Newsletter: No. 9

It is mid-June, with flowers and trees in full bloom and the new gardens at the foot of Svkhbaatar Square due to be opened imminently. But all this against the continuing and uncertain background of the Emergency which has had ESM closed since January.

We have drawn on our online programme -which has grown greatly in range and quality since its inception and with which we are now fully ready for any unwelcome spike or return to Distance Learning in future months -to a close. In appropriately distanced fashion, we managed to mark Grade 12 Graduation with a presentation of Certificates and farewell words for groups of 6 Students and Parents at a time. And also to inaugurate a CPD connection with Bayanzurkh District with a day for a gathering of English Teachers from these Schools – a happy and successful experiment which we hope to build on.

In the next weeks, ESM will be subject to usual housekeeping improvements, re-painting, re-organising, making preparations. All the signs are that the School will continue with a healthy Roll in the Autumn, with many Grades all but full (two months ahead). The Registration Office is already busy.

Present planning is for Official Opening on 1 September; our hope is that before then Quarantine and Flight Restrictions may be sufficiently relaxed to enable us to make a start in August, as we traditionally have done. At least, we are preparing Catch-up and Summer School Induction Courses for some Grades. After Naadam, we will confirm Terms 1 and 2 dates and any August Arrangements.

So, a year ends, unlike any other. ESM enters its tenth year and marks a decade of existence in good heart for the year ahead, determined to make up ground and, from that, to move on powerfully. A remarkable team spirit between supportive parents, our “virtual” Students and talented Staff has made this positive attitude and optimism translate into vivid reality and a real relish for the new challenges of 2020-2021. Plenty of energy and inspiration to be found on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/englishschoolofmongolia/

Stay well and look after yourselves and your families, especially of course the many ESM Students in your homes, who we want to welcome back for the new School Year.

Gillie and I send very best wishes to you all for a Happy Naadam.

Regards,

Graham Hill

Director

The English School of Mongolia

12 June 2020