Connect Rural Uganda School to the World

Connection to the world of competitve sports is an important part of school life.  Uganda's national sports competitions were recently met with teams from Bishop Comboni.  It is a large part of maturing in the secondary level of education.

Teams practice together, work toward a common goal, and help each member to gain skills.   Hooray for the teams that go to the regional and national levels of games.  It has been a part of the life on campus for forty years.  This commaraderie is good for the development of social, physical and mental skills necessary for the life ahead. 

The students begin second term on May 28th and the rivalries will continue as well.  Connection to the world takes many forms.  Books in the library take on new meaning with each experience a student brings to the reading of a text.  A well-rounded academic and sports experience is key to a well-balanced education.

Bishop Comboni Secondary has mostly rural students who board during the school year.  The importance of being able to continue to study during breaks is huge.  

The long break of December and January, spanning the end of 2022 into 2023, is different this year.  Students are blessed with the opportunity to study online; due to the kindness of the alumni who gave the school a website and the the diligence of the teachers who took advantage of the new means to teach over the holiday.  Life is good now.

The photos show the enthusiastic response to the receipt of the phones.  The students will take them home and follow the instructions they were given to access lessons and interact with instructors during those two months.  The impact will be seen in February when students return and are eager to continue their studies.  The teachers will not be faced with students whose brains were idle during the holiday.  It is a wonderful situation about to unfold.  Connecting the students to their school during the holiday is their best gift of the season!

Bishop Comboni's annual celebration of its growing campus and its founder took place on October 8th, 2022.  The successful integration of the new vocational program into an outstanding school has made this an amazing year.

Inspired by the "Skilling Uganda" initiative, this dynamic program is a part of every student's life.  Each student must choose one vocational course; Agriculture, Plumbing, Carpentry or any of the other courses offered.  They pursue their academic subjects along with a vocational course for their first three years.  At that time, the successful passage of an exam will provide them with a Certificate in their chosen field.  They may opt for more training in that field or remain on campus to complete O Levels and A Levels. 

This look at the trades has inspired some of the students to change their focus, even though they remain on an academic track.  One example is a student who recently used this knowledge of trades to identify Civil Engineering as his goal.  It is creating a balance of knowing how things work and wanting to be a larger part of the planning for making the world around them function well.   Respect for all aspects of life is a wonderful lesson.  

We congratulate Bishop Comboni for becoming an even greater school.  It is more dynamic and vibrant because of this diversity.  

The wonderful study space and research opportunities at the E-Library are now available for extended hours.  Bishop Comboni has responded to the demand with more staffing and longer hours.  Before and after classes, students can utilize this haven for peaceful, comfortable, immersion in their studies.  Help is at hand.  The challenge of making up for closures is being met very productively.

Even the balcony space is occupied.  This opportunity is being utilized to the max.  Kudos to the administration for making this happen.  Kudos to the students for jumping in and making the most of every hour in the day!

Students reported for the re-opening of Bishop Comboni secondary school after 16 long months of pandemic closure in January of 2022.  They are faced with a challenging blended-year consisting of the current year academics and the lost time.  The goal is to be back on schedule with their educations by December 2022.  It was tense at the beginning, but the excellent planning by the administration of Bishop Comboni and the teachers has made this work.  The dedicated students will be back on on track at the end of 2022.

The e-Library is again the haven for study and research.  It will be providing books, computers and a quiet environment during a very intense year.  Students using this facility will again be rewarded with answers to their questions and the basis for good understanding of the subjects they undertake.

The campus is their home for the year, since all board here.   A recent Saturday was the perfect demonstration of how the students have adapted to the re-opening.  The campus was alive with students studying on the lawn and the athletic fields were a beehive of activity.  Normalcy has returned!