Our Drain Brain Visitor & other Term 1 Highlights

Term One flew by with a flurry of key visitors, all enthusiastic about sharing their skills & energy at WTA. Fortunately, they were also very flexible and adaptable. We have learnt from bitter experience that there is no point in turning up with a 'List of Things to Achieve'. After a few days, it is best to tear it up and start again, as 'things happen' and plans always, always change. Just be prepared.

'Drain Brain Engineer Rob' (his self-appointed Ugandan title) spent a month with us at WTA, revisiting the drainage project he started in March 2020, which was abruptly curtailed due to the Covid lockdown. Four years later and not being the type to leave a job unfinished, he returned to complete the task. As a long-term friend of ServeDirect and WTA, Rob (Fielder) needed no introductions and literally got stuck into the ditches and digging. He combined this with regular detours into the A' level Physics and Maths classes to explain some Applied Physics, making the subject relevant and exciting for the group. We allowed Rob to take the Easter weekend off to explore beautiful Lake Albert and Murchison Falls together. The Physics fans were not at all happy about Rob's departure, having really enjoyed the extra sessions.

And in reverse order, our first visitors this term were Jake (Dugdale) and Eva (Budd) who came for a long awaited holiday and first visit together to Uganda. As per usual, we kept them busy, creative and involved in school life. Jake rediscovered a new interest in A' level Maths lessons, student banter, basketball training and landscaping. Having borrowed our trusty 4x4 to travel round Uganda, courtesy of ServeDirect Tours, they returned with fantastic stories and close-up photos of extreme wildlife and nature experiences. Uganda is a truly beautiful country with many unique sights. Without doubt, the driving is not for the faint-hearted or police-phobic, but is part of 'The Real Experience' of course! 

On the WTA side, the school moved through its first term cycle of welcoming new S1 students & new teachers, celebrating some great O' level results and significantly improved A' level results - the school is certainly growing in stature and reputation. By focussing more on literacy/reading culture and research strategies, the students are getting more used to independent learning which fits with the increasing demands of the new curriculum. Teachers are getting them for a totally new style of exam papers this year, but no one is quite sure what to expect ... 

The Rock has also been busy all term; the biggest offenders still being malaria, typhoid and stomach ulcers among both students and community patients. The health centre has been awarded HCIII status. Thanks to everyone who kindly donated to the extra costs involved in the upgrade. Further donations can still be added via the green Donate Now button on the SD homepage - it's never too late;) In March, Sam and team also hosted the rolling out of the national Yellow Fever vaccine for everyone on site, part of a global campaign to eradicate this potentially fatal disease.

More Connect, Library and General News next month. Overall a good term and a good time.