School Grounds in 2009

School Grounds in 2009
Future site of the Library

Ron Paul Felt Memorial Library

Ron Paul Felt Memorial Library
Blueprint Perspective

IN MEMORY OF RON PAUL FELT
(1981-2004)

My son, who passed away at the young age of 22, left a legacy of dedication to improving educational opportunities for children in Indonesia. Prior to graduating from Jakarta International School, he and a friend organized a high school club devoted to raising funds to assist children in the neighboring kampung with educational costs. This ongoing fund helps defray costs of uniforms and textbooks, allowing many poor children in Jakarta the chance to attend school where they may otherwise be forced to drop out.

In his honor, our family has chosen to assist the children of the San Isidro Integrated School, to improve their educational environment and to build a new edifice that will house a library and computer lab. Ron Paul valued reading and learning and he loved children. We hope to dedicate the future library to his memory.

PROJECT MISSION

The Heart Felt organization seeks to improve the educational environment for the children of San Isidro in order to prepare them for a better, more meaningful and more purposeful life.


Accomplishments to Date:

In 2009, before our involvement and assistance, San Isidro Integrated School was overcrowded. A Kindergarten and six grades met in 5 classrooms with nearly 40 children in each room. The desks and chairs were rotting and full of splinters. The mostly-English textbooks were old and tattered, many with missing pages. The children had no library or computer resources, and few reading books were available in classrooms.

Since that time, thanks to the support of family and friends and increased local government interest, the school has improved in the following ways:

- SIIS expanded through Grade 11, and the final Grade 12 classroom will be built in 2014

- All of the old desks were replaced

- The children learn from newer, better quality textbooks and, as a result, their National Test Scores are improving

- The students have access to more books to read

- A computer lab is set up

- The playground is vastly improved

- A fresh-water tank is installed

- Improvements are continually being made as needed


GOALS:

#1: To construct the Ron Paul Felt Memorial Library

#2: To provide space for the computer lab in the new library

#3: To continue to gather and ship textbooks, instructional materials and library books to San Isidro

#4: To continue to locally purchase needed classroom materials annually

#5: To maintain an enjoyable playground

#6: To establish Sister-School relationships between San Isidro and US schools and to involve any schools and organizations interested in contributing to the education and welfare of San Isidro students

#7: To help San Isidro teachers improve their English-language teaching skills

#8: To provide assistance as new needs arise



---Classroom Improvements---


Classroom Setting in 2009

Classroom Setting in 2009
Jonber teaching Grades 3 and 4

Old Desks

Old Desks
Rough hewn desks and chairs have been replaced

New Desks

New Desks

Worn Out Textbooks

Worn Out Textbooks
The old textbooks have now been replaced with

New Textbooks

New Textbooks

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Upcoming Trip to Bohol

In late March I will be traveling to the Philippines with a few family members and friends to visit the primary school, assess Phase 1 progress, and formulate a plan for implementing Phases 2 and 3.

Phase 2 of the project will involve rebuilding the students' desks and chairs. Phase 3 (if permission is granted) will involve the construction of a new building to house a nursery/kindergarten and a school library.

This trip will be a "fact-finding mission" to:
  • assess additional needs for textual/reading materials and classroom supplies
  • explore options and timetables for the construction of new desks and a future classroom/library building
  • visit local lumber and cement facilities to determine sources for obtaining construction materials
  • meet with school administrators and teachers to discuss additional resource support
  • formulate a plan to involve parents and community members in contributing construction labor
  • enlist the help of school administrators and community members to provide care for donated materials as they arrive and to help organize a library system
  • search for the best site on current school property to construct a new building
I will gladly keep you posted on any and all progress made. Feel free to add your own posts. You may also contribute ideas or ask questions by writing to SanIsidroChildren@gmail.com.


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Phase 1 - Providing much needed materials

27 boxes of unused textbooks, workbooks, and teacher editions appropriate for grades 1-6 have been obtained through the Global Book Exchange, a non-profit organization in Terra Linda, CA that gathers and finds second homes locally and globally for children's reading and textbooks. (click here for their website).

An owner of a shipping service in San Jose, CA has graciously volunteered to ship project-related materials to the Philippines during low seasons at no cost. Our first shipment will be on its way to the children of San Isidro in February or March.

We hope to procure additional reading books and classroom materials (pencils, paper, glue, scissors, etc) to add to the shipment. Your resource ideas and assistance are welcome!

Special thanks to Steve Cherry for storing the textbooks in his home while awaiting shipment, and to Susan Kawaguchi for contributing children's reading books.

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