New happenings at the school

So I went back to the school for the first time in ten months. I was sooooooo nervous. But it was great! The kids remembered me and they, as per usual, screamed "HIIIIIIII!" or "HELLO". I saw ALOT of familiar faces. 
So -- when I first walked in something was different. Well actually the whole school looked different. I was later told by the principal that the school had entered a "book"/project and via that, they had been chosen as one of 1,000 schools out of the country to be evaluated. So in other words, they had won the semifinals and gotten into the finals and now they are hoping to win the finals. I'm actually really confused on the details but that's what I have gathered so far. 
Someone from Colombo is going to come and evaluate them so the school has been turned upside down and cleaned. I am actually surprised how much school time they are taking off to make sure their school looks pretty. However, I do admit, the school looks heaps better than last year. 

That big building is new, it is actually housing a large statue of The Buddha.

On to more pressing matters, I did meet the principal. He was happy to see me and happy to hear that I would continue teaching. We decided I would teach Thursdays and Fridays from 1:40 to 4:40 each of those days; there will be three classes, each one hour long. 
I honestly like that because, trust me, students won't want to have more than two days. So the likelihood that they will come is much higher. 
So the first class will be grades 6-7, the next class will be grades 8-9, and finally the third class will be grades 10-11. 
​Classes will begin on June 23rd. We will not be beginning earlier because the 19th is the parade! Yes - exciting right? So it's a special date for Buddhists and because this school is so closely associated with the temple, they will be heavily participating in the parade. 
The complication is that for the days before and the days after the parade, the school seems to be on hold for a bit. The parade takes priority. So starting classes would be useless because chances are no one will show up. The 23rd feels like a safe date. I am sooooo excited!!!

This is the principal's chair. (For those who don't know - he's also a priest at the Buddhist temple)

That's all for now,
Samalya Thenuwara