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CDSG Weekly News
January 16, 2009
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Director's Corner
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It's so good to back.
I would like to start off by welcoming the following students to CDSG: Alejandro Guitirrez, Dane Dell Oca, Camille Dell Oca, Matthew Lavey, Samuel Stewart, Giovanna Del Oca, Annabelle Baldwin, Delany Thompson, Jack Lavey, Jessica Vargas, Morgan McCreath, Diego Fajardo, Piper Thompson, Garret Pierce, Elliot Hayes, Monica Kaplan, Connor Herlitz, Cameron Lucas, Morgan Pruden, Vanessa Dotti, Cheri Plaza, Trevor Thompson, Alexander Pacheco, Tanner Thompson, Jordan McCreath and Estaban Fajardo. Twenty one are new faces and five students attended previously and are returning to CDSG for another term. We are happy to they are here and we welcome the new parents into our community as well. I also have several families visiting this month who have scheduled tours of the campus in anticipation of moving to Guanacaste in the coming summer and they are reserving spots for next term. So were very busy right now and that's great. Happy New Year to all of you and I hope that 2009 is joyful and prosperous for you and for Guanacaste.
As you read the rest of the news you will see that CDSG has not stopped for a breath but continues to be a vibrant and busy community full of events for students, parents and the community during the school day, after school, and even on weekends. Please join us and support as many activities as you can during the second half of the year. It's going to be exciting and fun.
Welcome to our new staff members Jessica, who is teaching Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Also, a big welcome to Julie, who will be assisting in Mr. Joe's 3rd and 4th grade classroom and helping in the dorm as a dorm assistant. Welcome to Stephan and Remco, who will help Mr. Eric in P.E. as well! New faces everywhere.
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New Parent Support
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Speaking of new families, I expect many more visiting families throughout the second semester. Several have contacted me already telling me when they will be here so that I can set up a time to show them the school and answer their questions. Some have asked to be able to speak directly to parents about the school and living in Guanacaste. I would like to put together a list of willing parents with email addresses to pass on to these people in order to help with their transition.At previous schools where I have worked, there were similar groups of parents that would meet the new families when they first arrived in order to answer questions and offer advice on how things work in the area. It can be difficult adjusting to a new school, home, and country all at the same time. If you are interested please email me at
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and I will include your name. Cathy Ellis and Nathan Bonham sparked the idea for this as they are starting a business that will offer such services to people new to the area. Thank you.
Also be on the lookout for information about a Parent Association forming to support our elementary teachers. Mrs. Augustine is interested in getting this started. Please contact her or notify Katia in the front office and we will get your name on the list.
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Project Earthquake Relief
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Of course our school community has decided to do something for the victims of last week's earthquake. There have been thousands of people displaced and struggling to put their lives back together. There are many basic food and toiletry items they need. We decided it would be best to have each grade bring in a specific item. Jamie has been coordinating the effort, so if you have any questions you can stop in and ask her or just send her an email
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The list of items assigned to each grade is here.
PreK/Kinder: toilet paper
Prepa/Grade 1: rice
Grade 2: soap
Grade 3/4: bottled water
Grade 5: beans
Grade 6: milk
Grade 7: sugar
Grade 8: cooking oil
Grade 9: toothbrushes and toothpaste
Grade 10: coffee
Grade 11: spaghetti
Grade 12: flour
By the way, in our last community service fundraiser, the First Annual Readathon, we were able to raise a total of $1,275 to be put towards buying school supplies for children in need in our area. On Wednesday, January 28th, 5 students from CDSG will go to CEPIA in Huacas to pack up the school supplies to get ready for distribution. Thank you for your support of this great cause!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
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Beach Challenge
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I have heard rumors of something called a Beach Challenge that occurs every year in Portrero, where families come together for a fun day of sports and food on the beach. I have been told that I should assemble a planning committee ASAP in order to do it right. So I have requested that all interested individual should be at my office on next Tuesday at 1:30 to start the planning. Please let me know if you can come. I only have a few volunteers so far but we'll need more. Please?
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New Art Gallery In Brasilito!
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I visited a very nice art gallery exhibit and opening last night put on by a group of local artists including our own Sage Townley, who I had no idea painted so beautifully. The gallery is next to the Happy Snapper and I'd recommend that you drop by and see the works of art on display. There are some wonderful paintings. I have to tip my chef's hat to the folks in the kitchen at the Happy Snapper as well. They put out a delicious spread of fresh sushi, spring rolls, and lots of other surprises that I didn't know they served. I'll definitely be back for more.
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After School Activities
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After school activities will begin in two weeks. There will be a list of activities sent home with the students on Monday and you will need to choose your activities so that we can arrange our schedule accordingly. You will notice that the majority of activities this semester are outdoor sports. We all want to be outside playing when the weather is so nice so we hope the kids do too. Encourage your kids to participate. It will keep them healthy and it will give you an extra hour to relax in the afternoon.
AND.... If you have a special talent or love for an activity that you would like to offer for an hour each week please let us know and we'll include your activity. Dance? Martial Arts? Croquet? Guitar? Piano? We'd love to have your help and support! Even if you can simply assist the teacher who coaches and activity, that would be great. Just contact the teacher sponsoring the activity or tell Jamie what activity you would like to sponsor and/or help out with.
Sarah is looking for a parent assistant to help with her Swimming activity. Swimming will be offered to children in grades Pre-K through Grade 2 and she will need another adult to assist her in the pool with swimming lessons. If you can help, please let us know. Someone with previous swim lesson experience would be helpful but not mandatory.
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Late Policy and New Lunch Policy
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Late Policy
This is a reminder that upper school students arriving to school late need to have a note from their parents or they will be spending time in lunch detention with their first period teachers. It is really very disruptive to the teachers when students wander in late after they have already begun their lessons. Please help us by leaving earlier from home to get them here on time.
Lunch Snack Payment Policy
Remember that students wishing to purchase extra drinks or snacks may only do so by paying cash to our cashier each time. This is an effort to keep kids from emptying their lunch accounts by purchasing drinks without parent's knowledge or approval.
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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
High School Dance Tonight at Conchal
Vinoversity 01/23 at 6:30
Picture retakes/Purchase previous pictures Monday, 01/27
Baseball starts again tomorrow
Earthquake donations to the school by Friday, 01/23
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