After 5 Years We Say "Adios" To Escuela Del Mundo

Yesterday evening was Escuela del Mundo's annual end of the year event.  The beginning of the evening featured the students who were graduating from their respective programs.  Alex and three other classmates received their certificates for completion from what is called "la Primaria" or elementary school here in Mexico.  The graduation was followed by a colorful production starring all the students and was produced by several of the staff, parents, volunteers and "talleristas" who teach special classes at the school.  The yearly event was certainly fantastic as always.  As our kids have grown older they have take on more prominent roles.  This year Alex was featured as the "Goddess of Blue" and Trace was one of the three "Gods of Green".  This year's event was particularly bitter sweet since it will be our last at Escuela del Mundo.

After 5 years we knew that this would be the last for Alex. She was graduating from the primaria program and asked if she could attend a school with more to offer. More facilities, more types of educational experiences and understandably a bigger social aspect. Trace was more of an uncertainty. At 10 years old he has spent half of his life on this campus. We figured he would finish out his primaria education here too until earlier this year. Early in the second half of the year, a conflict between the school's administration and several of the teachers became unreconcilable resulting in Trace and Alex temporarily having no teachers to lead the daily coursework. A substitute took over for a short time and then was replaced by another. Trace's excitement for school dwindled and he also asked to move on as well. From that point the kids knew their time was short and finished the year out with their second substitute teacher who was eventually joined by a beloved teacher of theirs, Barbara.

Last day of school June 2017

Alex' graduation class from "la primaria".

Attending Escuela del Mundo has been one of the most important decisions we have made since coming to Mexico and has shaped our lives here.  The school is located in the next town over from Sayulita in San Pancho.  Over the years we have had dual town citizenship in a way.  We live in one town and benefit from all things Sayulita.  We have also been part of a totally second community in San Pancho.  Alex and Trace can walk around either town and be totally comfortable and there will be kids, parents, coaches community members etc who will recognize them and know exactly who they are.  We have met so many parents, kids, teachers, volunteers etc during our time at school.  I like to say that our Mexico is so much bigger due to our decision to attend school here.  It is a Mexican school it is fully Spanish speaking.  No-dual immersion.  As a result our kids have grown up fully immersed and are now fully bilingual and speak Spanish like native Spanish speakers rather than perhaps someone who learned Spanish along the way.

Last hugs with Maestra Barbara.

This is not to say that our time there has not had it's challenges.  Being Americans in a Mexican school has not been easy and we have often felt like outsiders.  Even at a small school not everyone knows that our kids have been at EDM most of their lives and that we have always been active, contributing parents.  Culture and language has certainly been a bit of the barrier.  We have seen two major internal situations that resulted in much of the student population leaving to find other educational solutions for their kids.  These were not necessarily quality of education issues but rather staff and administration issues.  The kids have been in the middle of this twice and they have certainly been effected by it as they have seen several classmates/friends and or trusted teachers leave the school. These were also huge blows to the school budget.  How can a school expect to improve or even survive when it's tuition income takes a hit like that every couple years?

Ashley and I have both been frustrated over the years since it felt like the school did not know how to even help itself.  It serves a very local population and as kept tuition low.  The school has never had a surplus of funds or substantial community support to really lift itself to the next level.  It has always relied on parental support to take care of those things that were not covered in the budget.  5 years ago the school culture was "everybody pitches in to help when needed" and scheduled school work days were always well attended.  Absence was noticed.  Parents were expected to show up when there was work to do but that has changed over the years.  I looked around the campus during the kid's parent/teacher meeting recently and our fingerprints are on virtually everything.  We helped paint that building, we managed that playground project, we built those shelves, we bought those light fixtures and furniture for the kid's classroom, we helped mix concrete and haul materials for the second floor expansion, we helped build that fence for the garden, we built that website and paid for hosting, we hauled that gravel etc.  So much time, energy, money, sweat, dedication, love etc.  We wonder sometimes what will happen once we are gone.  I am not saying we have been the school's saviors by any means but there will have to be other newer parents who need to step up to help change the culture and help along side the other parents who have always been involved as we have.  We know the school will survive our departure and will emerge better and stronger going forward.  It has in the past and will again.

So now we take our exit and move on to new adventures as far as schooling goes.  Costa Verde is next.  We wish only the best for Escuela del Mundo going forward.  Thank you July, Vero, Angie, Juan, Barbara, Carlos, Maria, Geoffrey, Claudia, Tanya, Paulina, Karol, Diego and all the talleristas for loving our kids, embracing them each and everyday and making our lives in Mexico so much bigger and richer during the last five years.  We will miss you.

First day of school at EDM August 2012