April 26, 2022
April 2022: Palapa Society News
The Palapa Society's Annual Report
Our Annual Report for FY 2021 (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021) is now ready to view in English.

If you would like a physical copy please click here to send an email request.

The Palapa School
Robots have arrived at the Palapa!! Thanks to our collaboration with LEGO Education and STEM movement. Today high school students began learning with robots under the guidance of teacher Xavier Quiroz. This month, The Palapa School provided training to seven teachers on the use of the six Lego Spike Prime robots as part of their learning.

This new experience will give our students the opportunity to participate in a national robotics contest next school year. The goal is to motivate students to continue their love of science and technology!

Thank you to the donors that gave to help make this possible for our school!
The Palapa School
Music Program
We can all agree that music is an essential part of a well-rounded education. At The Palapa School, the Music program headed by teacher Armando Vázquez is coming together with help from our generous community. 

Thank you to Maureen and John B. for their donation of an electric piano and another electric piano previously donated by Nancy and Dennis Naigle. Maureen and John Paul Jones also donated a beautiful violin. Paty Baum will partner with teacher Armando to give drum lessons using Paty’s personal kit and Eddie Scharf’s kit donated by his daughter Wendy Rains. The fleet of guitars provided by Peter Buck is a staple in music class, and it’s exciting to see a balance of boys and girls enjoying learning how to play. 

Teacher Armando also knows we all have our own musical instrument - our voices - and proudly leads the choir group as well. 

To donate instruments and accessories including guitar and violin strings, drum keys, music stands, and more, please contact us at Info@PalapaSociety.org
Please Help Us Bridge the Gap
As is the case with so many charitable organizations, the pandemic has prevented The Palapa Society from conducting most of its fundraising events. Even so, through your generosity we have raised $505,000 this fiscal year. This leaves us only $40,000 shy of our goal, a goal we need to reach by June 30, 2022.  
 
We are asking you now to help us bridge the gap.

When you watch the following video of one of our students, Serena P., remember that she is a native Spanish speaker. We are so proud of the impact The Palapa Society has had on students like Serena.
Thank you for helping us meet our goal.
Puente al Inglés (Niños)
Puente al Ingles para Ninos program had an Activity Day to kick off our Spring Break. Included were Jump Rope competitions, Egg Races, The Easter Bunny Says Game, Sidewalk Art, and Bingo Games. 

Prizes were awarded and the kids had a great time while practicing their English. We even had some family members participate as well.
Puente al Inglés (Adultos)
2nd Quarter Adult English Courses Underway

After some Covid-related delays at the start of the year, the Puente al Ingles por Adultos program completed their 1st quarter session on April 5th, and began the 2nd quarter April 28th. Director Kate Lewis will continue working toward the goal of offering more vocational-focused programs allowing committed students to focus on their specific area of interest or employment such as tourism or construction.

If anyone you know would benefit from learning Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, or Conversational English, please consider encouraging or even sponsoring them to join us. Classes are currently held Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 - 11:30am or 6:00 - 7:30pm and will finish July 21st with the always popular Intercambio Exchange party where our local expat residents join us to practice their Spanish! All are invited, so if you would like to join the party, contact us at Info@PalapaSociety.org
Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska
Recommended Reads
By Patricia Baum -
Directora, Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska

The Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska (BEP) has over 7500 books in the collection. All are available for check out for two weeks and renewal as needed. Good books have been essential to my survival here in Baja Sur, where I have devoured hundreds while at home, on the beach, and in various hammocks. Trading books among friends was the predecessor to the BEP library. 

Upon entering the BEP, how does one select a book that will sustain the active mind until the next visit? A strategy I have used many times is to simply start at A. That is how I discovered one of my favorite books, The Abandonment, by Elena Ferrante. That day I only made it to F; perhaps next time I will start at Z and work my way back.

All volunteer librarians are extremely knowledgeable and can help you find a suitable book. We also take cues from the New York Times best seller’s list, Good Reads, Guardian book reviews, Booker Prize, National Book Award, Powell’s City of Books staff picks, New York and London Review of Books and Edinburgh International Book Festival.

BEP hours M,W, F, 10:00 -1:00
will continue through summer.
Bomberos Teach CPR to Palapa Staff
Three Palapa School teachers, Kate Lewis, teachers from the adult English program, Paty Baum, and a few people from the Adult Library participated in a First Aid CPR course, run by our own Todos Santos Bomberos. The goal is to have CPR-trained staff available for emergencies while on campus. 
The Palapa Society's Community Event Calendar
The Palapa School Tianguis
This SATURDAY, April 30, 2022
9 am - 2 pm
Casa Ejidal - Todos Santos

Baja Under the Stars  
The Denver Botanic Gardens
September 17, 2022

If you would like to be notified when tickets are on sale, please click the link below to send us a email.

The Palapa Society's March Donors
Special Thank You's

Thank you to Cindy and David Higgins for donating iPads to The Palapa School and to Sherry Gable and David Meisinger for donating Kindle tablets to the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska, which will allow Director Paty Baum to add eBooks in Spanish and English to our selection.

Thank you to a very special anonymous donor for giving a modern computer desk and chair to the Library, and to Giovanni Carreon for delivering it to us.

Thank you to friends of Palapa Advisor Tori Sepulveda, Jessica Spencer and Rob Darmour, for bringing a suitcase-load of books on behalf of Jessica’s mom Susan Soroka on their visit from Portland, Oregon. We also want to thank Jessica for setting up corporate gift matching with her employer Nike, Inc., that will match every dollar she donates to The Palapa Society. To learn more about how to set up corporate gift matching with your company, contact us at Info@PalapaSociety.org
March Donors
Thomas Boudreau
Cheryl H. Benware
Steve Bosch
Cynthia Forrester
Jeff Castelaz - In Memory of Pablo Castelaz
Nancy Gobel
Tom & Chris Hamer
Gerald Ronayne & David Runtz
Mr. John Tyler
Our Family of Monthly Donors
Anonymous
Eleanor Andrews
Rick & Suzanne Arnold
Jerry Back & Heather Bauer
Mike Block & Maria Olaisen
Gail & Scott Bosch
Marjolein Brugman
Paul & Pam Bumann
Hal & Vickie Butler
Ryan Casey
Liane Collins
Karin & Judd Cuenin
Julie & Michael Dandurand
Bill David & Kathy Cate
Liane Collins
Chirs & Bill Durboraw
Elizabeth Farner
Ken Ford
Sharon & John Foster
Kristen & Rick Friedman
Jane Gehring
Virginia Gollery
Lisa Goodman
Karen & Charley Haley
Margot & Dick Hampleman
Ann Hazard
Georgia Jane Hicks
Cindy & David Higgins
Marimar Higgins
Lee & Anthony Irons
Marilyn Jacques
Bonnie & AJ Johnston
Janna Kinkade
Lynn & Brian Kuske
Marshall Laird
Teresa Laird
Jay Masaschi
Connie & Andy Mical
Chris Miller & Diana Pandell
Jill Mollenhauer & Robert Bland
Sharon Morris
Cheryl V. Myers
Nancy & Dennis Naigle
Cathy & Dr. William Nation
Sofia & Stephen Nicholas
Deborah Parrish
Paty Rains
Janet & Bryan Raydon
Kristin Rust
Sydney & Greg Schweitzer
Tori Sepulveda & Oscar Rosales
Nancy Simpson
Susan & Jim Smith
Jessica Spencer & Rob Dormour
Grace & Tim Tuttle
Angelica Velez Mendez
Kathy Warnert
Lisa Welsch & Doug Colton
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.
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.