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Update on Multi-Purpose Building and Kitchen
Our incredible contractor Vincent has made tremendous progress since we first broke ground on the Multi-Purpose Building in June. Employing lots of extra workers from the local community, he now fully expects to have it completed by this year’s end. And, this much-anticipated Dining Hall will be fully operational by the start of the 2023 school year. In addition, while just as important but not getting as much attention as the MPB, a new modern Kitchen will also be completed and fully operational by the start of the 2023 school year. The modern stoves are purchased and ready to be installed when the Kitchen is done. The final phase of…
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It’s Student Testing Time!
The next several weeks are intense times for our S4 and S6 Students as they begin the UCE and UACE examinations. As an FYI, S4 in Uganda is equivalent to the final year of Junior High School, or 10th grade. From here, students go to Advanced Level (A-Level), formerly known as High School or just “Higher” locally. That is Senior 5 and Senior 6 (S5 and S6) which is equivalent to grade 11 and grade 12. Below is just a brief explanation of how rigorous these examinations really are for the students. We ask that you please keep them in your prayers during this stressful period. The Uganda Certificate of…
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Giving Tuesday 2022
What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday is a global initiative that encourages people and organizations to donate their time and money to charitable causes on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving in the United States. It was created in 2012 and has grown every year since so we are celebrating the 10th anniverary of the start of Giving Tuesday this year! Once again this year, Friends of John Paul School will be reaching out to all of our wonderful donors on Giving Tuesday. Our campus is bursting at the seams and your donations so gratefully be used to provide the basics for all of our current and new students including an additional…
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Help Us Bring ESSENTIALS to Our Students in Uganda
In July 2023, we’ll be returning to the JPSS campus and hope to bring the following items for our 600+ students: Sports bras – all sizes (white and light gray colors please) White knee-high socks, brown men’s dress socks String backpacks Toothbrushes Full-sized toothpaste tubes Shop our Walmart Charity Registry for everything we need to bring and have it shipped directly to us. Would your group, business, church or club like to collect these items for us? The Supplies Drive flyer is available to provide to your organization. Please contact us at info@johnpaulschool.com for more information needed or delivery options.
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Wine Tasting 2022 – SOLD OUT!
The 8th Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser, benefiting the students at John Paul Secondary School, held October 6th at the chic Silver Spoon Ristorante was attended by a SOLD-OUT crowd!! In addition to our many loyal returning guests, we had 35 guests attending for the first time!! This year’s event was also our most profitable, raising an amazing $35,000! The Silver Spoon provided five delicious small plates which were accompanied by five outstanding wines. A short presentation was given by Paul Berrigan, founder of John Paul School, addressing the current construction at the school which includes a Multi-purpose Building, comprising a 500-seat dining hall and a modern kitchen. A wonderful evening…
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Teacher Degree Policy
Teachers facing government mandated degrees… The extended shutdown of the education system in Uganda for Covid-19 was devastating for students and teachers alike. Many students were forced to find jobs to help with family finances and never returned to the schoolroom, many others got married and were forbidden to return to the classroom. Those that did were automatically promoted to the next grade regardless of how well they performed, how much they learned, or how many days they were in school. They are hopelessly far behind. Teachers experienced a lot of the same issues. They had to find a way to feed their families and with no income, they were…
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Inflation Hits Uganda
Just as we are feeling the effects of inflation here in the USA, people in Uganda are struggling with similar challenges… Ugandan schools reopened in February this year after a 22-month hiatus, the longest shutdown of schools anywhere. The inflation rate had just spiked 1/2 point to 3.2%. But the ever-upward rise in energy prices is driving inflation to alarming levels. Today the rate of inflation in Uganda is 6.8% and is expected to increase again in July. In addition, the price of all goods and services has risen dramatically. Food prices have nearly doubled in just four months (100 kgs of flour were $41.60 – now $70.00, a ream…
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Multi-Purpose Building & Kitchen Update
Construction Is moving along at a good pace and it’s very exciting to see the progress that is being made. Be sure to read the following update and view the photos…… Despite the many challenges facing the school over the next few years, we continue to develop and grow the campus. We broke ground two months ago for our most ambitious project yet. . . a massive Multi-Purpose Building and a large, modern kitchen. When completed (scheduled for late 2022) it will accommodate 500 students at a time for lunches and dinners. It will also have a raised stage for performances with room to seat 750 guests and will be…
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Join us at the 2022 Annual FOJPS Wine Tasting
Once again, we will be holding our annual Charity Wine Tasting at the chic Silver Spoon Ristorante in Rochester, Michigan. For your enjoyment, five premier wines will be paired with a like number of gourmet tastings. Register for individual tickets or purchase a table and invite your friends. We have a limited number of tickets that we expect to sell out quickly. Please join us on Thursday, October 6th!
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5K 2022 Video Summary and Wrap-up
Thank you to all of the wonderful participants, donors and supporters of our second annual Virtual 5K to support John Paul Secondary School in Uganda. Please watch our wrap-up video below (and keep an eye out for folks you know) to enjoy this fun event!
