Next year, our current seventh graders will change campuses to attend high school (!). They are really excited, but are also a bit sad to leave the primary and middle school teachers that they've known for six years.
7th grade graduates: Mamatha, Pooja, Prema |
7th grade graduates: Vinod and Pavan |
Two of our tenth graders start the very important SSLC examinations today. We are crossing our fingers that they do well -- passing the SSLC exam means continuing on to 11th grade. Many students, particularly from poor backgrounds, fail the exam and don't bother to try again. If our two kids fail, they will take the exam again. Today, having an SSLC certificate is required for getting a driver's license and most jobs in India.
Our two 10th graders have overcome many challenges to get to where they are now.
Suma came to us three-and-a-half years ago at the age of 13 after her mother died, and she struggled in school. When she lived on the streets with her mom and siblings, she sporadically attended a government school in the city that had four teachers for 1st to 7th grades.
Suma |
Manikanta is a former street boy whom we've known for nine years. On the street, he lived with his friends and sniffed glue everyday. After coming to KM, he stopped that habit but behavioral effects lingered. He works hard at his schoolwork, and we are so happy that he's still in school and hasn't gone back to his former life on the street.
Manikanta in 2009 |
Sreenivasa (white shirt) in 2005 |
Sreenivasa in 2010 (third from left) |
Results for the 10th and 12th grade exams will be out in May. We'll let you know how everyone did!
Kids sure grow up quickly!
1 comment:
They all look so grown up! Congratulations!!
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