Storms, and Smiles as LEOT Opens Its Doors for the New School Year
September has arrived, and with it a fresh wave of energy at LEOT as the school launches into a new academic year.
The month began with familiar routines and new faces. Returning students registering for their new classes, while new students visited the school to complete registration forms and apply for interviews. Behind the scenes, staff and teachers were hard at work: the school was thoroughly cleaned, classrooms were re-arranged, and the IT room was brought back to life as all the computers were unpacked from storage and set up for lessons.
The real excitement came on the 14th and 15th of September, when new students arrived for interviews with native-speaking volunteers and LEOT teachers. The atmosphere was a mix of nerves and enthusiasm. Some students entered the interview rooms clearly anxious, struggling to find the right words. Others strode in confidently, eager to answer questions and show what they could do.
After two intense days of interviews, the difficult task fell to the teachers: selecting students for each class. With limited places available, it was impossible to avoid disappointing some applicants, even though LEOT did its best to accommodate as many as possible.
The big day arrived on the 17th September, LEOT was ready to welcome its new and returning students for their first official day of school. By early afternoon the sky had turned dark as heavy rain clouds gathered. Within minutes, the monsoon rain began to pour, threatening to disrupt the long-awaited first day.
Despite the weather, many students still managed to make their way to school, arriving soaked but determined. The day began with a small assembly, where teacher Bounchanh and Trustee Peter welcomed everyone and shared a few words before students headed off to their classrooms for their first lessons of the year
By 18:45, the rain had almost stopped, and students for the later classes began to arrive promptly, ready to begin. Their commitment, even in such challenging weather, was a powerful reminder of how much education means to them.
On Friday, LEOT teachers held a meeting to review the opening day. Each teacher gave a short presentation, sharing feedback, challenges and highlights from their first lessons
Despite the storms, LEOT has made a fantastic start to the new school year.
As one long-serving member of the team reflected, there have been years when the roads were flooded and the school driveway lay deep under water. Compared to those times, this year’s challenges only highlight the resilience of the students and staff.
What stands out most is the determination: come rain or shine, LEOT’s doors are open, and its students are ready to learn.
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