Children of Lake Atitlan
A SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM LOCATED IN SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA, GUATEMALA
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Children of Lake Atitlan Gallery
​To view photos from the photo gallery, click on one of the photos in the gallery.  This will begin an enlarged slide show of the photos in the gallery, along with an explanation of each photo. 

             Hover over a photo to see its caption.

Photo Galleries
After a month of home and virtual classes, the students returned to classes 3 days a week at the beginning of May.
Teaching and learning can be difficult with masks all day, along with social distancing and limited class sizes. But our students are still there...and still learning.
Including family members helps to build the relationship between the school and its families.
Primary teachers prepare a special Mother's Day lunch, a surprise that was delivered in a lovely basket to each mother.
These baskets, filled with a delicious lunch, were delivered to each mom with a child in the school for Mother's Day. Such a kind gift even brought tears to a few of the very needy moms.
May
Mothers' Day
Special Video:

San Juan La Laguna Is Happy

(filmed and directed by Franklin "Kincho" Cholotio, graduate of the New Dawning Christian School)

The original adobe buildings were the entire school plant from 1991 until 2003.
Where there was only the side of a hill to play, the basketball court dwarfs the original adobe buildings.
The basketball court was begun in 2001. The roof was added several years later.
Covering the basketball court made it a great place to have special programs, such as graduations.
The multi-purpose salon served as 3 classrooms for two years, until the second story of classrooms was completed.
The first 2 stories include 7 classrooms. The third floor will house the library, a computer center, and another classroom.
These two rooms will house the pre-school class, which still meets in the adobe classrooms, and the administrative office.
The playground equipment donation was a special treat for the children of the school.
When complete, the school library and the computer center will add a whole new dimension to education at the school.
The New Dawning Christian School

Take a tour by way of a slideshow...
The primary level director and teachers work together to organize classes that will be done through one-on-one contact and work packets while the town is on code red from Coronavirus.
Primary teachers take time from their many extra hours of needed preparation to celebrate the birthday of one of the teachers.
June
Mid-point of school year.
A VERBAL SNAPSHOT...ONE OF OUR STUDENTS

A shy fifth grader from a nearby village, Carlos was told by his parents that he would not be able to study in the school this year, due to financial restraints.  They sent him off to a local school, only to find that he was walking the three miles to continue in the school he loves.  Thanks to a sponsor, his transportation is being paid, and his parents are pleased to have him continuing in our school.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON RED ALERT.  STUDENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO STUDY IN PERSON.  THE YOUNGER CHILDREN HAVE WORK DELIVERED EACH WEEK TO THEIR HOME, AND THE OLDER BASICO STUDENTS HAVE A COMBINATION OF HOME STUDIES AND VIRTUAL CLASSES.
Basico (Middle School) students come to the school each Monday to turn in work from the previous week and pick up work for the coming week. Here, 7th graders, socially distanced wait in line for their turn to turn in their work.
Students turn in their work for each course, which is then given to the teacher of that course for grading.
Students report each assignment that is turned in to the secretary, who keeps complete records of all assignments that are turned in before giving the work to the teachers.
After receiving their work for the week, students at the Basico level also receive virtual classes for three days a week.
 July
WE CONTINUE TO BE ON RED ALERT.  However, vaccinations have begun, and the teachers received their first shot recently.  
Kathryn Beseth left life in Missouri to spend this school year teaching children in pre-school, kindergarten and grades 1-3 English. The decoration says "Thank you for your support, Kathryn."
CREPES! Maybe a first in San Juan La Laguna, the teachers prepared delicious crepes as part of the good-bye.
The celebration also included some fun activities prepared by the teachers. Good-byes are also a time for celebration.
Kathryn is also a sponsor of a child at the school, and that sponsorship also assists the teachers with whom she has worked during this school year.
Kathryn receives a gift from the school as a small remembrance of her year with us. Her gift to the children of the school, however, will continue to be received far into the future.
August
Good-bye for our English teacher.
Even though the anniversary celebration was only attended by staff, because of the coronavirus, the evening was still very celebrative,
The female Primary level teachers got into the spirit with matching outfits. Formality is very important to Guatemalans for special events. This day was no exception.
Everyone poses for the official photo for this special evening, followed by dinner to close the evening.
31st anniversary celebration
We invite you to watch this short video, made to share with those who were not able to attend the anniversary celebration.