of the 2012 project. We must have had the same nap time!!
DeleteThank you, Thank you for another brilliant blog. A fantastic record for the 2012 cohort to see the results of their hard work still being needed and enjoyed. I think its incredible that you have managed to convey to all of us at home what has been happening and on a daily basis. The wonders of modern technology, even it it is a bit Heath Robinson at times. You must all feel immensely proud of your 2012 cohort's achievement and so pleased that the building is so obviously valued and cared for by the community and the children. I love the Centre Rules - many of which we should apply to ourselves in our daily lives. Looking forward to seeing your own building achievements at the end of the week. Good Luck and Take Care the cohort of 2014 Rookwoodians. Lots of love to Joe from Dad, Julia, Hooba, Max and Lucy xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful sense of achievement your teachers must have felt, going back and seeing the place in use. And I am sure seeing the work done by the 2012 team will egg you on when the going gets tough in these last few days before the opening ceremony on Friday. Am really looking forward to seeing the 'after' pictures of your efforts, to see if the difference is as big as the 2012 groups. ;-)
What lovely, colourful pictures and what a fantastic legacy you all get to leave, 'just' from your hard work (and the money you all worked so hard for back here in the UK over the last 18 months).
Seriously - Well done all of you. I am proud to have a daughter amongst you.
Now - get back to your chain-gangs.
Knuser, Mor, Far og Rødemis. xxx
P.S. We appreciate the Blogs and the difficulties you have posting them - I just tried to have a phone conversation with Dad, and we got cut off 4 times - and he was only on the train to London!
Another WOW! Fantastic to see the 2012 project up, running and so well used. And being a fan of purple I love, love, love the uniforms the children are wearing. You must be so proud of this project and how it is flourishing. Be in no doubt that the blogs, however hard they are to produce, are slavishly followed by us at home. It is fantastic to see our children having such a brilliant experience. Thank you all so much for the updates. Joseph you are looking sooooo good. I hope you are having a terrific time of it. And Hollis, you are always smiling. It's lovely to see you in your fab hat and shirt. There is little news from here in Hurstbourne Priors. The sun shines every day!! J - Alexandra is getting married and I'm having supper with her tomorrow to see her engagement ring!!! The cats are well and seeking shade. Russell is working hard. I've had a bug but without the pleasure of getting it abroad :( Love to you all. Joseph I love you loads plus one and no returns. Love from Mummy, Russell, Mirabelle and Verity xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteBTW it would be nice to see a bit more of the lesser spotted Rookwoodian known as Joe. The camoflage is a bit too effective in that green shirt. Lumpoanr Mummy xxx
DeleteAnother brilliant blog - thank you. We love the little children's school uniform - should it be adopted by The Rookery to brighten up misty November mornings? Thank you for the photo of the moon - more exotic than here! The 2012 building looks great, an inspiration to you all in your current project and is obviously hugely appreciated - and we hope those who worked on it will see this blog. Lots of love Flora - best wishes to you all and a big thank you to Mrs Clarke, Mrs Speed, Mr Poole, Mr Barnes and Mr Knight for making this fantastic trip possible. The Blissetts
ReplyDeleteI think its important for you and all the team to know that the blog updates and pictures have been excellent and to my mind, given the nature of your location, more than we could have expected. Keeping the blog up to date and informing us proud/ anxious/ worried/ relaxed! parents of every minute detail of the trip should be way down your priority list. Finishing the project, experiencing the culture and above all enjoying yourselves should be up at the top.
ReplyDeleteWe will have plenty of opportunityto find out what happened when you all come home. See you all soon.
Lovely blog again. The trip to Sevenagala must've been very inspiring.can't wait to see how you are all getting on with your project. Freddie H, so pleased you are getting wear from your sunglasses-have you taken them off yet? Dozy dad fell off his bike again so he is a bit battered. I think he needs cycling proficiency lessons or at the very least stabilisers. So much to talk about next week - missing you tons.x
ReplyDeleteRobert,
ReplyDeleteYour Mum was thrilled to see you in a phot! She did spoil it slightly by grumbling about eating with dirty fingernails but you know what she's like. I did say she couldn't have it both ways, either she doesn't see how clean a teenage boy tries to be or she stops complaining when she does. Her response was to stick a nail file in my leg. I tried but you are on your own, buddy!
Take care,
Dad
These pictures certainly bring back memories. The building stands testament to the hard work these guys put in.
ReplyDeleteGreat news James, Dad says you're allowed to paint your bedroom using your ingenious method of attaching a paintbrush to a stick!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Opening ceremony today. Weather here still hot and muggy but persisting with a morning run which is getting earlier and earlier to beat the heat. Am sure you are all well acclimatised so will think it's decidedly chilly back in old Blighty. Teddy now back home after school trip to Oxenwood and announced he didn't change his clothes at all, do hope this doesn't run in the family! Fi practising like billy o for Grade 5 Piano tomorrow. Dad is much improved and even back out working on his garage project while security clearances for Boeing take place.
Wish you all well with the Grand Opening party, have fun. Am sure it will be sad to say goodbye to Sarvodaya, but what a great adventure you've had there, Caroline, Nick, Fi, Teddy
So do you like king coconut juice Robert? I can't wait to hear all about the new foods/spices you have tried. Just think in 2 years time there maybe Rookwood pupils looking at all you have all achieved on this visit, knowing you are making a positive change to people's life's must be pretty awesome. Well done to you all.
ReplyDeleteLove Mum. Xxx