SAN ISIDRO INTEGRATED SCHOOL: March 2014

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

Friday, March 28, 2014

12 New Bookcases

Twelve new bookcases are freshly painted and distributed among the classrooms.

First SIIS Prom!

Each year SIIS has expanded to add one higher grade-level. The final Grade 12 classroom will be built later this spring.

Recently SIIS enjoyed its first high school Prom.

Playground Transformation

In 2009, the school's playground was a barren space. Now the students have swings, slides, and see-saws.

Some girls relaxing between classes

Our foundation also set up poles and supplied equipment for playing badminton, volleyball and tetherball.

Students playing tetherball

During one of my visits to the school, many of the younger students said their favorite game is badminton. This may be the first time the students have ever played tetherball. It looks like they're having fun!

Monday, March 17, 2014

New bookcases under construction; New computer lab chairs

12 new bookcases are being constructed for classroom use. Here is a teacher, students, and carpenter in one of the newly built classrooms. You can see the bookcases underway and the improved desks.

Our fund purchased new chairs for the computer room.

Teacher Roger and students work to make a concrete paved walkway to a new classroom.

Teachers, parents and students all invest labor and effort to build classrooms and make improvements.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

New Computer Lab

The school recently set up this computer lab using computers supplied by the Dept. of Education. The Heart Felt Fund has purchased needed chairs and installed an air conditioner to keep the computers cool.