Special Ed Classroom for SEPS!

Santa Elena Primary School is so excited as the special education classroom project is underway. Last week Tuesday construction started and we have had the wonderful opportunity of visiting the site and chatting with the contractor, Mr. Sherman Garbutt and the foreman, Mr. Sherwin Garbutt.

We are so pleased to know that our students with Exceptional Learning Needs will have a very unique and well adapted environment to provide for their special needs, that is conducive to their learning styles and abilities. Ms. Celia Monroy (teacher) and students look forward to a very productive and exciting new school year.

The administration and staff of SEPS would like to once again express our deep appreciation for the partnership with BNET and the Ministry of Education in allowing them the opportunity to develop all areas of their school program. INCLUSION is key to the success and progress of all schools and our society at large, as we become ‘true’ Global citizens. We look forward to continued community support and a genuine camaraderie between all stakeholders and partners.

The vision does not stop here. But as the school continues to expand and grow we hope to improve the facilities, add more classrooms, an auditorium and a playground. We welcome partners from our local community and international friends to join us in making SEPS a beacon in our nation. To quote Ms. Tracy Panton (BNET, GM), it is all about: “building firm partnerships in our quest to empower others and unlock the full potential of our people and country.”

Life Long Learners!

BY: Deborah Reneau,

Vice Principal, Santa Elena

RC School

SANTA ELENA TOWN,

Cayo, Friday, July 29, 2011:

It has been exactly one year ago since the teachers at Santa Elena RC Primary School (SEPS) started a new venture of becoming Life Long Learners. SEPS partnered with NaRCIE in the person of Mrs. Abigail Wade from the Cayo District Education Centere along with Dr. Jennifer Morrow of Independent Day School in Tampa Florida, Dr. Bill Hopkins of SUNY, Cortland Belize and theBelize Natural Energy Trust (a partnership between the Government of Belize and the Belize Natural Energy Limited), in a Teacher Leadership pilot project. The aim is to provide continuous professional development, focusing on teacher efficacy and providing opportunities for immediate engagement and hands-on experience and evaluation. This was all done on location so as to afford that continued support, instruction and ongoing assessment

During the past year, we have been trained in Brain Based Instruction, Multiple Intelligences and Cooperative Learning models.

The strategies and techniques learned have allowed us to ensure that ALL learners are engaged, therefore providing an‘Inclusive’ environment. This program incorporates all the amenities of the “Quality Child Friendly Schools” Initiative as well it has provided the much needed on-going training for teachers. Through this program we have been able to keep up with current international trends.

Most of us have definitely honed our teaching skills and have built our teacher efficacy. For many teachers at SEPS, this program has been a blessing to us and is like a dream come true.Being a teacher of 18 years, I have never learned so much from a program than I have from the Teacher Leadership Program at SEPS.

Mrs. Abigail Wade and Dr. Morrow believed in us and gave of their personal time pro bono to ensure that we got the training we would need to make

sure that All students at SEPS would have a teacher of the year. The road was bumpy as with all good things in life. Funding for the project was challenging. We did not deter from our goals but pressed on even in the face of adversity and transition.

Through the efforts of our partners we were able to get some assistance for Mr.Manuel Medina, SEPS principal, to attend training in Tampa Florida in February of this year. Three teachers accompanied

him, sacrificing their families and finances in the hope of seeing first hand what a quality school should look like and to prove for themselves that the

strategies can work in any classroom any part of the world, in particular Belize. This was a turning point

for the program because the teachers were so rejuvenated and enthused by what they saw.

They were overwhelmed by the practicality of the strategies in particular Dr. Kagan’s Structures for Cooperative Learning.

The three teachers namely, Mrs. Clarivel Cocom, Mrs. Andrea Guerra and Ms. Jonelle O’Brien conducted in-service sessions with us, captivating our interest and propelling us forward to our next goal which was to send more teachers for training at the Kagan Summer Academy in Orland Florida.

A group of us were determined that we will reach the Summer Academy, even though we each needed to raise a minimum of BZ$4,000 to attend five days of workshop.

Things are very hard in Belize economically as well as all over the world. We did not know at the time how we would get that money but we were convinced that we will invest in our learning.

The group of 15 teachers soon dwindled to six of us. We had bake sales, food sales and clothes sales to assist us in defraying the cost. It was becoming very frustrating because we were not seeing the finances, yet, but we were determined that we will get the training.

We wrote many letters to numerous organizations but got the same reply that they would like to but cannot at the moment. I was thinking, so many other organizations and agencies get funding without a problem yet we had such difficulty to attract funding to improve our skills to educate the future leaders of our nation But we did not give up!

The group of us decided to go visit some businesses and guess what, we were able to get some funds. We are grateful and thankful to the different businesses namely: Shell’s Gas Station, Flames Auto World Rental and Sales, Cahal Pech Village , Bismillah Stores, Hodes Place, CC’s Gas Station, Codds Drug Store, Indita Maya Gift Shop, Western Home Supplies Joseph Mahmud, Delias Store and Idelmar .

Once we reached Orlando we walked approximately two miles to the workshop everyday but did not feel the distance because we were always engaged in what had happened the previous day in our sessions.

By the end of the second day the workshop had already surpassed my expectations and I was yearning for more information. The ideas were so practical, I cannot wait to share with my colleagues and other teachers.

Dr. Spencer Kagan and his team calls it the Instructional Revolution, “A Paradigm Shift”. I will call it the highway that can take us to the stars.Dr. Kagan’s Structures do not require more work of a teacher, only structured activities that will keep any child engaged. It’s All About Engagement and the M.O.R.E. Approach.

Thanks to the people that believed in us – Mrs. Abigail Wade, Dr. Jennifer Morrow, Dr. Joyce Swarzman of Independent Day School, BNE Trust, Mrs. Shirlene Minge (Nominee for Presidential Award in Idaho) for giving of her time to have a workshop with us , Mrs. Nayani and Alberto August for including our articles in their newspaper and last but certainly not least the students and parents of SEPS. I am also grateful to Dr. Spencer Kagan for awarding me the scholarship for the Summer Academy.

We are hopeful that many more teachers would be able to attend these workshops. Marie Fernandez , Gloria Jones and Deborah Reneau took one week of Cooperative Learning, Andrea Guerra and Evangelina Uck took one week of Multiple Intelligences and Differentiated Instruction and Abigail Wade took Corporate Meetings and Instructional Coaching .

This year at SEPS we hope to refine what we have learned and try to perfect our teaching. we will make sure that -It’All About Kids!

Interact Travel visits SEPS

It is very rear when new get donations at Santa Elena RC Primary School, so we were overjoyed when a group of teachers traveling with INTERACT had expressed the desire to visit our school and interact with some of our teachers and students. Interact Travel that serves Spanish Teachers and their students currently enrolled in grades 6-12. Through the Teacher Leadership Program and Mr. Daniel Silva arrangements were made for the group to visit us on July 21, 2011.

Even though we are on holidays we were able to get about forty students and five teachers to interact with our visitors. The students played games and the teachers had an exchange of our different school system.

Thanks to Mr. Silva for suggesting that the group visits SEPS, Mr. Armando Martinez the coordinator and all the teachers that visited us. The sporting equipment and school supplies will take us a long way. Thank You!

SEPS Girls Mundialito Champs!

We would like to thank all our parents that supported us the last weeks. A special thank you to the teachers, Mrs. Marie Fernandez and Mrs. Gloria Jones who gave up their Saturdays to be with the children; This shows true commitment. Our coaches Mr. Peter Jones and Mr. Bernard McLauren. To Ms. Claudia Peterson for her kind donations given to the team. To all the players for displaying a sense of true sportsmanship . We are proud of you girls ! Good luck in your next competition the Sports Council Football Tournament.



Thanks to Mr. Morris and his family and Mr. Rivera for assisting our boys the past weeks in the Mundialito Competiiton.

“CELEBRATING EDUCATION: Education Empowers, Creating Change, Nurturing Minds, Embracing the Future”.

Many years ago the yearning to become a teacher was burning within me. Unfortunately, for me, I came from a single parent family and was living within the poverty level on the South Side of Belize City. My attempt of becoming a teacher was delayed since immediately after graduating from Saint Catherines Academy I sat and successfully passed my entrance exams to attend the then Teachers Collage but soon realized that the stipend given would not suffice my financial needs at the time so I had to withdraw from the program and postponed my dream and became a Public Officer. I spent over fifteen years within the Public Service but I never gave up the aspiration of one day being in the classroom as a teacher. After leaving the Public Service and staying at home for three years, I decided to vehemently peruse my passion and first love.
My interest was even further sparked when one of my children encountered some terrible experiences with teachers at a certain school. These experiences made me more determined and motivated me to believe that if I could positively influence children in the classroom to become the best they could ever be without having to live the experiences of my child, then I would be doing a great service to God’s Children.
In 2008, I was given the opportunity to teach at Santa Elena Primary School. At that time if I was asked whether or not having the pedagogical training of a teacher was important, I would have said a resounding “NO”. I found teaching very natural and I was comfortable in my class. I was fortunate to have colleagues who were more than willing to share their knowledge and experiences with me which made my transition into the classroom easy. After almost three years in the class I still embrace the experience with joy, although I have changed my mindset towards pedagogical training.
My change in thinking about the importance of pedagogical training was gradual. It was further solidified in August of 2010 .Our school staff decided that we would embark on a Leadership Training Program. Mrs. Abigail Wade of the National resource Center for Inclusive Education (NARCIE) and Dr. Jennifer Morrow from Independent Day School (Corbett Campus, Tampa) are the chief coordinators, who with the Belize National Energy Trust launched this whole-school initiative to promote teacher efficacy and inclusion.
We have been taught and instructed by a number of dynamic presenters in different subject areas, but what most impressed me was the fact that although the training was and still is a bit intense, the information imparted opened a new world for me as an educator.
Many of the strategies and techniques shared are similar to what I was already doing but did not have a label or method. The idea of multiple intelligences and the lectures on Brain research, and how the brain functions, have given me new insight into how to best nurture each students God given potential, and to appreciate the “ Uniqueness” of all learners.
Over the past year, I have tried many of the strategies, which were modeled, and for me they have all been successful, contributing to productivity and cooperation in the classroom. My experience through these professional development sessions has been meaningful. It has also provided me with ideas on how to plan effectively for learning to occur. I know have better classroom management skills; the ability to recognize the different needs displayed by students ant to cater for those individual learning needs within a classroom setting. This allowed for richer diversity and total inclusion.
For me the biggest change has been the realization that although being academically qualified does not translate to “Teacher of the Year”, It however makes me more equipped and prepared to deliver quality education and instruction. This program has made us at Santa Elena Primary School feel ready to face all future challenges and to address current issues with hope and a positive attitude.
Most recently a workshop was held on Monday 2nd May, 2011 that was conducted by Mrs. Judy Diego who is the chairperson for the Teachers Services Commission. She brought with her a wealth of knowledge and experiences. Her lecture was dynamic, hammering home the idea that as teachers we should set the example and model the way through mentorship and self efficacy. We are encouraged not only to be professionals, but to pursue excellence with love and passion for such a noble vocation. We were humbled by her commitment to facilitate this workshop on a public holiday, and applaud her for being a role model and true educator. In light of celebrating education through two weeks of meaningful activities, I must say that we are empowered to create change, nurture minds and embrace our future.
Marie Fernandez
Santa Elena R.C. Primary School
Santa Elena Town, Cayo District

Santa Elena Primary School working hand in hand with the Teaching Services Commission

Santa Elena RC School is a primary school located in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District. It houses a population of over a thousand students and boasts of a staff of 38 diligent teachers. The teachers at Santa Elena Primary School have been participating in a Teachers Leadership Program since August of 2010. The program focuses on improving teacher efficacy with a concentration on creating a brain-friendly environment for all students. The co-coordinators of the program are Mrs. Abigail Wade from The Ministry of Education ,District Education Center-Cayo and Dr. Jennifer Morrow from Independent Day School in Tampa Florida, in collaboration with the Belize Natural Energy Trust.
Since its inception the teachers have had to attend several workshops on weekends, holidays and after school hours; taking into consideration the need to maintain contact hours with our students and the importance of keeping children engaged at all times. We are honing our skills on our time and not the children’s time.
This past Monday May 2, 2011, we had the wonderful opportunity of attending a workshop on Mentoring and Teacher Leadership. It was facilitated by Mrs. Judy Diego, the chairperson for the Teaching Services Commission. The staff at Santa Elena Primary school prides themselves in developing an Olympic mentality where the best keep getting better. They remained engaged through all the sessions, intent on learning more so that they can deliver better.
Mrs. Diego’s presentations focused on how all teachers are leaders and schools will get better if they see themselves in that light. We learnt that teachers need to embrace ownership and take responsibility for the running of the school. The function and operation of the school is not only left up to the administrators but everyone must work together towards the common goals of the school. It is also key for all partners to find their role in the progress and development of all school programs, especially parents. Mrs. Diego reinforced the importance of us seeing ourselves as leaders by conducting several activities which were thought provoking and stimulating.
Mrs. Diego knows the importance of respecting and honoring our invaluable teachers. She concluded the session by presenting each teacher with a certificate that stated three words that best described the individual teacher. It reflected what they personally thought of themselves if they were to be awarded as ‘Teacher of the year’. This activity added the icing on the cake; the teachers felt appreciated and honored by this deed.
At Santa Elena Primary School we are trying to develop a culture that really believes that ‘It’s All About Kids’, because we see the children as priority and their individual needs and learning styles as important. Then we recognize the need to ensure that we are equipping ourselves with current trends of learning and strategies for quality instruction. The principal and staff of Santa Elena Primary School are truly grateful for Mrs. Diego for spending her holiday with us, it shows her level of commitment in guaranteeing that we have Quality Education for Quality Schools.
In February of this year three of our teachers and the principal, Mr. Manuel Medina, travelled to Tampa Florida where they took part in workshops conducted by Kagan Institute. The teachers came back rejuvenated and eager to share what they learned. Ten other teachers from SEPS are raising funds to attend the Summer Academy in Orlando, Florida. If you would like to assist us in making this venture possible, please contact us at: DEC-Cayo, 824-2271 (Mrs. Abigail Wade) or SEPS, 824-2919 (Mrs. Deborah Reneau, Vice-Principal).

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY TO ALL TEACHERS!