With the wet season in full swing, consistent rain has slowed progress at the Wat Mon Thyean construction site. With 85% of the construction complete, Bunrith, SCC's construction engineer, expects that if things continue at this pace, the building will still be ready by October 13. However, cleaning and preparation of the area around the new classrooms may remain.

This week, PHV Construction continued work on the roof structure, installing batons and rafters and laying the first of the roof tiles. They also continued work on plastering of the walls, which are nearing completion.

As construction continues, students are growing eager to start school in the new building. As Puma, age 7, and Rathana, age 10, played outside the school library, I talked to them about the new classrooms: “Next year, I will start grade 4. I am so happy that I will get to study in the new school. And, I'm even happier that once I finish grade 4, I can study grade 5 at my school,” Rathana shared. Puma, who will repeat grade 1 next year, was all smiles, too, as he talked about the new classrooms.

The community is equally excited. Residents gathered at the school last Friday when three trucks delivered new school furniture. Although SCC was not there to capture the community members' reactions, we heard their overwhelming excitement over the phone. Once the school support committee confirmed that the furniture met specifications, SCC processed payment of $2,608 to the supplier on behalf of the community and SCC.

Eager students, Rathana and Puma:

Construction continues:

New kindergarten furniture is in storage in the old classrooms, in preparation for completion of the new building. Printed on the desks are “Donated by SCC and the Wat Mon Thyean community:”

Teacher chairs and meeting table chairs: