Our school is named after a Hungarian poet. It will be 25 years old in 2010.
The school serves as a community hub. There is a pre-school section that has kids which look to be 3-5 years old. They get care from a full time nurse and are at the school from early morning through early evening if the parents need after school care. The school which houses grades 1-8 is physically connected to the pre-school area. The schools are very well staffed. There are 2 daytime janitors and several women who clean up after school. That is really good because the water pipes in the ceiling have a propensity for breaking, sending a river of water onto the floor and a huge commotion as the cleanup commences.
As you walk into the school, the first thing you see in the foyer is a huge candy machine and next to that is a stand that is open long hours where the kids and teachers can get baked goods, candy and other super healthy snacks. The woman who staffs it speaks no English, but understands when I request M&M's. Then there is a little room which is behind a plexiglass window where the man who dispenses the room key sits. He has other jobs as well, but I just have not figure out exactly what they are. My classes are held in different rooms throughout the day, so he enjoys it when I request a key and he can say the key number in English. He works long hours and in fact, has a small TV in the room with him. The other day I noticed him watching "Hell's Kitchen" I wonder how that translates?
Then you enter a large multipurpose room with a stage at one end. This is where they hold assemblies and other school functions. The cafeteria is just beyond that .
The school pays for us to eat the lunches which I did on one occasion which was enough for me. Just like in the U.S. the lunches are starchy and not very appealing to an adult (although many teachers eat the lunch including my husband.) The tables all have tablecloths on them and the main dish is served family style. They serve the kids strange kinds of noodles or other pasta most days. Jack has reported noodles with poppy seeds, and something similar to tapioca pudding with cinnamon on it. The cafeteria is staffed with about 6 ladies not counting the cook who all wear matching aprons and circulate around the room helping the kids.
Upstairs is set up so that you can look down onto the stage over banisters from three sides. The school day is set up into 45 min. classes followed by a 15 min. break, so the kids like to entertain themselves during the break by looking down at their friends walking or playing on the first floor.
Student art is quite beautifully displayed on the second floor. The teacher must be fabulous because the work she gets out of students in really amazing. The wall displays are changed quite frequently. Currently there is a photo essay of the events around the eviction of the communists. Last week they had a community showing of the photos which was open to the public. There are plants everywhere, in classes, in the halls, on the landings. I think they must have one person who's only job is caring for them. There is also someone who's only job seems to be to make photocopies for the office. I hope that the Xerox he uses is more up to date than the one in the teacher's room because it is painfully slow!
Next time I will talk about kids and the lessons.
No comments:
Post a Comment