August 2020 Palapa Society News |
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Nuestro BoletĂn mensual ahora esta disponible en Español. Si quieres recibir nuestros correos en este formato, por favor inscrĂbete a travĂ©s de nuestra página de internet.
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In July we announced tuition forgiveness for all Palapa School students. This announcement was well received by the community and our donors. Many of you recognized this forgiveness means we need to make this money up in another way since all the same expenditures exist. We had a tremendous response from some of our donors to see how they can help. We now have a way everyone can help! |
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We are pleased to announce we are kicking off our Back-to-School online fundraiser. Our goal is to raise a minimum of $75K USD, and adding $25K from a new matching donor this year, we hope to raise $100k USD! The first gifts of $500 or more will be matched up to $25K. This is just a portion of our school budget but will help us close the gap.
Where will these funds go? 100% of the funds from this online fundraiser is dedicated to the following: Student tuitions 100% covered for the remainder of 2020, 24 new computers, upgrading the campus internet system and online applications to support students’ online learning.
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In addition, we will make safety modifications to transition to an in person learning environment. Our initial list includes face shields for staff, disposable face masks for students, thermometers, bulk size hand sanitizer, a bio steamer and large fans for air flow when students must learn inside the facility. The Palapa Society’s goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment to ensure we are doing our part to protect our students, families, staff, and community.
Finally, all our regular fundraising events have been suspended due to COVID-19. This means your support is even more critical as we continue the important job of educating these future leaders. This is why we are turning to our supporters for their help. Together you can make a difference.
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Ways you can help:
Donate: One-time gift, monthly gift, annual pledge.
Share this email with your family and friends and
encourage them to give.
Share our calls for help via social media.
Add a personal message with the share for maximum reach!
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The face of education is changing globally. The Palapa School is no exception. What we can absolutely promise is we are meeting this challenge head on to safely and responsibly open for the next school year.
The pandemic has created additional stress for families struggling to meet basic survival needs. The end of the school year (2019/20) the public schools showed higher than normal dropout rate in our area. In order to help improve our retention rates, our staff is actively working on enhancements to our distance learning for our students.
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Following Mexico’s educational and COVID-19 guidelines, our next educational cycle will embrace at-a- distance learning. This means our students will be learning at a distance. We are working on a plan to ensure all students have equal access to education. The health and safety of our staff and students and families is our number one priority. |
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Another Year and More Growth |
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The Palapa School started activities in August 2017 with two classes (7th & 8th grades). Now, in 2020, with full SEP certification for the Secundaria (middle school) and Preparatoria (high school) we are providing learning for 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th grades. There is a total of nine teachers. With the addition of Grade 11, two more teachers were added. After this school year we will complete out the Preparatoria with the 12th grade. It’s exciting to watch our school grow, evolve, and become a staple of our community.
Enrollment for 2020/21 School Year (Total 90 students)
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1st Year Secundaria Student Perla C.M.
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Every year it’s very exciting to learn about our talented, new students. This month we want to feature just one of those young academics. Perla comes to us from the primary school Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. She speaks Spanish and one of the many native languages here in Mexico known as Nahuatl. Now as a Palapa School student, she will add English to that list.
Her favorite subject is reading where she spends hours pouring herself into books about Greek and Roman mythology. Loving this subject so much, she asked the school Director for a mythology reading club! She also has a passion for drawing, painting, and music. For Christmas she asked for a piano and is now teaching herself to play it.
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Like all bookworms, Perla loves to learn and is very excited about starting the new school year with her new teacher and her compañeros (friends). In primary school she had difficulties with bullying because she preferred to read books rather than play soccer. She looks forward to being in an environment that encourages her educational growth and will challenge her in new and exciting ways.
When she was interviewed by our math teacher Javier, she told him her biggest challenge in primary school was that she was bored much of the time, therefore she would just sit and read. Perla is also very excited that The Palapa School allows her the space to be herself and allows the female student body to wear pants and shorts rather than the standard skirt. When she was still in elementary, she challenged them on this subject so much that she was the first female student allowed to wear pants.
Perla has several ideas of what she wants to be when she grows up. Her interests range from gastronomy, criminology, veterinarian, to working for the United Nations. It will be very exciting to watch Perla’s growth as she continues her educational journey with The Palapa School.
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The Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska remains closed however our Little Free Libraries, located at La Esquina, Parque los Piños and Padrino Clinic, remain the lifeline to summer reading. Our limited summer staff continues to stock the LFL but we encourage patrons to "read a book, leave a book, clean the book" We remind patrons with checked out books to please keep them safe until the library reopens.
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The Board of Directors would like to give special recognition to David and Nancy Lacey for their generous gift to help with our Tuition Forgiveness!
A Special Thank You to The Riccardi Family, for your gift In Memory of Chuck Cimino.
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Thank You Donors
You Make a Difference!
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AJ & Bonnie Johnston
Andy & Connie Mical
Bill & Chris Durboraw
Cheri Myers
Chip Houde
David & Nancy Lacey
Dennis & Nancy Naigle
Dick & Margot Hampleman
Dr. William & Cathy Nation
Grace Tuttle
Hal & Vickie Butler
Heather Bauer
Jane Gehring
Janna Kinkade
Judd & Karin Cuenin
Karen & Charley Haley
Lee Purser
Liane Collins
Marcia Beachy
Marjolean Brugman
Mimi Saltzman
Oscar Roslaes & Tori Sepulveda
Patricia O'Connell
Paul & Pam Bumann
Rick & Suzanne Arnold
Scott & Gail Bosch
The Ricarrdi Family
Virginia Gollery
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Make A Difference in
a Young Life Today!
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Please consider giving today. Your donations will help us to ensure we can continue to provide access to high quality education. Remember, gifts of $500 USD or more will be matched up to $25K. No gift is too small.
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MISSION
The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C. exists to make a positive difference in people’s lives through inspirational quality education and timely support through community service and programs.
VISION
It is the vision of The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C. to be a sustainable, accessible community focused organization in which quality educational programs empower choice filled lives and create positive transformational change.
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