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What's New at SMD |
Building a New School
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The Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche has given his support to relocating SMD school from Kathmandu to another location outside of the Kathmandu valley where there is less risk of earthquake and lower pollution.
Follow the link above to learn more. |
| On-Going Education - The Senior's Program |
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SMD is too crowded to offer “plus two”. Schools offering Classes 11 and 12 are urban and for-profit. (Mountain kids can’t afford tuition fees, let along the cost of living). How do we choose which kids to keep in the Senior's Program? From the time they are in Class 6, we are watching how each student grows. We’re looking for some specific markers, first, Does the student carry Rinpoche’s wishes into her/his daily life? We look for leadership skills... |
| SMD Kids Learn How to Play Traditional Musical Instruments |
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One of the aims of our Very Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche in establishing SMD School is preserve Himalayan culture and tradition. Among the many ways of preserve our own culture and traditions, one of the best way is by learning the musical instruments and the songs of the Himalayan region; this is exactly what is happening in our school in this month long winter break when it is too cold to sit in classrooms. |
| MALTE HOFFMANN BRINGS SLACKLINING TO SMD KIDS |
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Malte Hoffmann from Germany spent several months with us last year. He sent us a book for Christmas. Here are some excerpts, starting with Malte's introduction. These pages give you some idea of the impact 'slacklining' had on Thrangu Rinpoche's kids. There is more to learning than textbooks, and there's more to teaching than what is in the textbooks |
| SMD Undertakes survey of kids growth |
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Dr. Maureen McCall has been visiting SMD. While here, she's been asked to check a number of our students (one case of pneumonia) and our staff. Maureen's pretty thorough, so she's been checking for anything else that may be causing our kids and staff to feel unwell.... Maureen thought it would be useful to do a growth survey (height and weight) and then compare the results with World Health Organization statistics. |
| Kids say thanks to sponsors and supporters |
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A selection of images of kids with their thanks to everyone who supports SMD |
| Read a letter from Shirley blair about the earthquake on Sep 18, 2011 |
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On September 18th, a 6.9 earthquake hit Kathmandu. Although there were some fatalities in the Kathmandu Valley, all of Thrangu Rinpoche’s nuns, monks and lay children were unhurt, and the building sustained no visible damage. At SMD Boarding School, thanks to years of emergency drills, the buildings were evacuated smoothly. |
| cooking programme |
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Sandy Garson volunteered years ago in our ancient, wood-burning kitchen. She returned many times, to teach about nutrition and to encourage our cooks to try new recipes. Our monk 'nyerpa' (manager/buyer) Karma Lekshey saw how the kids' health improved, and with Lekshey's help, the gospel spread to the monasteries and the nunnery. |
| Download the NEW Thrangu Express Newsletter |
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The Dec 16, 2011 edition includes: a selection of articles on the importance of student attention in class, SMD bids farewell to Keith and Karen, report on a 2 day first aid training, risk factors of diabetes, Laugh out Loud; Junior Section includes My Best Animal, My Family, My Classmate; Senior Section includes New Nepal, My School, Natural Resources is my Responsibility |
| Drama competition for 2011-2010 |
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Every year our school conducts a drama competition between the three houses (Srongsten, Sagarmatha and Sambhota). The dramas shown by the respective houses are organized and performed by students themselves. The main aim behind this is to uplift the creativity of the students and also to develop their confidence. The theater artists of all houses mesmerized the audience with their breathtaking acts and expression |
| Quotes from teachers |
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Dipak Lamsal "SMD, the heart of a mountain. Our foundation is Western knowledge and the preservation of Buddhadharma"
Dipak is the Head of the Nepali Department. He endears himself to the kids with his kind heart.
Learn more about other teachers thoughts on SMD |
| swimming programme revived |
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For the past 2 years, the school had started taking students for swimming but it was given a halt as there was no money to continue the programme. Luckily, this year our school got a donation for swimming. The sponsor is from Turkey. Our Vice Principal met the sponsor when he was taking training at Robert College in Istanbul.
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| Graduation 2011 |
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For the 11 years, SMD has scored a 100% pass rate in national Class 10 School Leaving Certifcate (SLC) exams. This year the national pass rate was 55.5%; SMDers eclipsed that! Among our 19 candidates, 9 stood With Distinction (magna cum laude) and stood 10 in First Division (cum laude). An SLC certificate is useless. At best, SLC grads (boys) could drive a taxi. Unemployment is + 46% (CIA Handbook) and much higher for the young. |
| Two reports from the school in Lhihi |
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Two reports on the school in Lhihi, one from Pema Choden B280 and the second from Tashi Choden B322.
Though Lhihi School was opened more than 20 years ago, this is the first time ever it has run so well. Two students from SMD School (in Kathmandu) go back to Lihi School every year to teach. After a year, they will come down to Kathmandu to do their further studies. |
Crowded at SMD |
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We have classes in the Dining hall and Library too because this year we have lots of students in the school and we don't have enough room for all the classes. The classrooms are also divided into sections because of too many students..... |
Sponsor a Boarder |
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We need sponsors for students who board at the school. Basic fees cover the costs of providing their education, room and board for 12 months. There are additional expenses for clothings, bedding etc. Follow the link above to learn more about kids who need sponsors and how you can help. |
| Sponsor a Monk at SMD |
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The monks' education path is a little bumpier than the lay kids'. Rinpoche asked that this be made clear to anyone wanting to sponsor a monastic. Another point: when a monk leaves school and goes into the monastery, he still needs sponsorship. |
| Australia visits SMD |
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The Australian government gifted SMD's Library with a collection of Australian books. The First Secretary, Mr. Damien Dunn and another officer, Mr. Krishna Karki came out to SMD to present us with boxes of brand new colourful books, from beginner to advanced levels..... |
| Interview with Vice Principal |
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Our Vice Principal, Karma Tsering (aka Jhabindra Subedi) was invited to Istanbul as a guest of one of the leading high schools Robert College received inservice training with a view to improving acadmics (policy, procedure and paedagogy) at Thrangu Rinpoche’s school. |
| Young Women Bringing Change to Nepal |
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Karma Dolma and Sherab are finishing Grade 12 at the Inter Community School, Zurich and are applying to universities for scholarships and financial help. One year ahead of Karma and Sherab... |
| SMD Girls Teaching in Nubri |
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At the beginning of August, two SMD students, Tashi Chodon B322 and Pasang Lhamo B309 trekked back to their village in Nubri. They have gone there to teach Nubri kids in their own language. This report is by another of our students who trekked back this Fall. |
