AlphaBet Club Building Blocks is proud to have completed another impactful academic year.  A total of 37 children graduated this year from K5 in Edelweiss. A total of 33,695 MEALS for the academic year, 135,322 MEALS since opening of Edelweiss and 211,970 Partnership MEALS were served!  Kindergarten diploma certificates were handed to all the graduates. Academic excellence certificates were handed over to outstanding children for many categories.

Learning came to an end with an official final assessment for all K5 kids in all the Building Blocks Schools with children performing much better than the previous years.

Attendance and Nutrition

No. of students enrolled: 113

Total number of meals served this month: 2,159

No. of school days: 14

No. of Students Enrolled (Day): 87

Average attendance: 74

Attendance in %: 85

No. of Students Enrolled (ASP): 26

Total breakfasts served: 1,038

Total lunches served: 1,038

Total meals served at ASP
(After School Program): 83

Total number meals served since opening at Edelweiss: 135,322
Total ABC-BB School partnership meals since opening: 211,970

Curriculum

Math

This month children did revision of Multiplication Tables of 1 through 10, what comes after and what comes before, numbers from 1-100, missing numbers, lesser to greater and greater to lesser, which is greater than and lesser than (<,>,=), arranging the numbers in serial order, ascending order, descending order, addition and subtraction of numbers

K4 children learned writing numbers from 1-100 and learned about even and odd numbers from 1-20. Missing numbers, counting the objects and writing the correct numerals, writing the numerals from 11-20, recognizing and writing the numerals from 26-33.

English

Review of Diagraphs, Alternatives, Vowels and Tricky words were done.  Children learned the new tricky words (once, upon and always) and also were given the dictations of tricky words, blending words from word bank and reading sentences from word bank.  In language work they learned finding letters like recognizing and writing the beginning and end vowel sound and missing sounds and seeing the picture and writing the words.

K4 children learned new tricky words (only and old). All the tricky words learned from the beginning of the year were revised (the, he, she, me, we, be, I, was, to, do, are, all, you, your, come, some, said, here, there, they, go, no, so).  Children also read sentences from simple readers

Native Language Kannada

All the letters and sounds learned from the beginning of the year were revised.

Social Science

This month they learned about “Rain forest”.

Story time

Following stories were read to the children- The woodcutter and mercury, The cap seller and the monkey, The milkmaid and her dreams, The boy and the cashew nut, Baby’s bed time story book, Goat in boat, The two frogs, The bear and the two friends, The donkey and the idol, My album of our helpers, Pet animals, Miss Rat marries the king of rats, The hidden Treasure, Doing the right thing, The Tiger and the Jackal, The boy who lost his belly button, A new house for mouse, The very hungry caterpillar and Goldilocks and the three Bear.

Value Education

This month they learned about hurting you hurting me, being different and loving your country.

Nutrition

Well balanced nutritious meals were prepared and served every day.  Children were fed breakfast and lunch on all working days.  Delicious meals were prepared and served with love every day at our Edelweiss School!  Special meals were served to children on the graduation day.

Graduation day

On April 19th a total of 37 K5 children graduated from Edelweiss this year.  A grand graduation ceremony was held in GD Mara slum with the graduating kids and their families.  ABC’s friends and well wishers were present to celebrate the happy moment.  A proud moment for all the ABC staff and volunteers for this accomplishment!

Special awards to children were awarded in the following categories –
1st in Academic Excellence, 2nd in Academic Excellence, 3rd in Academic Excellence, Writing Skills, Reading Skills, Conversational Skills, Math Skills, Best Behavior, Artistic Award, Best Attendance, Cleanliness Award and Punctuality Award.

Commencement of graduation ceremony with the lighting of the lamp

A huge gathering at the GD Mara slum with Edelweiss kids and their families.

ABC released the 200,000 meal banner on this occasion

Two outstanding students of the year!

Troy Swanson handing out diplomas to the graduates!

A musical “Alphabet Skit” directed by our volunteers Ms. Sahana Gupta and Ms. Rachana Gupta were showcased by the K5 children.  This was received well by all parents, children and attendees!

A dedicated Edelweiss Team with whom the ABC Edelweiss School has touched the zenith of accomplishments!

Volunteers

Volunteers play an important an integral part for imparting learning to the impoverished children of Edelweiss.  All year round we have many volunteers who come in and share their expertise with children and teachers.  ABC thanks all its volunteers who have given their time to this project.  A special award was given by Troy Swanson to the 13 year olds, Ms. Sahana Gupta and Ms. Rachana Gupta.  The two sisters have an incredible amount of work that they have done in the 2014-15 academic year which includes raising funds for books, workbooks, shoes, socks, uniforms etc.  They have also spent innumerable hours in teaching dance and music to these children.

Teddy Bear giveaway

Teddy bears were given away by Troy Swanson, AlphaBet Club to all the children of Edelweiss.  Children were extremely happy to receive these new furry friends.

Special Thanks to the staff that supports Edelweiss at our Implementation Partner, Building Blocks, and also to our Project Funding Partner, Alternatives 4 Children.