Sustainable Farming & Healthy meals: The Story Behind Our School’s Organic Rice

While our students enjoy their school holidays, learning continues at Taruwara. At the end of every semester, we dedicate several days to what we call our Teacher In-Service Days. These are special days when our teachers step away from the classroom and become learners themselves. During this time, our teachers participate in a variety of professional development workshops and training sessions. They also work together to prepare lesson plans, learning materials, and classroom activities for the upcoming semester, ensuring that every child receives meaningful and engaging learning experiences from the very first day back at school. At the same time, our maintenance team is hard at work behind the scenes. They repair playground equipment, maintain classrooms, and improve our school facilities so that our students can return to a safe, welcoming, and inspiring environment. As a holistic school, we believe that education begins with educators who never stop learning. Professional development is not something we do once or twice a year—it is an ongoing part of our school culture. Throughout the year, our teachers regularly participate in workshops, collaborative discussions, classroom observations, and training sessions. These opportunities help our teachers deepen their understanding of Taruwara's educational philosophy and continue growing as educators. They learn not only what to teach, but also how to connect with each child, support their emotional wellbeing, encourage their curiosity, and create learning experiences that nurture the whole child. At Taruwara, we believe that when teachers continue to grow, children thrive. Every workshop, every discussion, and every moment of reflection is an investment in the future of our students. Because the best learning happens when teachers are learning too.

Sometimes, all it takes is one good book to start a new habit. 📚✨ At Taruwara, we believe that reading and writing are more than just academic skills — they are the foundation for lifelong learning. From an early age, we encourage our students to see reading not as a task, but as an adventure that opens their imagination, strengthens their focus, and builds empathy through stories. For young learners, developing these skills early helps them express their thoughts more clearly, understand others’ perspectives, and grow confident in communicating their ideas. That’s why we continuously create meaningful opportunities for children to read, write, and reflect in ways that feel enjoyable and personal. 🌱 This semester, our Primary 3–4 students began a small reading challenge, to finish 40 books in one month. What started as a simple goal soon became an exciting surprise: together, they reached 50 books! 📖✨ Every morning, students spend time reading books of their choice. Afterward, they write short reflections or reviews to share their thoughts, feelings, and favorite parts of the stories. This routine helps them slow down, think deeply, and express themselves in writing, turning reading into a joyful habit rather than a duty. Teachers observed how this activity not only improved students’ reading comprehension and writing fluency but also changed their attitude toward learning. Many children now pick up books on their own, curious about new stories and eager to talk about what they’ve read. “At first, we simply wanted to help students improve their literacy skills,” one teacher shared. “But what touched us most was seeing how reading became something they truly look forward to. They now talk about books with excitement — and that’s when we know the love for learning has begun.” 💚 Through consistent practice, students are building self-discipline, critical thinking, and a genuine love for learning, values we hope they’ll carry far beyond the classroom. 💚 At Taruwara, our goal is to help every child grow into a confident, curious, and thoughtful learner. Because when children discover the joy of reading and writing, they don’t just learn, they transform. 🌿 How do you encourage reading time at home?We’d love to hear your ideas and experiences! Share your tips in the comments below 👇

On June 11th, Taruwara Elementary School celebrated a truly unforgettable milestone—our very first graduation ceremony. This graduating class holds a special place in our hearts. They have been with us since the very beginning, when Taruwara first opened its doors during the uncertainty of the pandemic. Together, we experienced challenges, celebrated small victories, and built something meaningful from the ground up. As we developed the vision, curriculum, and culture of our school, these students were never simply learners—they were our partners in the journey. Through their curiosity, resilience, kindness, and honesty, they taught us just as much as we taught them. Every success, every challenge, and every moment of growth helped shape the school that Taruwara is today. At Taruwara, we have always believed that education is about far more than academic achievement. Our mission is to nurture children who can think critically, care deeply for others, and contribute positively to the world around them. Watching these students grow into confident, compassionate, and responsible young people has been one of our greatest joys. Because they were our very first students, this journey was also a learning experience for our teachers. There were many moments that challenged us. To be honest, these children were not always easy to guide, and there were times when we struggled together. Yet our teachers never gave up on them. Instead, they continued to believe in each child, patiently supporting them with warmth, understanding, and unwavering dedication until the very end. That is why graduation day was filled with mixed emotions. We celebrated how far they had come, while at the same time feeling the sadness of saying goodbye. By the end of the ceremony, there was hardly a dry eye among our staff. It was a powerful reminder that education is built on relationships, trust, and walking alongside children through every step of their journey. Our original dream was to continue this journey with them by opening Taruwara Secondary School in time for their next chapter. Unfortunately, we were not able to make that dream a reality. Even so, we know they are ready to spread their wings. Wherever life takes them and whichever secondary school they attend, we hope they will continue to grow into thoughtful, resilient, and compassionate young people who never stop learning, questioning, and making a positive difference in the world. To our first graduating class, thank you. Thank you for trusting us, growing with us, and helping shape Taruwara into the school it is today. You will always be the foundation of our story, and we hope Taruwara will always remain a part of yours. Congratulations on your graduation. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you, and we cannot wait to see the wonderful future that lies ahead. A Class Full of Firsts Being our first class also meant they were the first to try almost everything at Taruwara, and some of those experiences have become the stories we tell again and again. There was the egg incubator project, where they watched over their eggs day after day, hoping to see them hatch. There was also their very first camping trip, back in third grade, when the rainy season rolled in and they had to cheer themselves up without the bonfire they had been dreaming of. Just before graduation, our sixth graders went camping once more—and this time, everything fell into place. With the weather finally on their side, they pitched their own tents right in the schoolyard and put their life skills to work, cooking dinner together with their teachers. As night fell, they gathered around a real bonfire at last — the one their third-grade selves never got to enjoy.