December 6, 2022

December 2022: Palapa Society News

The Season of Giving is Here

On November 29th, The Palapa Society kicked off its Annual Season of Giving Campaign. Just over $3,600 USD was donated in the first day!. Thank you to donors who took a moment to donate.


This year, The Palapa Society has the challenge of covering its highest annual budget of $700,000 USD. Because of all the donors who have already contributed this year, we only have $200,000 USD remaining to meet our goal.


We thank you, hope you will once again embrace the spirit of generosity, and donate to our valuable programs that help leave no student behind. 


The Impact You Make When You Give:

  • $10,000 - 4 middle school scholarships
  • $5,500 - 1 middle and 1 high school scholarship
  • $3,000 - 1 high school scholarship
  • $2,500 - 1 middle school scholarship
  • $1,000 - 3 laptops for The Palapa School
  • $500 - 1 University scholarship


These are just suggestions. We gratefully welcome any gift big and small.


Your support is vital to our students and their families.

Click Here to Give Today!

Science Trip to Puebla

From November 13 - 17, the brightest students from all over the country met in Puebla for the XXXIII National Physics Olympiad. Two 5th semester students from The Palapa School, Sebastián C. and Adolfo L., were selected to represent Baja California Sur in this important event. The path was not easy since both students had to go through 3 prior local and state tests before they finally took their bags for what was a great experience that required effort, discipline and a lot of logical-mathematical ability.


Placing in the top 100 in all of Mexico, Sebastián and Adolfo are now continuing their studies in the STEM branches. The Palapa School is extremely proud to have great talents like Sebastián and Adolfo, and all the teachers who made these results possible. Congratulations!

The Palapa School

“Moms in Action”

The Palapa School recently formed a group, informally called “Moms in Action,” to collaborate on 9 different annual events with the goal of raising funds and generating experiences for students and teachers. This group manages its own agenda and its own resources.


Separately, the Palapa School welcomed all parents in their first session of School for Parents. In this session entitled "Conscious Parenting," fathers and mothers remembered their childhood and proposed new schemes and practices to carry out at home. The role of parents is a very important part of the day-to-day at the Palapa School, and we thank each of them for their drive, sense of team, and enthusiasm as we continue on the path of improvement. 


The Palapa Society's Holiday Party

On Saturday December 3rd, The Palapa Society rang in the holiday season with our volunteers, staff and Board of Directors. It was a wonderful experience to get together and enjoy food from La Palapa del Sabor after the pandemic. Celebrating our teamwork and accomplishments are vital to our overall morale and helps to keep us better connected.


Special guests, Mr. and Mrs. Claus came to visit our staff bringing special goodies from the North Pole.


Thank you all for your dedication and support. Palapa wouldn't be the successful organization without each of you. 

Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska

By Paty Baum, Director 


Patricia Baum interviews longtime library volunteer, Dennis Naigle


How did you get involved with the library? 

I have been involved with the Palapa Society since 2012, serving on the Palapa Society Board, with the Tianguis, and the 5K run. When I transitioned from those events, I was looking for somewhere else to volunteer.


I’d been in the library a number of times when it was downtown by the basketball court, and I noticed it kept getting bigger and bigger. When I saw the new location at the Palapa Learning Center, I thought, wow, this is incredible. I knew they needed volunteers, so I thought, Hey I can make it every Wednesday for 3 hours without too much trouble. Since it was a worthy cause and I liked books, I was very happy to help.


My favorite part is meeting people I didn't know before. People I meet are very nice. Most importantly I have easy access to all kinds of great books. Often, I receive books people return and think, I want to check that one out myself. Having so many great books to read really helps me get away from looking at the computer so much.


I also love stocking the Little Free Libraries, which are a part of a worldwide, free book sharing organization. They were a way for people to get books during COVID when the library was closed.


What kind of books do you like? 

I like non-fiction, especially history and specifically WWII and earlier. I prefer anything that is not about the present.


One particular book that stands out, and it’s a very tough read but extremely engrossing, is about General Douglas MacArthur and called American Caesar by William Manchester. This was a man who was expected to be just like his father and grandfather. Both were very tough military men. It shows his humanistic side in his decisions about international policy, especially regarding rebuilding post-war Japan.


Do you think a book can change somebody’s life? 

Yes, I do. Books are knowledge. The internet is powerful, but there is no question about the power of a good book.


If learning about Dennis Naigle’s dedicated service has inspired you to volunteer at the BEP, please contact Paty Baum by clicking here.


BEP hours M,W, F 10:00am -1:00pm

Puente al Inglés (Niños)

by Jacki Gillespie, Director 


The Children's English program is in full swing. All students have received their new textbooks and are clearly enjoying learning a new language, especially our newest group of beginners. Our dedicated teachers, Jennifer Rosen and Deborah Thomas continually explore new teaching methods that will resonate with students of all ages. Attendance has been strong, and the students show up with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to learn. 


We have a substantial waiting list of children who would like to learn English, but we need more teachers and teacher’s aides in order to add more classes. If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact us at puentealingles@palapasociety.org.


If you aren’t able to volunteer but would like to help in the success of the Puente al InglĂ©s programs, please consider donating school supplies such as lined notebooks and pencils. Every little bit helps. 

Puente al Inglés (Adultos)

By Kate Lewis, Director


The Adult English program is going very well this quarter. We’ve had great attendance with around 35 students. We will conclude this quarter on December 15, 2022. We will then offer enrollment for next quarter on January 2, with classes beginning on January 3, 2022. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10:30am and 6-7:30pm.


I would like to thank all the volunteer teachers who helped out this quarter. Without them this program isn’t possible. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please contact me at adultenglish@palapasociety.org. With your help we can help many more people learn English.


The Palapa Society's Community Event Calendar
 


12th Annual Todos Santos Open Studio Tour

February 3 -5, 2023


February 3, 2023

Meet the Artists: Opening Party

Doce Cuarenta

4 - 6 pm

Ticket Price: $600 MXN


February 4 & 5

Tour the Artist Studios

10 am - 4 pm

Ticket Price: $300 MXN


EARLY BIRD

Save $100 MXN by purchasing your combo tickets by

December 23, 2022.

Click Here to Buy Your Tickets Now

Stay Tuned for More Updates on the Below Events!


January 20, 2023

Palapa Learning Center - Open House

Free Event

Open Doors for people who are interested in visiting our

 Learning Center


March 5, 2023

Historic Home Tour of Todos Santos


April 1, 2023

1st Annual Masquerade Party

Fundraiser for The Palapa Society


April 29, 2023

Donor Appreciation Party

Special Thank Yous

We offer a heartfelt thank you to longtime Palapa Society donor Cathie Culver for the incredible gift of Young Adult books delivered via her friend and Palapa Society Advisor Margaret Lawson. These 22 new and current books and graphic novels are a great addition to the Spanish YA collection.


Thanks to Kerrie Gable for donating a new computer printer/scanner and a handful of ink cartridges to the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska. It was a much-needed item on our wish list and was immediately put into service. 


Thank you to Canadian teen Sofia Hewlett for her initiative that’s helping to make a positive difference in our community. When Sofia learned her family would be coming to Todos Santos on vacation, she researched online for the needs in our area. She read about the Beca scholarship program and all the educational programs on The Palapa Society’s website. This inspired her to gather donations for school supplies at her high school. She could only bring so much in her carry-on luggage, so she brought the remainder of the donation in pesos. Meeting Sofia has given us great hope for our future.



Thank you to Scott Bosch and Gail Bosch who donated a printer for The Palapa School. Those little changes make our Learning Center better every day.

Gastrovino Silent Auction Winners

Holly Angel

Travis Baker

Jennifer Barber

Heather Bauer & Jerry Back

Staci Blyth

Brighid Brady

Stewart Carneau

H. Cougar

Joyce Cooper Jurgich

Celia Devault

Maryann Douglas

Catherine Eland

Derek Fuller

Alejandro Flores & Gaby Trujillo

Perla Garnica

Jennifer Gibilterra

Nathan Goodson

Greg Haack

Jason Hayden

Trellton Hubbard

Teresa Kinver

Sandra Langley 

Kate Lewis

Marta & Craig McMahon

Sky Nichols & Scott Hession

Angela Palincks

Nick Papadopoulos & Jess Flood

Ted Phillips

Miriam Puerts

Niti Ross

Erin Hayes Wheelwright

Lura Wilson

Jessica Woodrow

November Donors

Susan Higgins

Jim & Kristen Bender

Linda Sue Scott &TerrylTagg

Pablo Marquez

Jill Wyatt Logan

Barbara Frank

Liz Farner

Max Horn

Lynn Mcllroy

Our Family of Monthly Donors

Eleanor Andrews

Anonymous

Suzanne & Rick Arnold

Gail & Scott Bosch

Marjolein Brugman

Pam & Paul Bumann

Vickie Butler

Ryan Casey

Kathy Cate

Karin & Judd Cuenin

Julie & Michael Dandurand

Elizabeth Farner

Ken Ford

John & Sharon Foster

Kristen & Rick Friedman

Jane Gehring

Virginia Gollery

Lisa Goodman

Karen & Charley Haley

Jane Hall

Margot & Dick Hampleman

Cindy & David Higgins

Marimar Higgins

Lee & Anthony Irons

Marilyn Jacques

Bonnie & AJ Johnston

Janna Kinkade

Wendie Kruthers

Lynn & Brian Kuske

Marshall Laird

Teresa Laird

Karen McDaniels

Connie & Andy Mical

Cheryl V. Myers

Nancy & Dennis Naigle

Cathy & Dr. William Nation

Sofia & Stephen Nicholas

Jay Masaschi

Diana Pandell & Chris Miller

Jill Mollenhauer & Robert Bland

Sharon Morris

Patricia O'Connell

Maria Olaisen & Mike Block

Deborah Parrish

Janet & Bryan Raydon

Kristin Rust

Tori Sepulveda & Oscar Rosales

Sydney & Greg Schweitzer

Nancy Simpson

Angelica Velez Mendez

Lisa Welsch

Kathy Warnert

Robert Bruce Westbrook

 
Monthly Gifts Help Make a Big Impact!
Becoming a monthly donor helps stabilize our annual revenue needs.

How Far Can Your Gift Go?

  • $50 USD per month = 1/4-year scholarship*
  • $100 USD per month = 1/2-year scholarship*
  • $200 USD per month = 1-year scholarship*

Please consider becoming a part of our family of monthly donors today.
Click Here to Give Today!
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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