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Arlington Academy of Hope
PO Box 7694
Arlington, VA 22207
tel: 571-228-4102 |
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| Uganda News 4b - Reading carnival |
Uganda News #4b
A Report by Cynthia Margeson
Arlington Academy of Hope
October 18, 2006
If it is October, then it must be time for Reading Carnival and even though I am retired, this year was no different. Thanks to ATS and Holly and AAH and Headmaster Thomas, Reading Carnival really has gone global! Catherine and I did our best to recreate the banners and balloons which many of you are familiar with from years gone by at ATS. In addition, two children had lovingly made two kites from plastic stretched across sticks with tails tied from plastic bag scraps. They were intent on flying them and then hanging them from trees in a place of honor-a curious homemade touch. The t-shirts were passed out with great excitement to each class, and students were immediately transformed to bright fresh colors of black, red, yellow, red, white or blue. The formation of the flags of our countries and the singing of both national anthems were the official opening of the celebration. The colors were brilliant and I have memorable images of spectacular color throughout the compound. Ugandans love ceremony and propriety so we had a fair share of that with remarks and congratulations all around. FYI: AAH’s 292 students read 12,854 from July 5 through October 11, 2006.
Each class outdid the one before in adapting familiar songs to praise the benefits and values of reading. Highlights included the P-4 class singing the ATS school song adapted without copyright permission, “We’re Arlington stars, we shine in Uganda…” P-5 elaborated on a Reading Strategies play which was introduced first by Tim Laramy and then by Emily Margeson. To the great amusement of the audience, the students relate peeling a banana (no shortage here) to the step by step process of making connections in reading comprehension. P-5 also did a Motown rendition of a song which included a judge, a preacher, a doctor and a teacher; all careers which require reading. The acting of the four professionals was superb (particularly the fire and brimstone preacher). P-6 acted out a traditional African folk tale which was organized by Catherine through her reading comprehension lessons. The tale involved a family and five visiting hyenas with the funniest hyenas you can imagine. First graders must be universally cute. They were each given a letter and when that letter was called for they lined up in alphabetical order and then sang the African version of the ABC song.
John Wanda’s father who is affectionately called Papa and the grandfather of the school had the children spell bound with his storytelling and song of Hare and Leopard. Picture a 75 year old man in his bright red Reading is Global shirt, 325 eager listeners, the backdrop of the American and Ugandan flags, banana plantations everywhere and a brilliant blue sky. You could not paint a more beautiful setting.
Each class received certificates; probably the nicest they have ever seen or even dared to dream of. Thank you Holly and Lorraine and all others who helped to print, laminate, cut or assemble them. At the same time students received touching smiley braided bracelets from Beatrice Tierney. They have been proudly wearing those each day. Class pictures could not have been more colorful.
As the formal program was ending, the excitement continued to escalate as children returned from the kitchen with rice and MEAT! Thanks to the former 5th graders at ATS. We were also able to get a soda for each one; another real treat for all students. As children enjoyed their lunch, there was an atmosphere of color and celebration. Shirts of many colors were dashing throughout the compound as they played football, net ball, jumprope, a game with a tennis ball and a few wiffleballs and bats as well. Uninhibited shouts of joy were heard. AAH students of all ages (5-18) were interacting. To finally calm things down, we showed the video of Madagascar. Children are fascinated with the animation and cartoon characterization, but I think they miss some of the humor and story as the speaking is fast and is a different English accent than that to which they are used to listening. (They do understand what Catherine and I say as we speak a bit slower, and they listen carefully).
All in all, Thomas expressed that this had to be the first celebration of reading in the district, in the county, in Uganda, in East Africa and in all of sub-Saharan Africa! Not bad for the first AAH Reading Carnival! Thanks to all of you who helped to make this global partnership possible over the past 6 months. I know you will have an equally successfully Reading Carnival in Virginia.
Although I am very happy here, and incredibly busy every single day, I am just as eagerly looking forward to December and the holidays and being with Emily, Liz and many friends. I am also looking forward to another sojourn to the Mbale Resort Hotel in 3 weeks. Just think, they have constant power (either regular or generator generated) and hot running water…aaahhhh Stay well
Love,
Cynthia
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