Daily life at Louverture Cleary School (LCS) is a structured routine of purpose, hard work and service. As everyone in the LCS Community goes about their day of classes, communal work, mealtimes, and play, putting others first is a common theme.
This year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the routine looks a little different, but the purpose and goals of the community are as clear as ever.
Every student, teacher and staff member embraces their responsibility to each other’s health and safety so that the LCS community may continue to push forward with its mission to educate the future servant-leaders of Haiti.
And they are succeeding, despite both the pandemic and the political unrest that has made 2020 an especially challenging year.
With 50 percent of the student body on campus at any one time, lots of hand washing, social distancing and, of course, face masks, here is a look at A Day in the Life of a Louverturian right now:
5:00 am The bell awakens students for the day. Students prepare themselves in their dorms and then, grouped by class, proceed to the cafeteria for breakfast. With plenty of space between students, they eat their meal and clean up before the next group arrives.
7:00 am Students are in their designated classrooms and the school day begins. This year, students remain in the same room for all their courses and only teachers move from class to class throughout the day. Rooms are constantly open to the air, thanks to the beautiful Haitian climate.
7:40 am The bell rings again to call students, staff and teachers to the front basketball court for the reading of the Gospel of the day, the raising of flags, and announcements from the Administration.
8:00 am Classes resume and change every 40 minutes for 11 periods each day, with lunch taking place between 11:00 am and 1:10 pm, rotating by class groups.
3:25 pm The school day ends, and students put on their work clothes for Netwayaj (clean-up). Student groups, led by Guides and Monitors—the leadership titles given to Philo (US 12th grade +1) and Rheto (US 12th grade) students—report to their designated areas of campus to clean.
4:30 pm Netwayaj ends and Play Hour begins. Students all remain outside for recreation, trading the usual favorites like soccer or basketball games for penalty kick practice, dance club, playing drums and guitars, card games, and reading—all with masks and socially distanced.
5:30 pm Students finish Play Hour and return to their dorms to clean up for dinner. Again grouped by class, they rotate in the cafeteria to eat their meal and clean up.
6:55 pm The bell brings all students back to the basketball court, still mindful of social distancing. The school prays together and receives any additional announcements from the Administration. From there, they move to their designated classrooms for Study Hour.
9:30 pm Study Hour ends and students return to their dormitories for bed.
10:00 pm The final bell of the day rings, lights are out, and the campus goes to sleep for the night to recharge for the coming day.
Whether it is gathered to start the day with the school song and flag raising, in class, or assembled with their classmates, a Louverturian's day is filled with purpose.
YOU are the reason why talented, civic-minded Haitian students whose families cannot afford the cost of their education are able to receive one of the best educations in the country, tuition-free!
Please keep the wind in our sails—make your year-end gift today!