|
Every school, home and business has special projects which need to be done on its buildings. As a growing elementary school, the New Dawning Christian School has many projects which need to be completed. In order to complete these projects, three ingredients are needed: money, time, and work.
The New Dawning school has a vision for the future. This includes the beginning of a Basico school level, which is grades 7 through 9. In order for this to happen, the school needs to "put legs" to its vision. The Children of Lake Atitlan sponsorship program does not provide any funding for construction or repair projects. All sponsor funds go to the support of the academic end of the education of the children. Therefore, when special needs arise, or when the school looks to the future, they must find separate funding for projects that they wish to complete.
We are thankful that, in the last 6 years, the school has advanced greatly. At the turn of the century the school consisted of hot, cramped classrooms built of adobe, with no window glass, hot aluminum roofs, and no playground. The school rented a small yard in an artisan center, which it used as a playground. Thanks to the generosity of many people, the school has been able to purchase the land it is on, and has purchased additional land which house a basketball court, room for classrooms, and a park-like area in which the children can play. A large metal room was donated, meant to be used as a meeting hall. At the present time, it houses two classrooms. Another donation made possible the construction of three new classrooms and an office, which houses three other classes. Although three classes still meet in the old, cramped, steamy classrooms, the school has made a lot of progress in the past 6 years.
The school is looking to the future with great anticipation. Below are some of the projects which the school would like to undertake to make its educational ministry more effective, both to the students and to the community. Feel free to contact us at childrenoflakeatitlan@yahoo.com. if you would like more details on these programs.
STORAGE LOCKERS FOR TEACHERS COMPLETE!
The teachers at the school currently have no personal storage for their class supplies. We would like to purchase a lockable double file cabinet for each teacher, which would make it possible for them to store pencils and paper, temporarily store student projects, and plan projects which will take more than one day to complete. Each file cabinet costs $100, and there are currently eight classes. PROJECT COMPLETED JULY 2008!
The new classroom building at the school is on one level. It is, however, designed to have as many as three levels. The stairway to the second story is complete, but it currently only leads to a cement roof which is ready for walls. This story would provide the school with three or four additional classrooms, which would enable it to house all of the elementary classes, as well as an afternoon Basico (grade 7-9) program. The second floor would require the building of the walls, placement of windows, and the building of a roof which would ready the building for the addition of a third floor. The total estimated cost of the second floor building, including materials and labor, is $25,000-$30,000.
UPDATE, JANUARY 2008: The first floor of classes has been completed with the addition of an additional office, which will house the administration for the Basico level of classes. This will enable the school to build four classrooms on the second floor instead of three, enabling it to move all classs out of the hot and cramped adobe buildings. The metal rebar work has been completed on the second story, and brickwork has begun.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2008: The walls of the second story have been completed! The school is waiting for funds to buy cement for the roof. When this is complete, they will only need to put in doors and windows, and the classrooms will be ready for use. The estimated cost for the completion of the roof is:
Cement $ 2160
Sand 60
Rock 670
Iron 8000
Plywood forms 1070
Board forms 1200
Wire 100
Labor 2670
Unforseen costs 670
TOTAL COST OF PROJECT (ESTIMATED) $24,600
The backboards for the basketball court baskets were made of wood, and have come to the end of their lives. One of the backboard has fallen apart, due to the daily use by students and the community. The school would like to replace the wooden backboards with metal ones. The cost of this project is $500. Good news! This project has been funded, and the backboards have been put up! Here is a picture of the one of the two new baskets.
Having lights on the basketball court would enable the community to use the court during the night, not only for sports leagues, but also for community social events. Weather conditions in San Juan La Laguna are excellent, and comfortable evenings are the norm. Sports leagues have been a key to keeping the community safe, because without organized activities, children and youth would have little to do, and this leads to problems. Right now there is no lighted court in the town. More good news! At the same time that the basketball court was repaired, tubing was laid for lighting the court. The school received metal poles from the municipality, and a week later...lights! The first evening was enjoyed by children from the school and community playing soccer and basketball. This project was also funded by the group from California.
|
