February 2023: Palapa Society News | |
12th Annual Todos Santos Open Studio Tour | |
The 2023 Todos Santos Open Studio Tour welcomed 508 guests to the weekend tour. This was the largest tour in its 12-year history with 58 artists and 38 locations. The Palapa Society raised just under $20,000 USD. It was an incredible weekend filled with amazing art and lots of fun.
Thank you to all artists, guests, volunteers, and sponsors. It wouldn't have happened without you. Save the Date: February 2 - 4, 2024, for next year's event.
| Thank You to The Artists, Sponsors and Attendees | |
On January 18, The Palapa School went into action to make club presentations at The Palapa Wrapped event. Here, each of the 10 clubs set up a stand or made a presentation where they shared some of the activities and learning from the last semester.
The participating clubs were: Crafts, Table Games, Photography, Weaving, Electricity, Art, First Aid, Robotics, Leadership and Music. This event definitely helped consolidate the knowledge and skills of the young students, but also added a touch of fun and joy to the closing of a semester of clubs.
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The After School Art Program is Back | |
After an over 2-year hiatus, we are excited to announce the return of the After School Art Program. Palapa School Art teacher RocĂo Altamirano has developed a curriculum that includes Rhythmic Painting, Artistic Drawing, Art Therapy, Sensory Art, Body Art, and Sculpture.
The Palapa Society's President, Erick Ochoa, who founded the Art Program over ten years ago, is thrilled we are able to provide this opportunity to teens in the community.
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Global Gateway Visiting Teacher Program | |
By Ardice Farrow

Thanks to the partnership of The Stewart Family and Laura Stachowski of the Global Gateway Program at the University of Indiana, there are two potential Global Gateway teachers interested in teaching English at The Palapa School - one for Fall 2023 and one for Spring 2024.
We look forward to sharing the progress of this new program in the upcoming school year.
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Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska | |
By Paty Baum, Director
The Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska (BEP) is anxious to reconnect with the children of Todos Santos and Pescadero through reading and art projects. Every third Saturday, an interactive literacy and art project for ages 5-12 will be offered. The sessions will include sea turtles (January 21), whales (February 18), and fish and marine flora (March 18). The children’s library has a good selection of books about the environment as well as age-appropriate guides to flora and fauna. All are invited to join us for an exciting session about regional biodiversity, of which there is an abundance in Baja California Sur.
The BEP is happy to announce we are offering use of the Palapa Society’s digital pianos on Mondays from 11:00-12:30. Library members can sign up for 30-minute sessions to play our fantastic digital pianos. Headphones with a ¼” jack are required. Beginning level piano books are available for use during the sessions, as well as a selection of sheet music from rock to jazz. We want our community library to be more than just books.
The BEP would like to thank various anonymous members of our community for the generous donations of books in January. We are always looking for donations, particularly new works of fiction and non-fiction.
Correction from December’s newsletter: The library has never had fines for overdue materials. We will continue with this policy. Returned overdue library materials are welcomed with a smile. Please try our new book drop to the left of the entrance gate with 24/7 access.
BEP hours M,W, F 10:00am -1:00pm
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Todos Santos Writers Workshop | |
The Palapa Society would like to thank Todos Santos Writers Workshop for including us in their retreat. On February 1st they held a special event with Comedy Writer Andrew Nichols.
Participants in the event donated to our organization. $307 USD was raised and the Todos Santos Writers Workshop will match!
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Puente al Inglés (Niños) | |
by Jacki Gillespie, Director
Classes are back in session. We are working on some projects for the students in the upcoming months, which will involve doing group activities to further the learning experience for all students.
This month our student assistant, Fernanda, has started teaching for the first time. A former student, she jumped in to help when we had a teacher out. She is doing an amazing job and will be featured in next month's newsletter.
If you are looking for ways to help our program, please consider volunteering. If you don’t have time, or are not currently in Todos Santos, we can always use donations of supplies.
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Puente al Inglés (Adultos) | |
By Kate Lewis, Director
Our first term of 2023, got off to a great start with some new teachers working alongside teachers who have been involved with the program for several years. We have over 50 students this term, many of whom are coming to us as beginners as well as a large group of returning students eager to continue their language journey.
With each new term, there are more and more people interested in learning or improving their English skills. In the 15 years since the Adult English Program began, we have seen firsthand the opportunities opened up that may have otherwise not been available to our students.
Our last class of this term will be Thursday, March 30th. We plan to hold one of our always-popular Intercambios that evening. More info as the date approaches.
We always welcome new teachers and assistants to join us. As Todos Santos continues to grow, you would be making a huge contribution to our community.
Contact adultenglish@palapasociety.org with any questions.
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The Palapa Society's Community Event Calendar | |
March 5, 2023
Historic Home Tour of Todos Santos - Cancelled for 2023
April 1, 2023
1st Annual Masquerade Party
Siempre Viva, Pescadero
Fundraiser for The Palapa Society
April 29, 2023
Donor Appreciation Party
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Thank you to Todos Santos visitor Hallie Krinski for her very thoughtful donation of about a dozen new adult and children’s books for the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska, as well as a bag full of art supplies. We’ll be sure to use these at the monthly Children’s reading and craft hour. | |
Todos Santos Open Studio Tour Artists
Thank you!
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Anne Hebebrand
Annebet Muceus
AR Galeria - Arturo Elfeo
Archie Gomez
Ardis Young
Barro Sur - Steve Jacobi
Benito Ortega
Buena Vista Studio - Dennis Canty
Cesar Perales
Chris Wyrick
Christa Assad & Kevin Wickham
Coral Lucero Cortés
Denise Dowd
Elena Vazquez
Emanuela Gardner
Erick Ochoa
Ezra Katz
Galeria La Rosa by Nicole Matta Santos
Gerardo Rendon
Gina Cerda
India Maya
Jan Marie Sessler
Jana Soper
Jason Durland
Jenelle Aubade-Caracas
Jill Logan
Jill Mollenhauer
Jill Valliere
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Jimena Garcia
José Miguel Blanco
Kate Turning
Kenny Viese
Kimberly Norberg
Maxine Jacobson
Laura Zick
Lee Mothes
Linda Corbet
Magik Vortex - Charlotte Hacker Mullen
Marc Bjorklund
Margarita Nuñez
Mari José Coppel
Mark Gabriel
Marsha Dahlquist
Mayra Castillo
Mia Von Loga
Migrante Galeria
Miguel Guerrero
N.E. HAYLES Studio
Napoleon Dominguez
Oliver Martinez
Pablo Marquez
Sarah Givens
Sofia Ramos
Todos Artes - Donna Billick
Tori Sepulveda
Wendy Seskind
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Andrea Park
Andy Boretto
Anne Patterson
Bonnie Gould
Bryan & Sergio Jauergui
Charleen Hird
Cheri Serna
Cynthia Klein
Dany Lamote
Elsa Corrigan
Holly & Larry Blumenstyk
Jennifer Nichols
John Denning
Karen Hannan
Kerry Ritchie
Laura & James Herrick
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LaVenda Lee
Lisa Niehaus
Margaret Kaplan
Maria Jose Coppel
Mia Von Loga
Jamie Sechrist
Denisse Tavizon
Patricia Deuster
Patricia Kilpatrick
Paul David Mena
Rebekah Champagne
Sandra Langley
Susan & Ken Churchill
Teri Clark
Tom & Chris Hamer
Vickie Butler
Virginia Spencer
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Our Family of Monthly Donors | |
Connie & Andy Mical
Angelica Velez Mendez
Anthony & Lee Irons
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Brian and Lynn Kuske
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Kristen & Rick Friedman
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Sydney & Greg Schweitzer
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Monthly Gifts Help Make a Big Impact! |
Becoming a monthly donor helps stabilize our annual revenue needs.
How Far Can Your Gift Go?
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$50 USD per month = 1/4-year scholarship*
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$100 USD per month = 1/2-year scholarship*
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$200 USD per month = 1-year scholarship*
Please consider becoming a part of our family of monthly donors today.
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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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