True Expressions Of Joy...Teleios Africa 2007
Day 17…Delivery Of Science Equipment Brings Excitement
The students at Spring Valley Secondary School for Girls eagerly wait for their turn to try the new microscopes.
New anatomical models will provide opportunities for more in-depth science of study.
This morning, the microscopes, the anatomical models, and books were delivered to the Spring Valley Secondary School for Girls.
Currently, there are 114 girls attending the school. After the formalities of meeting with the Business Manager and Academic Dean, who are also the English and History teachers, I had the opportunity to meet with the girls during their team break. They were so excited to learn of the microscopes, models, Internet access, and computers, which are ready to ship from the U.S. and should be in place by the time they return to school in late July. They were so happy to hear the news.
After the break, we went to the science lab to show the teachers and students how to use the new microscopes and work with the models. The new microscopes are powered by rechargeable batteries. Purchasing this type of microscope proved to be a great decision because the electricity went off just as we were starting to use the microscopes. Now, whether there is electricity or not is no problem. Everyone was really excited when they learned that they were portable and could be used even when the electricity was off.
It was like a Christmas morning scene as we unwrapped the microscopes and unpackaged the models. What was going to be a short time together turned into almost a three-hour lab experience. When the students learned that they could make their own slides, they were ready to do it then. I was surprised by how much they really enjoyed the spinal column model, eye model, heart model, human body model, and the frog skeleton.
Osward Msemwa, the Academic Dean, brought prepared slides from previous trip. The students wanted to see every slide on every magnification. They were really excited when they actually got to work with the microscopes and look at the slides and not just watch Bedasto Mwaitenda, the Biology/Chemistry Teacher. We had prayer together, and they sent their deep appreciation. The girls were also asking about Zechariah who came on the June/July mission team last year.
The Spring Valley School was the highest ranking new school out of 298 secondary schools. In the final academic ranking, the school finished 22nd out of 298. This was the first time that the students of Spring Valley had taken the national exam for Form II students. Form II is equal to our eighth grade level.
Every Form II student takes the national exam. The average of all student grades determines the ranking. This was an outstanding achievement for Spring Valley. The girls have set a goal to be in the Top 10 this coming year. One of the girls said that she was working to become the Number One student in all of Tanzania.
At the end of this school year, the Spring Valley School was the top-ranked girls’ school in the Iringa region. While this is certainly good news, it has created a problem – other schools are now targeting the Spring Valley teachers and trying to hire them away.
Last year, Civics textbooks were purchased for the school by a Teleios partner. Spring Valley’s Academic Dean attributed the opportunity for the students to have these textbooks as the direct link that led to them being Number One in Civics among the schools. Their average on the national exam was an A.
Although the Spring Valley students finished in the Top Five in Science within their district of 63 schools, it is still an area in which they consider themselves weak. However, I think that they soon will be Number One in science, as well.
Please continue to pray for the girls and the school as they move forward. The long range plans are now to add another class each year until they offer high school as well as secondary school. They will begin having two sections of each grade (now they have one).
In the afternoon, Frank Mwaisumbe and I went over future economic development opportunities and just relaxed and enjoyed our friendship. Frank now has the capacity to assist mission teams, university research or business clients from the U.S. with a complete range of services. This is an exciting development for our partnership in business development that affects ministry. Also, we have worked out plans for a chicken and egg business and a pork farm. Please pray for these new opportunities.
In the evening, Mpeli and Neema hosted a dinner for me with Frank and Ann. The meal included fish – you know, the ones that road home from Mbeya with us. We had a great time together.
Floyd works with the teacher to help instruct the students in microscope techniques.
Students get a first-hand look at how the eye works.
A model skeleton will give the students an opportunity to learn bones, as well as internal organs.
The students at Spring Valley Secondary School for Girls eagerly wait for their turn to try the new microscopes.
New anatomical models will provide opportunities for more in-depth science of study.
This morning, the microscopes, the anatomical models, and books were delivered to the Spring Valley Secondary School for Girls.
Currently, there are 114 girls attending the school. After the formalities of meeting with the Business Manager and Academic Dean, who are also the English and History teachers, I had the opportunity to meet with the girls during their team break. They were so excited to learn of the microscopes, models, Internet access, and computers, which are ready to ship from the U.S. and should be in place by the time they return to school in late July. They were so happy to hear the news.
After the break, we went to the science lab to show the teachers and students how to use the new microscopes and work with the models. The new microscopes are powered by rechargeable batteries. Purchasing this type of microscope proved to be a great decision because the electricity went off just as we were starting to use the microscopes. Now, whether there is electricity or not is no problem. Everyone was really excited when they learned that they were portable and could be used even when the electricity was off.
It was like a Christmas morning scene as we unwrapped the microscopes and unpackaged the models. What was going to be a short time together turned into almost a three-hour lab experience. When the students learned that they could make their own slides, they were ready to do it then. I was surprised by how much they really enjoyed the spinal column model, eye model, heart model, human body model, and the frog skeleton.
Osward Msemwa, the Academic Dean, brought prepared slides from previous trip. The students wanted to see every slide on every magnification. They were really excited when they actually got to work with the microscopes and look at the slides and not just watch Bedasto Mwaitenda, the Biology/Chemistry Teacher. We had prayer together, and they sent their deep appreciation. The girls were also asking about Zechariah who came on the June/July mission team last year.
The Spring Valley School was the highest ranking new school out of 298 secondary schools. In the final academic ranking, the school finished 22nd out of 298. This was the first time that the students of Spring Valley had taken the national exam for Form II students. Form II is equal to our eighth grade level.
Every Form II student takes the national exam. The average of all student grades determines the ranking. This was an outstanding achievement for Spring Valley. The girls have set a goal to be in the Top 10 this coming year. One of the girls said that she was working to become the Number One student in all of Tanzania.
At the end of this school year, the Spring Valley School was the top-ranked girls’ school in the Iringa region. While this is certainly good news, it has created a problem – other schools are now targeting the Spring Valley teachers and trying to hire them away.
Last year, Civics textbooks were purchased for the school by a Teleios partner. Spring Valley’s Academic Dean attributed the opportunity for the students to have these textbooks as the direct link that led to them being Number One in Civics among the schools. Their average on the national exam was an A.
Although the Spring Valley students finished in the Top Five in Science within their district of 63 schools, it is still an area in which they consider themselves weak. However, I think that they soon will be Number One in science, as well.
Please continue to pray for the girls and the school as they move forward. The long range plans are now to add another class each year until they offer high school as well as secondary school. They will begin having two sections of each grade (now they have one).
In the afternoon, Frank Mwaisumbe and I went over future economic development opportunities and just relaxed and enjoyed our friendship. Frank now has the capacity to assist mission teams, university research or business clients from the U.S. with a complete range of services. This is an exciting development for our partnership in business development that affects ministry. Also, we have worked out plans for a chicken and egg business and a pork farm. Please pray for these new opportunities.
In the evening, Mpeli and Neema hosted a dinner for me with Frank and Ann. The meal included fish – you know, the ones that road home from Mbeya with us. We had a great time together.
Floyd works with the teacher to help instruct the students in microscope techniques.
Students get a first-hand look at how the eye works.
A model skeleton will give the students an opportunity to learn bones, as well as internal organs.
Labels: Teleios / Grace Partnership
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