School appreciation post

 Another schoolyear is over. 

1 Sept 2022

30 June 2023

We walked a last time for this school year to school last Friday and I did so with a lot of gratitude. Back in 2011 (!!) we had to select a school for Kabouter and little did I know about the schools in Leuven since neither Jan or I grew up in this part of the country.  So we visited some schools rather randomly and chose this tiny school at walking distance. 

But years later we are really fond of their easy going approach, their multitude of activities and outdoor focus and lots of stem activities...none of which were greatly advertised or known before we came.  On the contrary, this seems a humble little school not well known because it is so small. 

When I talk to other friends, I notice that are children get a lot more introduction to STEM activities, work with computers and programming than other schools so we shoudln't take it for granted as we did. 

Due to the ongoing reconstruction of the old outdated buildings , the children are being taught for 2 years now in big white tents which works fine. These tents are located in the long narrow school garden which stretches out along the railroad into a residential neighbourhood.  In that garden, children play, climb trees, garden or get outdoor teachings and return home each time overly dirty.  And that makes my heart happy. It's fun to pick them up at school and search them balancing on some sort of rope in a tree or ...  When I then see some other schools full of concrete still (although most make good attempts to go greener), I praise myself lucky for their school environment.  On rainy days, we take all the mud stains with a smile.  Once the new building is completed they will finally also have some indoor refuge for weather distress days as now they are forced to stay in their class in those cases. 

They often go to expositions, theatre, musea, ... and now post-corona they could re-introduce the bi-yearly excursions to the coast or zoo or forests per grade. 

spotting my son in town when working from home

There are regularly parent activities (too much in fact, we don't participate in all) and the yearly school party is very chill with lots of play opportunity for the children but without the pressure of mandatory performances etc. So as parents, we just sit in the garden and chill with some drinks and food. 

And the garden is so popular that as parents of the classes we just borrow it to organise a class BBQ ourselves or it's the location of birthday parties etc. So even in our free time, we hang out there. 

Thank you to all the teachers that are so dedicated and approachable.  Thanks for their genuine care. I wish everybody a relaxing summer and looking forward to sending the boys back to them after the summer.  It's nice to know they are in such good hands.