The name of the school associated with the St. Anthony the Hermit Parish in Lori is “College St. Augustin de Lori”. The school has a pre-school with over 45 children, a kindergarten and nine grades, teaching over 430 children with 9 full-time and 5 part-time teachers. 200 of the students in the upper grades met us, in their blue and white uniforms, halfway up the mountain upon our arrival, with songs and with an english language welcoming wish from one of the students: “Welcome to you in Lory where we are happy to see you.”
Currently, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish is paying the salary of seven of the teachers, $70.00/month for 10 months each year, out of the funds the parish has raised. It would be wonderful if, on an on-going basis, someone, a family, an organization in the parish would come forward and commit to adopting the pay responsibility for a teacher, or half a teacher. While we were there, Fr. Romain also asked if we could increase our support to include an additional two teachers. If you have read Kevin Neely’s Hummingbird Operation story, you know that each of us can do a little part.
We visited each classroom. In each case, everyone immediately stood up and greeted us with words and smiles. We talked little about ourselves, showed them pictures of our families. Asked what subjects they like best; math was popular. One young lady asked for computers. When asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, doctors and nurses were popular. In fact, nurse was so popular, they might consider opening a school of nursing in Lori. With Fr. Romain present we were even able to get a few boys to mention the seminary and some of the girls mentioned becoming nuns.
One of the most important things they asked for was food. The children all walk to school, some up to three hours each way; and it is unlikely they even get breakfast before they leave. The school is unable to provide food during the day. A vendor may come into the parish grounds about mid-morning and, if a child has a few pennies, they may be able to get something, but that is rare. Fr. Romain could not commit to a food program under current access conditions to the property (the main gate is broken); but it is something the Twinning Team agreed to investigate for future consideration.
When we asked Fr. Romain if any of the students had any special needs, he called a number of them in who he thought needed glasses. We had brought 50 pairs of reading glasses. Within a half hour, the glasses had been tested on the students and were all passed out.
We also met with two of the full-time teachers to get their comments on conditions and things they would like to have. They would like poster board size paper for the lower grades to use to write/color on. Books for the students were emphasized as usually the only book available belongs to the teacher. The team obtained a list of available books from a bookseller in Jeremie and Fr. Romain marked it with the books his school uses - another possible source of support by the Twinning Team/Parish in the future. Of course, one asked for a pay raise. We did agree to replace the roof, which was severely damaged leaking badly and in need of repair, over the kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classrooms (in a different building).
The children were all clean, neat, bright-eyed and happy, very interested in us and we had much fun interacting with them, despite the language barrier. They loved to watch us doing things and were most excited when Dennis Guay decided to jump rope with them. The laughter, the amazement and the excitement in their eyes was a priceless to experience. And Dennis did not trip or fall down!!
In an interesting parallel, the students in Lori start their day much the same as do the students at our own St. Thomas School - songs, prayer, raising and saluting their flag in the yard before going in to classes.