Due to overlapping community fundraising events, The Palapa Society decided to cancel its Masquerade Ball. For those who agreed to donate, thank you for your generosity. We appreciate your understanding and support.

The Palapa Society would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to SiempreViva, Pargazz, staff, and volunteers for their willingness to help with this event. Your support is essential to our organization.

We are now left with a little larger commitment to meet our fiscal year-end goal of $15,000 USD which ends June 30, 2023.

If you would like to make a gift to help The Palapa Society reach this goal, we would be incredibly grateful. 

Together, we can create a brighter future with education of children in Todos Santos and the surrounding communities.

Stay tuned for our next season's schedule.

This year, The Palapa School English language students have started a pen pal exchange program with the Spanish language students of Animas High School in Durango, Colorado. Students write letters about their personal interests, families, schools, and communities. Because both schools are focused on Community Development and Leadership, students also share ideas on ways they are improving their respective communities. Letters are scanned, emailed, and shared.

In March, some of the Animas School students, aged 16-18, visited Todos Santos on their Spring Break. The Palapa School students developed a full itinerary, including an in-person exchange of letters and photos, conversation, and lunch at The Palapa School cafeteria. Visiting students participated in many of the clubs offered this semester, including soccer, volleyball, dancing, socio-drama, cold porcelain, ceramics, music, and collaging. 

By Iván, 2 semester Palapa School Student

This year’s International Women's Day was marked by a big surprise with the participation of male students from middle school to high school. According to testimonies, the men were taken aback when they learned of their participation. This was because they were not accustomed to being involved in such an event, but with the explanations given to the young students, it was more than enough for them to adopt a supportive attitude toward the cause. 

They marched in commemoration and support of women who can now vote, make decisions, study, and engage in countless activities that women of the past were not allowed to do. After the march, students from The Palapa School gathered in the school's facilities with various activities, such as ethical analysis of short films and talks related to International Women's Day. According to male students, "This was an extraordinary experience that we hope will continue in the coming years."

All libraries strive to inspire readers of all ages. Recently, a young woman came in to get her library card and said, “I’ve always wanted to read a book.” She was able to find two books in the young adult section and check them out with her free student membership. Stories like this prove the BEP's value as a community resource.

In addition to our three Little Free Libraries and two satellite Young Adult collections in Spanish at the Pescadero Telesecundaria and the Casa de Estudiante in Todos Santos, we now have a small collection of fiction in English (from our duplicate books) in El Triunfo. A local resident hosts the collection; please contact us at bep@palapaspciety.org for more information.

BEP Infantil hours M 10:00am -12:00pm and M W Th 3:00pm - 6:00pm



Children's Reading and Craft Hour

is every 3rd Saturday of the month

by Jacki Gillespie, Director 

Thanks to our dedicated teachers, Jennifer and Debbie, and our wonderful volunteers, Fernanda, Cathleen, Therese, and Doreen, we restructured our classes based on skill level which created a better learning environment for our students. We are confident these changes will lead to even greater success in the second half of the school year.

We are currently in the planning stages for our summer camp programs, which have returned after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Puente al Inglés students will be invited to workshops focused on environmental protection and sustainability, pet care, and more. Top students will be invited to the Water Safety program, in partnership with Mario Becerril of Mario's Surf Camp, where students will learn how to swim in local swimming pools and in the Pacific ocean. If you are interested in volunteering for these or our current programs, please contact us at puentealaingles@palapasociety.org

By Kate Lewis, Director

Registration for the next semester of Adult English classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students ages 18 and up, will take place at The Palapa Learning Center on April 11th and April 13th from 6-8pm.

This semester will begin on April 18th and end on July 13th. The registration fee is $500mx for this semester..

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer teacher, please contact Director Kate Lewis at AdultEnglish@PalapaSociety.org or via Whats App (612) 111-8040.

April 21, 2023

BEP Monthly Spoken Word

12 - 1 pm

The Palapa Learning Center

Free Event



With: Daniela Rabiela-Alonso, Ivonne Guzman Benitez & Charlotte Eulette

April 22, 2023

Children's Library

Bilingual Art and Literacy Program

12 - 1 pm

The Palapa Learning Center



Free Event

Subject: Sea Life Flora and Fauna

April 23, 2023

Celebration of Life for

Anita Harris

2 - 5 pm

Serendipity

Friends and family are invited to celebrate the life of our dear friend and Palapa Bookkeeper, Anita Harris.

April 29, 2023

Donor Appreciation Party

5 pm

The Palapa Learning Center

Free Event

Dinner, Libations and Live Music



Invitations have been sent out. If you did not receive one and would like to attend, please email us at tickets@palapasociety.org.

Special Thank You to Ruth Cambell for donating 100 books to the Children’s Library, and to Susie and Greg Ferrar for covering the shipment costs. Our community library relies on donations like these for our young cardholders to develop their lifelong love of reading.



Special thanks to several anonymous donors for the excellent books that were donated to the BEP in the month of March.

Special Thank You to Mexico Giveaways of San Jose del Cabo and Everlaw Legal of Oakland, CA for donating 35 quality backpacks and school supplies to The Palapa Society.

These backpacks will be shared with the Puente al Inglés (Bridge to English) students who register for this year’s Children’s Summer Camp program.

Thank you to Nancy and David Lacey, and all of their Pickleball-playing friends, who donated Pickleball paddles, balls, and corner markers. This will allow more Palapa School students to learn and practice the game that’s sweeping Baja California Sur.

Thank you to Deborah and Jerry Hilgenberg for their donation of an amplifier for our music club. 

Anonymous

Connie & Andy Mical

Angelica Velez Mendez

Anthony & Lee Irons

Bonnie & AJ Johnston

Brian & Lynn Kuske

Bryan & Janet Raydon

Cindy & David Higgins

Charley & Karen Haley

Charles & Ruth Herren

Chris Miller & Diana Pandell

Deborah Parrish

Dennis Chapman

Dennis & Nancy Naigle

Dick & Margot Hampleman

Dr. William & Cathy Nation

Eleanor Andrews

Elizabeth Farner

Erin Sands

Gail & Scott Bosch

Jane Gehring

Jane Hall

Janna Kinkade

Jay Masaschi

Jessica Spencer

Jill Mollenhauer & Robert Bland

Julie & Michael Dandurand

Karen McDaniels

Karen & Judd Cuenin

Kathy Warnert

Ken Ford

Kristen & Rick Friedman

Kristin Rust

Lisa Goodman

Lisa Welsch

Maria Olaisen & Mike Block

Marilyn Jacques

Marimar Higgins

Marjolein Brugman

Marshall Laird

Nancy Simpson

Paul & Pam Bumann

Patricia O'Connell

Rhoda Jacobs

Rick & Suzanne Arnold

Robert Bruce Westbrook

Ryan Casey

Sharon Morris

Stephanie Vetter

Stephen & Sophia Nicholas

Sydney & Greg Schweitzer

Teresa Laird

Tori Sepulveda

Vickie Butler

Virginia Gollery