All’s well that ends with a well

Water, water everywhere — or at least, at the Kyobo Primary School in Uganda, thanks to the Greenhills School community.

The new well is proof that seventh grade students, when studying the water cycle, don’t stop with science basics when attempting to understand complex issues surrounding water.

Last year, the students tested their research skills and gathered information about the  political and geographical challenges facing people trying to obtain fresh water around the world. After interviewing  the president of the Water Environmental Federation, students learned woman and children in Africa can walk about four miles each day to get clean water for their family, and that the average amount of water carried is six liters. That’s nearly 9  pounds!

Challenged to add a social action component to their learning, the students decided to walk four miles themselves while carrying three two-liter soda bottles filled with water. The walk helped raise local awareness of  the issue and also raised money to dig a  well for Kyobo Primary school in Uganda.

With the help of teachers, parents and grandparents, the Walk for Water, held May 8, was a success. Students set out to raise $3,800 for the well, and, with the school community’s generous support, they actually surpassed that goal. Altogether they raised $4,453.33.

Thanks for all of your support–and get ready for the next Walk for Water, in the spring!

–by Jan Toth-Chernin, director of information technology, Nadine Hall, director of diversity, and Ann Novak, 7th Grade science teacher