the ESCUELAS we are ADOPTING or ASSISTING
Escuela Rincon de Mora (ERdM) (Blackberry Corner School) - is located in the Rincon de Mora area of San Rafael de San Ramon. Founded in 1964, the school was built as a part of a community project between 1966 and 1970. The two teachers (one of which is the principal) along with the part time religion and English teacher, educate 30 children from grades 1 to 6. Kindergarteners go to the Escuela San Rafael down the road. Classes are held in two sessions per day from this 2 room school. There is a separate building containing a kitchen and multi purpose room. Even though most schools in Costa Rica are painted blue or green on the exterior, Escuela Rincon de Mora was painted inside and out in bright pastels and primary colors in 2007 compliments of a group of missionaries.
Escuela Pata de Gallo (EPdG) is located in a remote region approximately 10 miles southeast of San Ramon. It is the local school for the town of Pata de Gallo (translated as Rooster Foot in English). Similar to escuela Rincon de Mora, it is a two room schoolhouse with an attached cafeteria/kitchen. The school also has a covered play area for the children. There is one full time Teacher/Principal and part time Special Education, Religion and English teachers who visit the school once each week. In 2010 there are 13 students in the entire school, 2nd through 6th grade. Unless things change there will be fewer children next year with no 1st or 2nd grade. The school is in excellent condition, having recently been refurbished through an international cultural exchange program.
Based on the prospect of having enough donated computers to
establish a computer lab at San Rafael we scheduled a meeting at Escuela San Rafael through Xinia. Since our two students, Michelle and Alejandra, had informed us that their upcoming school schedules precluded them from helping, we asked our friend Andres to help out with translation. The principal and four school board members (and Xinia) attended the meeting and said that they would be grateful for any amount of computers and that they would love to have a computer lab. They told us that the Ministry of Education had promised them a lab nine years ago and had not delivered on that promise.
The principal explained that the Ministry of Education would have to be consulted at every step and that the entire concept had to be approved by them. We were also told that the Ministry probably will provide a teacher once the lab is established.
We had in-depth discussions about the requirements of a computer lab facility, e.g. space, furniture, lighting, power, security and possibly internet. They currently have a large room that is currently being used by a special needs teacher that would accommodate both the teacher and the lab. They assured us that they could have that room readied as a computer lab by the time that the computers are available (sometime after the 1st of June).We also discussed the need for a detailed plan prior to making a firm commitment for the computers. They agreed and scheduled a meeting for February 27 to formulate the plan. They also immediately formed an ad hoc computer committee to draw up the plan and coordinate the implementation of computers into their curriculum.
It was agreed that we would maintain close contact during the entire process.
L to R: Andres Chaves, volunteer assistant; Adolfo Hernandez Alpizar, school board member; Rafael Jimenez Castro, principal; Olger Guzmón Vargas, President of school board; Luis Castro Espinoza, school board member; and Xinia Mendez Arroyo, English teacher. Present but not pictured: Yamilith Chaves Vargas, Secretary of school board.
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