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CDSG Weekly News
January 23, 2009
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Director's Corner
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2009 continues to show promises of even greater things to come for Country Day School in Guanacaste. And I hope it's a sign of good things to come for the entire area. We are continuing to welcome new students and we may have to turn people away before long because we're getting too crowded in some our grade levels. We're searching for more desks and moving one class to a larger room to accomodate the rising numbers. I have many new families signing up for next year already and five families scheduled to arrive between now and the middle of March to visit the school with their kids and look for housing in preparation for their moves in August. The emails come everyday asking about the area and CDSG in particular. That's why I asked last week for families who wouldn't mind answering questions from families planning to move here. I can hardly keep up with them all. I want to write all of them back and tell them all about the Guanacaste and CDSG, but I'd be at my computer answering emails most of the day. So I'd appreciate the help. I've had a few volunteers already and I thank you.
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BE CAREFUL IN THE PARKING LOT!
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Please use extreme caution when driving into and out of the parking lot, especially when passing the parked busses. The teachers are there to keep the students from running into the lots but sometimes cars are stopping on the speedbump just after entering the gates and waving for their kids to come to the car and load up. With all of the new studnets we have this semester there is just too much traffic to keep up this practice. AND it's becoming very dangerous. If a child runs out to the lot between cars it is very difficult to see them, especially the littlest ones. So please drive carefully into the lot, park your car, and then come over to get your child. This mostly applies to those of you picking up your children in the lower grades, but EVERYONE should drive slowly, use common sense, and watch out in case one of our little treasures breaks free from their teachers and runs out across the lot. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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Project Earthquake Reflief
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Thank you to everyone who contributed food and toiletry items to help victims of the earthquake. Our teachers, students and families always come together to support our communities locally and throughout the country whenever we find a need. Thank you!
There's supposed to be this really great photo right here in this spot that shows some of our beautiful 6th graders and Jamie loading up a truck full of stuff to deliver to the Red Cross but I can't get the pciture to format properly! You'll have to wait till next week. Sorry!
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Flamingo Beach Barbecue
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Hello everyone,
We will be getting together for a Bonfire night this Saturday 5:30 p.m. at Flamingo Beach. All are welcome to come! Bring your ice boxes and if you do not want to carry around an ice box, the Flamingo Beach Hotel will set up a cash bar. CDSG 10th and 11th grade students will be selling hot dogs, chips, popcorn, baked goods, and marshmellows. If you would like to collaborate with them with baked goods, please bring them to the bonfire. They will also be selling coupons for a bingo coming up next weekend. All of this is an effort to fundraise for their History field trip to Washington D.C. We will also have electricity for some music. So if you have any specific music in mind feel free to bring it and share!
Every child will have to be supervised by their prospective parents. Hope to see you all there!
Best regards,
Van Salcedo
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Bingo Evening
Thursday, January 29th 6:00pm (Cards on Sale at 5:30)
Ursula's Restaurant (in Tamarindo across from Pasatiempo)
FORMERLY "Wild's"
Come enjoy fun bingo with amazing prizes and delicious food!
10 games guaranteed!
Bingo cards for sale at door and before the event!
1 for 3000с and 2 for 5000c.
Special thanks to Flamingo BeachResort and Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort, we really appreciate your support.
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After School Activites Begin!
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This semester's after school activities rock! We have such a great lineup of activites there is no reason that your son or daughter has to complain about having nothin to do after school. We have swimming, tennis, basketball, soccer, football, and baseball for all ages and even swimming, yoga and cheerleading for the tiniest tots. The teachers have all stepped up to offer their time free of charge for these extra activities so be sure to show your appreciation. Where else in the area can you find so many opportunities for your children to express themselves and be exposed to so many different cultural, academic, sports, leadership, and social opportunities? Only at CDS Guanacaste, that's where.
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One Simple Observation
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One observation I have made during all of this is how amazingly quick new students are welcomed into the student body. I was watching as the high school students were walking from class to lunch and laughing and talking together with each other and if you didn't know the students you would have no idea how to tell the new students from the old. It has simply been a seamless transition into the student life of CDSG for these students, at least at first glance. When I commented about it to the other teachers at my table, saying that this is absolutely what I loved most about our school, Mr. Townley looked up and said, "Our school has always been like this, since the day it opened." Just one more reason for Pirate Pride. You have really wonderful kids. Be sure and tell them how proud you are of them and, of course, how much you love them, everyday.
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In this week's SLP Corner I wrote ...
If parents have speech/language/academic concerns about their child, then parents should notify classroom teachers and/or myself. I think that's how it's working, and it's working well.
If a teacher has concerns about a student, parents should be notified before I am in contact with the parents - - I think that's how it's working, and it's working well too!.
Thank you, Tara
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CEPIA News from Laetitia Deweer
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Happy New Year!
With good feelings and joy, we closed year 2008 and we received the New Year 2009. With every year that finishes, we close a cycle of our life. One more a page of our book will be marked, with moments of joy and sadness. But with the dawn of each new day, hope is born that what we could not realize we can initiate again.
The organization CEPIA wants to extend a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2009. We want to thank from the bottom of our heart all the people, companies, volunteers and sponsors that shared with us the dream of a strong and positive community. We wish a year of plenty of blessings for all and remember that "in life all the battles serve to teach something to us, included those that we lose, and a warrior cannot give up, because if he does, he will lose sight of the horizon of his dreams" (Paulo Coelho).
The Christmas celebration for 300 niñ@s was celebrated December 20th in Huacas! We are thankful for the special participation of HSBC bank.
Teenagers' graduation!
"Where there's a will, there's a way", our grandparents say. CEPIA feels pleased to inform that our teenagers' group has successful graduated from their English and computer course. Some of them will continue with us, while many others return to high school motivated to learn more and to reach their dreams. They also enjoyed a surfing class and a lunch in Tamarindo. They are an example for us, because in spite of the adversities and the lack of resources, they are young people who fought to succeed. Congratulations for your persistence!
Congratulations!
We congratulate the women that participated in the CINDEA courses, because with effort and sacrifice they finished the courses of international kitchen, beauty, craft and sewing. The students from our English course, sponsored by the company Costarican Trails, also graduated.
Education for Peace!
Sixty elementary school teachers participated in a training organized by La Paz Community School and CEPIA. The school of La Paz opened its doors so that the teachers could see an education based on the principles of educational cooperative, participative education, empowerment and experiential learning.
Dear community members,
CEPIA's staff and Board of Directors wish you a very Happy New Year 2009! We wish you good health, strength and happiness!
This year 2009 is a different year for the organization CEPIA. The global economical crisis affects people and organizations with fewer resources like CEPIA. Our main sponsors have cut their donations to towards the social sector. Losing the big support is a hard stroke for CEPIA that means big changes inside the organization.
We are deeply sorry to announce that the organization will not be able to continue paying the professional services of Noldan, our beloved computer teacher, and Erick, our beloved educational psychologist. Max (office manager), Ana (psychologist) and I continue working full time for CEPIA.
The computer classes for teenagers dropped out of school will continue, but the sixth graders of our schools will not receive computer instruction this year. Single mothers in extreme poverty, teachers and children with learning difficulties will neither receive the professional support of Erick, but we will do our best to refer them. Least, CEPIA puts for sale its van (Hyundai Starex 98) because it generates too much costs.
The extracurricular classes offered by volunteers, the psychological support and the program 'train teenagers into the future' will continue with lots of energy and dedication. They are important actions that we have to keep active, alive and dedicated to the children of our communities.
We are sorry for this news but due to uncontrollable factors the organization has to survive with fewer resources this year. The important thing is that we keep fighting for the organization and for a better life quality for children in our area.
Sincerely,
Laetitia Deweer
Board President
CEPIA's president/director will take a maternity break, as a consequence
The organization CEPIA is looking for a bilingual Project Manager, full time, in Huacas de Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. You can send your CV to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Summer 'Reef to Rain Forest" Program
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Take a minute and click on the link to our new summer program we are calling "Reef to Rain Forest" or "R2R" for short. It is a two week program that takes students all over Costa Rica learning about the environment and the incredible biodiversity of this great country. It is also a chance to earn a paritial credit for science and Spanish for those participants looking to add to their resumes. Just click on the link at the top of this newsletter and then send me an email to tell me what you think and also if you have ideas about how we can promote this new program. Students from all over are invited to join us. We hope CDSG students and students from around the globe will participate in this exciting new program.
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Upcoming Events
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January
Snapper Field Baseball Saturday Morning
Flamingo Beach Bonfire Saturday Night
School Picture Purchases and Retakes on Monday
After School Acivities Beginning Monday
Bingo Evening Thursday
Marekting/Strategic Planning Conference Friday/Saturday
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