day 4- starts with an academic tour
The day began at night when we all hopped on a comfortable bus ride to Salto province. After spending three days in Montevideo, we were all geared up and excited to explore new territory. As a group, we were divided into small clusters, and my group was assigned to explore the educational and cultural aspects of the Salto region. We tried our best to catch some sleep during the 6-hour bus ride to Salto because we knew we had a long day ahead. As we arrived at 5:30 in the morning, the town looked peaceful, and we could already feel the excitement in the air.
After a quick shower and breakfast, we were ready to start our day. While we were in the lobby, we met Stephanie Kurtz, a Fulbright ETA to Uruguay from Kenses city, Missouri, and our host, Isabel, the inspector/superintendent of San Antonio, Salto Schools. We had the pleasure of visiting two rural school, Liceo Rural Secondary School and Escuela 15 Primary school in San Antonio. From the moment we arrived there, we knew that the experience was going to be something special. We were blown away by the welcome we received from the teachers, staff, and students of the school. The principal gave us a brief introduction about the school, and we were amazed to know that the students had been preparing for our visit for the last two months. The students had prepared a variety of American classical story theme gifts for us like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. They presented a welcome show for us that introduced us to country music and dance. It was a truly refreshing experience that made us feel at home in a new country.
After the welcome show, we were taken on a tour of the school. We noticed that the education system in Uruguay had a high focus on being healthy, which was evident in the projects that the students were working on. They were working on a project where they were introducing the community to the awareness of a healthy diet. This was truly inspiring, and it made us realize the importance of teaching children about healthy living. One instance of this was in the kindergarten class where we saw a dentist educating students about dental hygiene. We appreciated how the school had integrated such learning moments into their lessons. In addition to the dental hygiene session, we also observed how the school encouraged healthy eating habits. The students went to the cafeteria for lunch, and we noticed that after their meal, all the students brushed their teeth before heading back to class. This simple routine showed us how the school values the health of their students.
The science projects that the students were working on were impressive, and we were amazed at the level of knowledge and skills that they had acquired. From biology to physics, we were able to see the passions of the students shine through their projects. The school had a warm and inviting atmosphere, and we felt fortunate to have been given the opportunity to visit it.
Another element of healthy living that the school integrated into their teaching is physical activity. We observed that the students had a physical education class where they learned different exercises and how to keep their body active. The school also had a playground area where students could engage in various physical activities during their breaks. The focus on physical activity was refreshing to see, as we know how important movement is for young ones.
Finally, we also noted how the school was designed to inspire healthy living elements. The classrooms were bright and colorful, and each one had a small garden with plants that students tended to. The school’s interior design was a perfect example of how environment can play a crucial role in promoting healthy living themes.
Our visit to Escuela 15 was a pleasant surprise. Learning about how schools have integrated healthy living themes into their teaching was inspiring. We experienced firsthand how young students can benefit from learning about dental hygiene, healthy eating habits, physical activity, and the surrounding environment. We hope that more schools would adopt a similar approach to education, as this can inspire students to adopt healthy living habits that can influence their future wellbeing.
