Second-Year Teacher Spearheads School for Parents


Article by Brian Schmitt (MS Math Teacher), photo by Sophia Bahlkow

The advantages of being a second year BECA volunteer are immeasurable.  There are simply too many to count and are sometimes so subtle that they are difficult to identify.  The one that hit me hardest when I returned to Cofradia in August was how comfortable and at home I felt here in comparison with last year.   When I walked to school for the first time this year, I was immediately waving to families of my students and friends.  I couldn’t help but feel excited and overwhelmingly glad that I had made the decision to stay another year.

Another huge benefit of the second year is that I am able to do so many things I wanted to do last year but was oftentimes too exhausted or overwhelmed to follow through with them.  During the interview process over a year and half ago I remember being excited at the prospect of not just being a teacher in a community but being involved with the community outside of school.  One way I have been able to do that this year is by leading the Escuela de Padres (School for Parents).  Escuela de Padres is a program hosted by BECA that provides basic continuing education for SJBS parents and other student caretakers.  Every other Wednesday 20-35 parents of our students (mostly scholarship parents because they receive points for attending meetings) come to listen and participate in discussions and lessons on certain topics.  So far this year, our meetings have been focused largely on economics. 

The day of my first Escuela de Padres meeting I was approximately as nervous as I was before I got my first cavity filled or the first time I started a game pitching in baseball.  All of the information I had from last year’s Escuela de Padres coordinators reassured me, "Don’t worry, speaking in Spanish to a large group is no big deal."  After three months of experience doing this I completely agree but in the moments before my first meeting it felt like a huge deal.  Continue Reading.

New Science Classroom Supplements Increased Resources
by Mr. Greene (MS Science Teacher)
 
This has been an exciting first half of the year for the science program. The 7th graders in Life Science, the 8th graders in Physical Science, and the 9th graders in Earth Science have all grown in their knowledge and skills in science and, most importantly, are really engaged in the work that they are doing.

Although we still lack a good class set of textbooks for each subject, classes have become more interactive, visual, and technologically advanced with the help of a digital projector that was donated by a group of SJBS supporters. This technology has opened up these kids’ educational experience to Powerpoint, YouTube science clips, and interactive Jeopardy review games have been brought in the classroom. In physical science, while studying gravity, we watched videos of astronauts in space and discussed weightlessness. In Earth Science, we were exposed to the power of the earth through video clips of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes and in Life Science, we studied the diversity of life through the fantastic BBC series, “Life.” Read more.

The new SJBS Science Classroom, built by our Honduran partner ASPAPRO.

Last chance to make a 2010 Gift to BECA!

BECA's primary fundraising campaigns take place in August (Classroom Sponsors) and February (Vino Y Chocolate gala).  However, if you have not yet made a gift during 2010, please consider doing so today.  All of the hard work and sacrifice by our volunteer teachers is only made possible with funding from our grassroots network of supporters.  Likewise, our growth into other schools must be financed by those who believe in the power of our program to change outcomes for low-income Honduran students who otherwise would not have access to quality educational opportunities.  Gifts both small and large go a long way in Honduras, so we humbly ask that you make a gift this year if you haven't already. Thanks!

Noviembre de No Afeitarse
Four male BECA teachers collectively make up the (self-titled) "Manpartment" in Cofradia.  They occasionally partake in "manly" experiments to "keep it real".  They agreed not to shave for the entire month of November in order to prove something.  Giulio Rottaro (Upper School Resource Teacher) recounts the experience:

I never thought I would last the whole month, especially in this hot humid weather where every extra layer of clothing can make you miserable. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me explain: men like to compete. We especially love to compete in silly competitions as long as we get show off our virility, even if the outcome has been predetermined by genetics alone. In this case, I'm talking about our beards. We all went the entire month of November without shaving, trimming or getting haircuts. It was a bit of an uncomfortable experience (especially since I was winning) filled with bittersweet moments that benchmarked the growth of facial hair: the first night I slept on my face without itching, the first time I felt my mustache touch my lip, the first time I accidentally licked my mustache while eating, the first time I was able to twirl some of the hairs together, etc. Anyway, this is a photo from Nov. 30, our last day as fully bearded men.