April, 2006
School's Out! (sort of)
La Casa de los Niños is a quieter place now as nearly all our teachers have returned home to their native northlands. We had a
final get-together potluck at El Caracol Trailer Park. The facilities were provided by Verónica and Manuel Maasen, kids from La Casa
set up the tables, arranged and served and served the food, and then helped with the trash afterwards. Rebecca and a friend provided musical entertainment. Weather, sea and friends combined to make a pleasant, albeit
somewhat sad, goodbye.
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Summer and Beyond
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Most of the teachers at La Casa de los Niños visit Lo de Marcos for only a few months each winter. Because we
are dependent upon their generosity to be able to provide English classes, those classes necessarily end when the teachers leave. However, La Casa
continues in operation. Dulce manages things almost single-handedly, involving the students in arts and crafts and other types of activities. She just set up a reading
program that was an instant success, as students received "stars" for each book they read. Many took books home and got their parents involved, too. It was great
to see the whole family participating!
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On the administrative side, we discovered that even though we were not offering English classes, there was still interest in the
Basic Computing course for adults, so that class was continued in the evenings. For the kids, special activities now took precedence over scholastic, with
interest in cooking--and eating!--very popular, indeed.
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The word about La Casa de los Niños has spread and already kids are signing up for next fall. Thank goodness for
Dulce's patience, creativity, organizational talents and seemingly endless energy! Thank you, Dulce.
April 30, 2006 - Jim
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