At the end of last year, the GO! & Express reached out to Greensleeves Children’s Trust to find out more about its newly-established high school’s needs as it celebrated its first Founders Day.
What were some of Greensleeves High School’s achievements during its first year?
We are very honoured to be sending one of our pupils to study nursing this year and another is going to do online teaching.
What were some of the lessons learned in the school’s first year of operation?
We registered to do online with a curriculum which worked out very expensive. We have found an alternative curriculum that will work out to be more cost-effective.
What are the school’s main objectives?
To give these children the best opportunity that they deserve.
What benchmarks were set to determine whether the outcomes were achieved?
This has been a learning curve for two years but the fact that two of our children were able to register for college and university, tells me we are doing the right thing.
What were some of the operational challenges the school had to deal with over the past year?
Financially was one challenge as we had to pay for the curriculum upfront, which was a lot if you have many children. We had to take out a personal loan.
Secondly, was to find laptops for the children to work on, along with headphones as well.
Thirdly, we had to source reliable Wi-Fi.
Fourthly, was a place where pupils could work, and fifth was a tutor to assist them.
What plans does the school have to address these challenges and what support (from businesses or the community) does this require?
We need to build a bigger classroom, especially for the matrics as we find having Grade 8-12 pupils in the same class is tough on them.
We are appealing to members of the public and businesses to sponsor a child or pay something towards a better education for these children.
By this time next year, what do you hope to have achieved at Greensleeves High?
We are praying for a bigger classroom or a separate one for the matrics, and also for some sponsorship or for all pupils to be sponsored.
What were some of the highlights that stood out?
Children that were never at school achieved 80%.
They are in a loving home, tummies full, sleeping dry, and knowing that the Lord loves them as well.
Is there anything more you would like our readers to know about Greensleeves High?
We are happy to take outsiders in as well. This will help our children to make more friends and will also help with sustainability for the school.
