The Back to School fundraiser has been going well. We are over half way to our goal of $10,000 by October 1st! Thank you to all who have donated or pledged to donate over these past 2 weeks! Grace Private School only exists because of everyone's hard work and generous donations. Ibrahima, Rachel, the teachers and the students have energy and enthusiasm but without money there would be no school. As little as $25 per month, an amount most of us would not even miss, can educate a child for an entire year, truly changing their lives.  Please consider making a tax deductible donation today. Either use the PayPal button or mail a check to the address listed on the right. Email with questions or for more information. We are volunteers so all of the money goes directly to support the school.
The new building is just about finished! It should be ready for the 7th, 8th, and 9th graders by the first day of school which begins in less than two weeks. Those that follow us on Instagram andFacebook have seen the great progress and met some of the builders. I have been particularly impressed by the pictures of students hanging around the construction site. They are helping out where they can and simply enjoying being near their future school. Ibrahima says that some come every day and others just stop by on their way to somewhere else. The picture is of students screening sand which is used to make bricks. They worked at this for an hour a day for a couple weeks. Their volunteer labor really helped out while providing a time for the students to bond and feel invested in their school.

With gratitude,
Brandon

The school year starts in less than a month in Koro.  Ibrahima is pushing the builders to have the new classrooms ready for the middle school students by then. It will be close, but he is confident that it will be ready.  It will be so amazing to have the 7th, 8th and 9th graders in a brand new building that is fully owned and paid for on our own land. In addition to the classrooms, the administration building is next door and is nearly complete. There are also three restrooms: one for girls, one for boys, and one for adults.
​Like construction projects in the US there have been surprises, challenges and setbacks. There has been a severe drought in addition to the seasonal dry months that brought brick making to a standstill. Too much water in July caused different problems. Even a sand shortage at one point was overcome. But in the end we are going to come in under budget and on time.
The 1st through 4th graders will return to the rented rooms that Grace Private School has used for several years. But with only four classes at that location instead of six no one will have to be outside in the makeshift grass wall classes. Every year a new grade is added. With the addition of 4th grade for 2015-16 we are only two years away from offering all nine years of primary school.
With the new building our monthly operating budget will increase. Some of this will be covered by the tuition that the families pay, but we wouldn’t be able to have this wonderful school without help from our great supporters. Please consider becoming a monthly donor. Every little bit really helps. $180 a year will cover tuition for a student that otherwise might not be able to attend. $600 a year brings us 1% closer to the next 3 classrooms. We feel that the education that is offered at Grace is the best in town. Small class sizes, well-trained teachers, and a Christian education have all been successful in encouraging parents to entrust their children with us. Please keep Grace Private School in your thoughts and in your prayers this season.
Blessings,
Brandon