This month we celebrate one year since our preschool program began! I can’t believe a whole year has whipped by so quickly!
Last January we hired Maria Alicia Choc (Ali) and she began teaching the children in our Community Hall on January 15th. Seven weeks later, we moved everyone over to our just completed “learning centre”.
For the last twelve months our children have been attending preschool Monday to Friday from 8am to noon. The school is a place of beauty, peace and love. It is a place where children are encouraged to play and discover. It is a place where they feel safe and are enthusiastically engaged.
In 2015, Ali had as many as 16 children in attendance. Every day, a mama is asked to help in the preschool. Having a parent there gives Ali extra help, allows the child to share with their parent and it gives the parent an opportunity to observe positive, non-violent parenting and interaction with the children. It’s a win-win for all!
Last Tuesday we held our first official meeting to launch our second year of programming. We have two new families with preschool-aged children about to begin preschool here. These are children of our workers who live in the local community of Chivarabal. It was exciting to gather and discuss the upcoming year in our special preschool.
I can’t say enough good about our learning centre and our preschool. It is very dear to my heart. I am SO grateful to each of the donors who have helped make this a reality. I had so much fun designing and then decorating the building and was thrilled when we were able to find such an amazing teacher to work with our children. I have watched each child bloom under her loving guidance and attention.
Something extra special that has been happening for a few months now; every Tuesday, Antolin (our foreman and a Mayan Spiritual Guide) shares teachings about the Mayan tradition with the children. And on Thursdays, Greg is now doing a little music class with the kids! It’s so nice for the children to have positive male role models in their lives and they excitedly anticipate their time with these good men.
We are all excited to embark on this next year in a our special program. Once again, THANK YOU to each one of you who helped make this a reality for these precious children!
-Heather Alicia
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