On Friday, July 29, sixth graders at Xavier’s Jesuit School moved their classes off campus for an enjoyable learning journey. In the morning, around 70 students, accompanied by seven teachers and nine parent volunteers, headed to Banteay Chhmar Temple, located 65 kilometers north of the city center. Divided into three groups and led by tour guides, our students circled the inner city and learned from the reliefs on the walls about some of the important wars, people’s lives and Buddhist stories of the Angkor period. Students listened attentively, copied notes, and asked questions from time to time, showing a strong interest in learning.
In addition to this study activity, it is also the first graduation trip held by the elementary school. After a relaxing picnic, the students played group games under the shade of the trees. Their incessant laughter brought a rare lively and joyful atmosphere to this quiet and quaint relic. Later, they went to a nearby artificial lake, Mabon built to supply water to the temple. The lake covers an area of more than one square kilometer, and still plays a role for local people after 800 years.
The success of this trip depends on the active participation of teachers and parents. During the preparatory stage, we have received enthusiastic donations from some parent members of the Parent Teachers’ Association to support students’ drinks, snacks, etc. during the journey. On that day, nine parent volunteers assisted throughout the process, took care of the students, distributed materials, etc. That fully reflected the nice cooperation between parents and the school in raising children. We believe that this event not only brings good memories to students, parents and teachers, but also valuable learning experiences.