As we start 2016 we remain forever grateful to those who ensure Providence School keeps its wooden doors open. This year we had 300 students spread over 10 classes with class sizes ranging from 43 to 12 students. As well as academic and trade work, extra curricular activities were also emphasized this year (do marbles count?). Both the girls' and boys' karate team came 1st runner up in the school championships here in Shillong.

One of our youngest team members was selected to go to Delhi to represent her club in a karate competition in Delhi. This meant taking a three hour bus to Guwahati and a 2.5 day train (each way) to reach the competition. The school funds the karate classes for the students and the more serious among them train every day after school. It's great to see them growing in confidence as they improve.

EXAMS

In recent years the students have become more focused on passing exams. Before, the students who were old enough to leave school hadn't spent enough years in the classroom to be able for Class 12 exams. The most recent cohort had spent longer in Providence and were very excited to receive a tablet computer from the state government as a reward for graduating! Eleven students recently passed Class 10 exams. In previous years they would then have gone on to find jobs. But, like the 2013 graduates, they are choosing to stay on for Class 12. And of those eleven students, seven were the first of their families to do so. All students also took the Irish exam, kindly supported by Dundalk IT, that tests the students on academic as well as their practical subjects. The scholarship from Dundalk IT then offers the students the chance to progress to further education.

This is our Class 10 group waiting for the results to be released online. In the end the whole system crashed and they had to wait another 4 hours.

The next step now is finding third level courses that will help them further their careers. The demand for more education is extremely strong, and at the moment they are all opting for online BA degrees so that they can work at the same time. Unfortunately there is very little choice when it comes to online degrees here, and they require a high level of English. It's something we hope to explore more in 2016.

NUTRITION

Lunchtimes became more exciting in 2015. Providence has been providing food to its students for over 12 years now. For some it is the main meal of the day and their main chance to get variation in their diet. In late 2014 a fundraiser was held in New York that raised enough money to add more protein to their children's lunch. A usual meal would be rice with daal (type of soup/sauce) with vegetables from the market and the school green house. Now the students enjoy chicken, egg and soya protein.

The students enjoying a Chicken Tikka Masala

Other than that; the trades are still going strong - the students still cook, bake, knit, saw and make paper and candles until 10am and the go their respective classes. This year saw the departure of Miss. Pranamee and Miss. Amanda. The rest of the teachers are still there and still amazing. Br. d'Souza is still our guide. As of January 2016 four of our teachers have been with the school for more than 10 years. Ted Wetherill travelled to Shillong in March and met the last group of graduates. He was extremely impressed with all they have achieved. Kevin McMahon and a group from Australia ventured over in September and I (Claire) went over in June and October (with Marie and Aisling from St. Joseph's CBS in Drogheda in October).

To get an idea of the day-to-day life in the school, here are a few bits I wrote in my journal while I was there:

June 8th: Got back to Shillong yesterday. Today I walked into Class 1 and a student was furiously sweeping the floor. The teacher said he heard there was a visitor in the school and jumped out of his chair to start sweeping and dusting. Classroom looked great! Met students called Laughing Star and Criminal. The latter is a really nice boy and doesn't live up to his name at all

June 12th: Was walking into the school today and saw three students carrying another student. She was unconscious and jerking, seemed to be having a seizure They somehow carried her all the way up the steps from the new building while she was still shaking. On seeing what was going on Pratima (Class 9) ran out of her classroom to help out. She was amazing; setting her down, minding her head, rubbing her arms trying to get circulation going. The students stayed with her until she came round. I was flapping around screaming for an ambulance so Varina put me outside the door until I calmed down. Today was also that classes last day with their teacher who is leaving the school. Lots of tears, very emotional day for Class 8.

June 13th (Saturday): Went out for lunch with some of the students. One of the younger ones asked to go to the toilet and got a dig from his friend who said "We're in a restaurant, it's called a bathroom here". They then proceeded to all order the same meal - chicken chow! Most had naan bread for the first time, was a big hit.

Thanks again for your support - hope you have a peaceful and adventurous 2016!