Kids may get to play over the summer, but CCH partner school teachers and principals were hard at work in July, August, and September developing curriculum and honing their classroom skills. Thank you to all of you wonderful donors and volunteers who make this possible!
CCH partner school principals swapped their best curriculum materials and translated those lessons from French into Creole. Lavanneau School Principal, Marilene, says, “I am happy to work on Creole curriculum this summer because it will be very easy for the teachers to use it and they are able to give more explanations to the kids.”
Haitian schools have traditionally taught in French, even though that is a second language for Haitians. But there is a growing movement in the country to decolonize education and pivot to providing instruction in children’s mother tongue (Creole). At CCH we’re excited to be a part of this movement and we are looking for ways to get more Creole curriculum materials in the hands of Haitian teachers.
school nurses receive training on classroom management 
teachers participate in a professional development seminar over the summer 
principals translate school curriculum lessons from French to Creole
CCH’s school nurses got additional training from school principals in teaching techniques and classroom management. We’re delighted that the school nurse program we piloted in the spring is continuing this fall. Nurses are stationed a few days each week at 3 CCH partner schools. They treat urgent health needs and teach healthcare lessons for students.
In late August, teachers met at the CCH program center for a professional development seminar. The theme was “A New Look at Classroom Management.” In-country Director Dave Pierre and school principal Patricia Pradel led the training that covered: positive rules, morning meeting, positive climate, 100% participation, mentality and growth mindset, and positive feedback is the way to establish great classroom management. They also discussed social emotional learning, based on another University of Notre Dame training that Dave recently attended. Teachers discussed the connections between home, school and church.
Haitian schools were scheduled to begin nation-wide on September 6. However, with the disruptions from the earthquake in the southwest, the Ministry of Education in Haiti delayed that national start date for 2-4 weeks depending on schools’ infrastructure needs.
A few of CCH’s partner schools had a “soft opening” earlier in September inviting students who are able to come in for extra enrichment time. Now all of CCH’s partner schools are up and running with hot lunches being served every day. In Haiti, children tend to trickle in to school throughout September and October. School lunches are a good incentive for families to send their kids sooner rather than later!
Please join us in celebrating and praying for these principals, teachers, and students who are working so hard to lift up the next generation of Haitians!
