A Visit to Another School

We had a great time when we visited a school of 95 students, grades kindergarten - sixth grade school. The name of the school is La Trinidad. Most students who go to this school are within a close radius of the school, so they walk to and from school. When we arrived the students were moving about the outside part of the campus, many just arriving, others having breakfast. They were all smiles and very curious to see the Americans!

The principal explained to us that:

There are many Nicaraguan students in this school as well as Costa Ricans.

Whether students are in Costa Rica legally or illegally, they get educated no matter what, it's in the Costa Rican constitution.

Costa Rica has a 96% literacy rate, the best of all Central America, and close to the rate of the USA.

La Trinidad School was founded 17 years ago.

There are all the basic courses such as math, science, social studies, Spanish and English.

The arts are promoted, as well.

The principal feels strongly that every child needs to be happy and to come to school to enjoy themselves in the learning process. (I loved this!)

Every Friday they swim; they also have dance groups and chorus.

The school is fenced in to keep the poisonous snakes (Ferdilands) out.

Get a small budget from the government; lunch is free.

There are12 teachers and 95 students.

Most parents are farmers and very hard workers and are Not necessarily supportive of education.

These Kindergarten students ran to see me and stood and smiled.

We visited some classrooms first, then were assigned a classroom to visit to teach a lesson to a small group of students.

The students were in uniform with white shirts, navy pants or skirts, and black shoes.

The Kindergarten Classroom below.

This is what is directly out the back door of the Kindergarten classroom... Someone's home.

This is the 5the grade classroom that I was assigned to teach a lesson. These two girls, Bridgette and Emilie, were with me. I showed them lots of photos on my iPad of family members, my home, snow, boats, my school, etc., and I taught them the English words and they taught me he Spanish words. They were wonderful and actually taught me just as much - if not more - as I taught them. They were dressed in these traditional dresses because they and other students did some traditional dances for us when our lessons were done.

Katy White, Grade 3 at DWS, was right at the next table teaching a hands on math lesson with a fourth grade teacher from Weymouth.

The traditional dance! A sample of dances from each of the provinces. They were so proud!

A typical desk and chair in this school.

They need computers desperately. They're working on building the infrastructure and are hoping to be able to get some computers and turn this into a computer lab. (?)

This was a wonderful day. I'd love to have DWS get involved with this school, whether it be pen pals, artwork exchange, fundraising, etc.

We had loads of waves and smiles as they went home for lunch, to return in the afternoon once we were gone.

This is Bridgette, one of my "students."