Rooted in the Basics - Cloud Forest...
Transcript of Rooted in the Basics - Cloud Forest...
Founded in 1991 by local parents committed to quality education for their children, the Cloud Forest School is an inde-pendent school located on 106 acres of cloud forest land in Monteverde, Costa Rica. 200 students matriculate in Pre-school–Grade 11 with 30 full and/or part-time staff. Most classes are taught in English, so that students are fluent in both their native Spanish and in English. The curriculum is webbed around the environ-ment, with all grades involved in land stewardship.
The local Board of Trustees determines policy and maintains close communication with the Cloud Forest School Foundation, the 501(c)(3) support organiza-tion in the United States which does much of the fund-raising for the school’s operating, capital, and endowment needs.
Cloud Forest School Foundation Mission:
Cloud Forest School Foundation (CFSF) is a not-for-profit educa-tional organization providing support to the Cloud Forest School known locally as the Centro de Educación Creativa (CEC), a bilingual, environ mentally focused school in Monteverde, Costa Rica. CFSF strives to provide CFS with an international network of friends, financial support, professional develop-ment opportunities, and teacher and volunteer recruitment.
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Cloud Forest sChool Foundation
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Rooted in the BasicsLaura Grenholm, Cloud Forest School Director
T he back window of my office looks out onto a flourishing little garden of carrots, chives, tomatoes and lettuce. The greenhouse behind this garden is also full of life; tree seedlings germinating in recycled milk
boxes, native plant cuttings ready to be planted in one of our theme gardens, and hanging orchids that have been gathered by students on the school trails. Shades of green, rich dark soil, dirty fingernails: simple pleasures.
The hands that have nurtured the garden are those of students, parents, volunteers and staff. It is such a privilege to look out the window and see a parent kneeling in the dirt, a small child carefully laying down a seed, or a new plant sprouting its first leaves. A little plot of land being cared for, season after season, by so many: the essence of all on which the Cloud Forest School (CFS) is built. As we prepare to enter this, the 21st year of the CFS, we are in the midst of welcoming our growing family of local and international students, families, staff and teachers. We are also celebrating a few new additions to our beautiful campus — a new Audio-Visual Room, revamped Art Room with outdoor covered patio, flourishing gardens in both the lower and upper schools, and
Lucia Lara Cajuro, Kinder (Pre-K) Ezio Camilo Miles
www.cloudforestschool.org
over the 2012 vacation, the art room was renovated with help from a group of middle school students
from the Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT. This marks the fourth summer that Renbrook students have worked diligently and enthusiastically in transforming parts of our campus. The art room was constructed in 2006 when the current middle school/administrative building was built. Its original purpose was as a storage space during the construction phase, but it eventually was transformed into an art classroom. As part
A New Art Space for the Cloud Forest SchoolBy Carla Willoughby
of the CFS’s overall plan to develop and improve upon the school’s art curriculum, our maintenance crew supervised the Renbrook group and other volunteers to make some significant changes to the building. The art room that students from all grades will enter into this 2012-2013 school year is a definite improvement, thanks to all of these combined efforts.
Prior to this most recent renovation, a portion of the building remained walled off as a storage room for the maintenance crew. However, these walls were knocked down
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The Cloud Forest School is an approved non-profit parti ci pant of the organization 1% for the Planet. 1% for the Planet was founded in 2002 with the mission to “build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet.” The organization is a global network with over 1,100 members to date representing 37 countries.
By becoming a member of 1% for the Planet, not only are you making a commitment to the planet, but also with that membership you are effectively adding your voice to the movement, believing that all businesses should give back. Members establish relationships directly with the approved non-profits of their choice, providing the opportunity to donate throughout the year. Please consider a membership with 1% for the Planet and a chance to support the Cloud Forest School.
www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/
KEEP EARTHIN BUSINESS
®
More space, natural light, and
walls for displaying student work
will all contribute to better
working conditions to bring out
the best of our teachers’ and
students’ creativity.
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Do you want some permanent sunshine this winter in the U.S.?
Consider buying Charley Harper‘s poster of Monteverde wildlife. It‘s 22" x 36" and will brighten any room. $24 plus $6 for postage and handling. You may order it by emailing [email protected]. All profits go to the school‘s scholarship fund, which helps to support 75% of our students.
and now the room is an open, rectangular space. Another improvement is that the room is now flooded with natural light from the newly installed, transparent roofing material. The previous tin walls have been covered with painted fiberboard and allow the art teachers a place to display students’ work. The covered back porch of the art building also has been converted into a workable art space for ceramics or as an overflow area when more than one class is using the building. The work required clearing out stored materials, pouring concrete to level the floor, removing a partition, and enclosing the space with a knee-high concrete wall and a security door.
What do all of these changes mean to the art program? First of all, more space,
natural light, and walls for displaying student work will all contribute to better working conditions to bring out the best of our teachers’ and students’ creativity. Secondly, the art program will expand to include art as an elective for all students in grades 5-11, while still integrating art into the elementary grades. Furthermore, our ceramics equipment and program will have more work space, and better protection from the elements.
Our current art teachers, Esperanza Mora (preK-4), Carla Willoughby (5-11), and Melodie Taylor (long-term volunteer and leader of our ceramics program) are excited to be working together in this new space to help artistic creativity flourish in our students at the Cloud Forest School.
Transforming the bodega into the art room
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Maileth Solis, 10th Grade:
I am very grateful to have been chosen a Diane Berry Caves Scholar. I have been at the CFS for the last 12 years — it is truly my second home. Sending me to this school has not been easy for my family, but I see the pride in my father’s eyes and I feel that same pride when I tell people where I go to school. My mother abandoned my brother and me when we were infants and my father has raised us by himself. My goal and dream is to go to the U.S. to study. This scholarship will help me so much during my last two years at CFS. In addition to covering my tuition, I will be able to buy a computer which will help me a lot. It will also help take some of the weight off my father’s shoulders. This school has given me the opportunity to be a better student and person. Thank you so much for all of your support.
Andrey Navarro Campos, 11th Grade:
I started at CFS just last year — I didn’t speak English and my academic level was not on par with my fellow students. I have had to work to raise the funds to pay for school on my own because my parents have not been in a position to help me. I work every night after school and on the weekends. At times, it’s been very difficult, not least because my work depends on tourism. During low season, I’ve had to borrow money from my bosses or friends to pay my school fees. I’ve often had to study until 2 or 3 in the morning, completing projects or studying for exams, since I don’t have time after school to do my school work. I’ve worked hard and have been able to achieve good grades in all of my classes, even in English. I am so thankful to have been awarded the Diane Berry Caves Scholarship because it will pay for my last year at school in full, allowing me to focus on my studies and not worry so much about money.
Evelyn Peréz Durán, 11th Grade:
This is my eighth year at CFS. My family and I live on a farm in San Luis that does not belong to us. I wake up every morning at 5:00 and my father and I ride 8 kilometers on horseback to bring our cows’ milk to the Cheese Factory. That’s where I catch the bus to school. My family is poor, and for us, it is a huge sacrifice that I come to school at CFS. For that reason, I work hard to give my best every day so I can succeed. I love our school — you can almost breathe in the tranquility. I will use the Diane Berry Caves Scholarship to pay for my remaining time here at CFS, which will help my family save money so that I can continue on to university. I would like to study to be a veterinarian because I love animals and have a lot of experience working with them — every week end I work with my father on the farm. My parents are the best people in the world and this scholarship will help me stay in school without having to ask them to sacrifice so much. Thank you so much.
Diane Berry Caves Scholarship Winners
on behalf of the Caves family, the CFS is honored to present our first three scholarship award winners for the Diane Berry Caves Memorial Scholarship. This award recognizes CFS high school students who
have demonstrated exemplary achievement across three areas: academic achievement, leadership and care and concern for their community. In sum, these students represent all that the CFS hopes to inspire in its students. Thanks to the generosity of the Caves, each student will receive $1,000 to be used towards tuition and educated related expenses. Read below to hear from each of the scholars.
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Capital GiftsDr. Leslie Burlingame
Shield-Ayres Foundation
plant-a-DonationHazel Alvarez
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
Whitney Spalding
Jennifer Turner
patroCinioPatrocinios contribute all or partial tuition fees for specific students directly to the Cloud Forest School.
Jennette Affleck
Trinity Azul Dixon
Alison Carpenter
Os Cresson
Helen Dauer
Jim Dougherty
Strom Eddy
Sibylle Freiermuth
Christina Gibson
Rebecca Goertzel
Mr. & Mrs. Jon Gould
Rita Hartman
Charlotte Haselden
Lauren Brown Hornor
Anne Kernion
Thomas Kolimago
Marcy Lawton
Bethany Romano
Susanna Stoiber
Sarah Strozinski
Peter Studer
Loren Weighbright
Wetherill Winder
Amy Workman
Daryl Yarmolovich
sCholarshipDr. & Mrs. Scott Bates
Mr. & Mrs. Doug Caves
Lau & Bea Christensen
Ms. Lee Mason & Mr. Peter Hamlin
Mr. Lawrence J. Mitchell III
sCholarship WalkHazel Alvarez
Ms. Sally Bland-Boice
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Caudill
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Courtnage
Mr. & Mrs. Charles N. Cranmer
Katherine Filardo
Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Frankie
Robert Gips & Karen Harris
Ms. Christine Gove Berg
The Rev. Carol Hoidra
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis S. Hoy
Ms. Susan Hughes
DoNorSto the
Cloud Forest Schooland the
Cloud Forest School FoundationJuly 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012
The Cloud Forest School community is the fortunate beneficiary of support from friends around the globe. Donors this year supported the annual operating budget, providing funds for
classroom supplies and environmental education.other donors gave their time, energy and talent to assist teachers and students, build and repair
trails, organize after-school activities, raise scholarship funds, weed the organic flower beds and vegetable garden, donate travel miles… the list is endless.
All of these gifts are essential to the life and health of the school. Your contributions are interwoven into the school community. All that you offer is invaluable as we seek to sustain and enhance the work that we do with the environmental stewards of tomorrow. We are grateful beyond measure.
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Ms. Jean Kuntz
Ms. Jean D. LaManna
Mr. Marshall Levine
Mrs. Sarah Little
Ms. Gail Lovejoy
Ms. Elizabeth M. Lowell
Rachel Mason
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mathewson
Dr. Stephen Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Nash
Patricia S. O'Carroll & William T. Degnan
Dr. & Mrs. William Priestley
Melissa Richeson-O'Neil
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Rymph
Ms. Janice Schulman
Bob Shibley & Lynda Schneekloth
Ms. Janet K. Smith
Mr. Peter Uglesich
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Watters
Lydia Wheaton
sChool suppliesDoug Cameron
Doug Caves
Mark Hatch
Mark Lauria
Elizabeth Lowell
Renbrook School
Sardis Secondary School
Stephen Watters
textbooksCatherine Learmonth
General supportJennette Affleck
Ms. C. Nelle Alexander & John S. Miner
Mary Bruce & Tim Alford
Anonymous
Mr. & Mrs. Edward D. Ariail
Dr. & Mrs. Henry Arnold
Mrs. Eleanor Ashby
Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Ayres
Mr. James W. Behnke
Mr. & Mrs. Warren Belser Jr.
Susan L. Berry & Debby Flagg
Mrs. Harriett S. Beury
Sarann Bielavitz
Dr. & Mrs. Allan Birnbaum
Mrs. Susan Bluhm
Dr. Margaret E. Bonds
Barbara Brenton
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Burger
Dr. Leslie Burlingame
Jamie Buss
Mr. & Mrs. Doug Cameron
David Caponera & Mamie L. Wytrwal
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Caudill
Mr. & Mrs. Doug Caves
Jim Christensen
Dr. & Mrs. William E. Clarkson
Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Courtnage
Mr. & Mrs. Charles N. Cranmer
Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Cross
Drs. Mary Sue & Joseph Cushman
Dr. & Mrs. James Davidheiser
Dr. & Mrs. C. Russell de Burlo Jr.
Mrs. Eileen Degen
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel F. Doeppers
Mrs. Melanie Dragan
Mr. & Mrs. Mel Duncan
Dr. & Mrs. Sherwood Ebey
Mr. & Mrs. Reid Edelman
Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Ellis
Roxanne Etmekjian
Frances Evans
Mr. & Mrs. David Fayram
Elizabeth Fayram
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Forrest
Fischer-Bauer-Knirps Foundation
VMware Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Frankie
Ms. Janice B. Fritzmeier
Russian Gift of Life, Inc.
Robert Gips & Karen Harris
Rebecca Goertzel & Anthony A. Mann
Dr. & Mrs. Robin Gottfried
Seth Gottlieb
Mr. & Mrs. Jon Gould
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond E. Grande
D oNorST o T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l A N D T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l F o u N DAT i o N
Support the Cloud Forest School Foundationdonation levels
$1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 other
Name
Address
Phone
tax-deductible donations to the Cloud Forest school Foundation can be made online through the network For Good at www.cloudforestschool.org(Click on the “DonaTE now” button)
alternatively, checks made payable to “Cloud Forest school Foundation” can be mailed to:
Cloud Forest school FoundationP.o. Box 3323sewanee, tn 37375-3223 Pl
ease
det
ach
and
send
with
you
r do
natio
n.
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Mr. & Mrs. Brian Green
Mary K. Green
Mr. & Mrs. Martin R. Haase
Ms. Karen Hadley
Ms. Angela Haggerty
David Haskell & Sarah Vance
Mark Hatch
Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Heniff
The Rev. & Mrs. William H. Hethcock
Jennifer Hill
Tom & Sue Hillhouse
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Howick
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis S. Hoy
John Hudson
Ms. Susan Hughes
The Roy A. Hunt Foundation
Abigail P. Hutchinson
Ms. Ellen R. Jacobson
Mr. Michael Jawetz & Ms. Margreta Purcell
Jessica J. Johnsrud
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Karp
Sandra Kauyedauty
Ann Kellogg
Dr. Kenneth S. Kendler & Dr. Susan A. Miller
Mrs. Maxine King
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Krone
Robin Kropp & Russell Scott
Phyllis Lathrope
Mark W. Lauria
Dr. John E. Leggat Jr.
Ms. Rachel Locke
Matthew W. H. Lohrentz
Mr. Karl P. Long
Ms. Gail Lovejoy
Ann S. Lowell
Ms. Elizabeth M. Lowell
Betsy Maclean & Eric Miles
Mr. & Mrs. James M. Malkowski
Elizabeth McBride
Mary McDowell Friends School
Mercersburg Academy
Eric Miles
Martha Miller & Steve Ricci
Dr. Stephen Miller
Kathleen Misak
Dr. Eric Naylor
Charles & Rachael Neill
Mr. & Mrs. R. P. Nelson
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Nennstiel
Mr. & Mrs. Barry O'Connell
Ms. Ann Oliver
Ava Olsen
Ms. Mary O'Neill
J. Tim Parsons & Anne Judson
Dr. W. B. Patterson Jr.
Mrs. Mary Helen Paul
Ms. May Pendergrass
Mr. Phillip L. Petree
Dr. & Mrs. William Priestley
Mrs. Upshur Puckette
Caroline D. Ready
Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton Richards
Ms. Ilse Ross
Maria Rudzinski
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Rymph
Dr. Ruth Sanchez Imizcoz
Sarah Sargent & Ron Mumme
Bill Schuler
Dr. Denise J. Schwahn
Ms. Irma Scudder
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Shannon
Mr. & Mrs. Stanton Shannon
Caroline Shoemaker
David Sobel
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Stearns
Mr. & Mrs. Edward B. Stevens
Gary E. Stout & Paulette J. Marasco
Daniel Sullivan & Karen Dillman
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Tompkins
Ms. Linda Versage
Mr. Mark Wallace
Mr. George Walters
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas M. Watkins III
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Watters
Mr. & Mrs. Norman L. Webb
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Welch
Wetherill Cresson Winder
Daniel E. Wisniewski & Frances L. Degraff
Ms. Jane Wolff
Carol Ziesemer
Thelma Zuroff
D oNorST o T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l A N D T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l F o u N DAT i o N
Volunteers anD interns
at the Cloud Forest School
2011-2012
inDiViDual VolunteersAdela Daniel
Meredith Earls
Schuyler (sky) Tise
Volunteer Groups
Catlin Gable School, Portland, OR
GeoExpeditions, Miami University of Oxford, OH
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Renbrook, West Hartford, CT
Sardis Secondary School, Chilliwack, BC, Canada
Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN
United Friends School, Quakertown, PA
University for Peace, San José, Costa Rica
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
University of North Carolina – Wilmington, Wilmington, NC
University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI
Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA
internsEthan Burns
Taryn Colonese
Jessica Hughes
Katie Harris
Rachael Ksenyak
Sam Peterson
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hiking up the steep incline that leads into the CFS compound on our first morning is always an exciting way
to open our visit each summer. The hill represents the final obstacle in our expedi-tion build up; fund raising, soliciting, purchasing, packing, carrying, and ultimately delivering important school supplies together with a few days of our energetic labor to spruce up the campus. Getting to Monteverde generally involves two days for us: a flight day (USA-San José), then a bus day (San José-Monteverde). That gives us 48 hours to build excitement and energy before our actual entrance to the campus.
Our old friends are there to meet us: Milton — his high energy morning greet-ings; Eduardo — his practical jokes and telephone tape measure; Gabriel — his endless patience to help us with our Spanish; Cristina — answering every question and
renbrook returns — it’s Now an Annual AdventureBy John Herd, Head of Renbrook Science Department
little chore with her endless smile. And our new friends are there as well: Laura — with her feet firmly on the ground now and in charge of coordinating her team; and Kathia — her familiarity with the CFS as a parent has allowed her to step into her new role as intern coordinator so seamlessly. Her grasp and knowledge of all the local details, small and large, that make our stays such a success is phenomenal.
Once on campus, we catch our breaths, and take in the magnificent view of the bay that is now such an ingrained memory. This was Renbrook School’s fourth summer visit to the CFS, and the views never get less spectacular. After catching up on all of the latest news since we were last here it’s time to get to work. We split up among team leaders to begin painting, cleaning, demolishing, organizing and constructing. Each summer is a different mix of jobs, and our kids love trying their hands at all the new skills asked of them. In this way, they learn much about concrete mixing, planting
Renbrook students hard at work painting a classroom
of native shrubs, cutting in trim and windows for painting, and good old fashioned sweat equity!
Mid morning, we unpack the school supplies we lugged all the way from Hartford, and display them on the picnic tables. Our fundraising days at Renbrook School raised $1000+ for supplies this year as our Renbrook student group poses in front of
the Upper Kiosk on the CFS campus
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The Cloud Forest School Foundation now has a direct link to Amazon.com. Why? To provide us with much-needed funds. Tuition and donations do not a balanced budget make; and we need further resources.
shop at amazon.com; benefit the school
Here’s what it looks like
By going to www.cloudforestschool.org, you will see the Amazon.com banner. Simply go to Amazon through our website. The Foundation will receive 4% of your total order, at no additional cost to you or to Amazon. It will all go to our students’ financial aid.
community has embraced our team’s mission. A new wrinkle was added this year, where a Renbrook Family, the Degraws, held a birth-day party for their daughter, and suggested invitees bring school supplies that could be added to our packings in lieu of gifts. The result was phenomenal, as we added several additional suitcases of supplies to our already formidable array packed and ready to deliver.
Interspersed with our workdays, were several exciting adventures, all set up by our host, Kathia. This gave us the chance to get out into the Monteverde countryside, up into the rainforest canopy, under an icy waterfall, or into soothing hot springs.
Leaving the CFS each summer is always bittersweet. The time goes so quickly, and feels like we just settled into our work and play routines when it’s time to go home.
Renbrook students with some of their host families
Everything went so smoothly, with pick-ups, transfers, and meeting times all coordinated perfectly and with such friendly families who run the activities. There’s lots to do on campus as well, hiking in the primary forest to the kiosk on the new trail, or climbing high into the canopy inside the strangler fig tree. And who will forget the rousing games of fútbol on the new field matching our skills against the formidable CFS crew!
Our final day at the CFS coincided with the last day of summer camp, and our group joined the Friday sing with two numbers of our own. Then we played with the campers in several activities before enjoying a
delicious farewell luncheon put on by our homestay families. The luncheon is such an integral culmination giving us a celebratory atmosphere, and the forum to truly express what this visit means to both our students and their hosts. Leaving the CFS each summer is always bittersweet. The time goes so quickly, and feels like we just settled into our work and play routines and it’s time to go home. With slightly heavy hearts, we head back down the CFS hill, into Santa Elena for one last cup of coffee or a delicious smoothie before starting our two day trek back to the USA, refreshed for our own following chapters of summer and upcom-ing school years.
With several of us now with 3+ years of returning to this wonderfully welcoming and inclusive community, the bonds are in place for many more productive visits in the years to come. For information straight from the trip leader’s experiences, please feel free to send questions along via email:[email protected]
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Renee Burgos, Kinder (Pre-School) Teacher: Originally from Pennsylvania, Renee moved with her family from Washington, D.C. to Monteverde in July. In the States, she taught English as a Second Language to adults at the community college level, as well as facilitated a type of conflict resolu-tion called Community Confer-encing as an alternative to the juvenile justice system. She is also mother to two fanciful girls, ages 3 and 5. Renée is excited to teach alongside Esperanza as the English teacher in the Kinder classroom. In her free time, she likes to spend time with friends, get lost in a novel or go hiking, among other things.
Yesica Cambronero, Prepa (Kindergarten) & Special Educa-tion Teacher: This is Yesica’s first full school year at CFS, although she taught during the 2012 sum-mer programs. She is finishing up her pre-school education degree, with a concentration in English at the University of Costa Rica. Yesica would like to continue her studies in Psychology and Special Education. She loves teaching, drawing, painting, folkloric danc-ing, cooking, reading, making handicrafts and collecting rocks. She is here for the service of the community!
Karen Cascante Martinez, Environmental Education Coordi-nator: Karen loves teaching chil-dren of all ages and exposing them to new things every day. She has a particular interest in water, because without it, there would be no life on the planet. She has a degree in education, with an emphasis in ecological tourism, from the University of Costa Rica. Before coming to CFS, she worked as a teacher of rural tourism and exploratory workshops at the Santa Elena Professional Technical High School and as a nature guide in the Monteverde zone for the past two years. Karen has a 4 year old son, her greatest treasure. Her new post at CFS brings together her passion for teaching and nature — it’s her dream come true!
Kathia Corrales, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator: Kathia is from Monteverde – she is Costa Rican through and through. She comes to CFS with 19 years of experience working in hotels throughout the Monteverde zone, directly in client relations, sales and merchandising. For two years she worked as a guide throughout all of Costa Rica, and, last year worked at Selvatura. She is the mother of three children; two are current students at CFS, the third graduated from CFS in 2007. Kathia loves the school and
its philosophy. Her goal is to make stronger links between the Santa Elena/Monteverde community and the school. In this way, she hopes to work for national recognition of the school and its model. She loves animals, especially horses and loves to ride them!
Molly Egger, High School English Teacher: Molly first heard about CFS through her brother, who attended school in Sewanee. She came to the school as a volunteer in 2005 as part of an Independent Learning Experience scholarship from St. Louis University. The experience inspired Molly to pursue international teaching. For the past three years she taught English and Social Studies in Guangzhou, China and is overjoyed to have the opportunity to return to Monteverde to continue her teaching career. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Educa-tion from Middle Tennessee State University. In her free time, Molly enjoys reading, sports, playing card and board games, and cooking. She is thrilled about the staff, students, and community that she will be working with here at the CFS!
Jodi Goodman, 1st Grade Teacher: Jodi grew up in a small, country town in North Carolina. She studied Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina
at Charlotte and taught elementary school for four years in Charlotte — two years at Community Charter School and two years at Socrates Academy (a partial Greek Immer-sion school). Her passion for travel, culture, and education has brought her to the Cloud Forest School where she is taken away daily by the beauty and new experiences here. Jodi enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends and loved ones. She feels fortunate for the oppor tunity to be a part of the Cloud Forest School family and is looking forward to all this year will bring!
Theresa Jarvis, Prepa (Kinder-garten) Teacher: Before coming to Monteverde, Theresa taught sixth grade and Kindergarten in her home town of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. She has also taught English as a Second Lan-guage to both adults and children. She holds a BA in Geography, a
New Staff at the Cloud Forest School
Front row (left to right): luis roberto Mendez, danielle Walters, Jodi Goodman, Kathia Corrales, theresa Jarvis, Yesica Cambronero
Back row (left to right): Betsy Maclean, Philip tapley, eric Miles, Matt Piscitelli, Molly eggers, Karen Cascante Martinez, Kris Macdonald
not Pictured: renee Burgos.
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Teaching Certificate and a Certifi-cate in ESL from Simon Fraser University. She is very excited to facilitate discovery learning and environmental education at CFS. In her spare time she likes to hike, read and be in nature. Theresa has come to Monteverde with her husband and two children. She knows this will be a very positive experience for the students, her family and herself.
Kris MacDonald, Elementary School Academic Manager: A native Wisconsinite, Kris studied Psychology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. After completing her studies, Kris joined Teach for America and taught 6th grade reading and language arts. She then joined the KIPP (Knowl-edge is Power Program) network, teaching 5th grade reading and serving as the Grade Level Chair at KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy for three years. She continued to work for the Teach for America Training Institute in Chicago as a School Director for the past two summers. Kris is delighted to support 10 wonderfully talented and driven teachers at CFS, lead professional development, support and develop our literacy program, and explore the rainforest!
Betsy MacLean, External Relations Manager: Betsy has spent the past 14 years building afford-able housing and community facil-ities (schools, urban agriculture
projects — even a chicken coop! In Brooklyn!) and facilitating partici-patory community development in New York and Cuba. She holds Master’s degrees in urban planning and international development from Columbia University. Betsy was taken with CFS’s commitment to economic, social and environ-mental justice and is excited to learn from and contribute to this vibrant com munity. She has come to Monteverde with her whole family — all of whom are either working at or attending CFS —and is looking forward to taking advantage of the dramatic change of scenery from their home in New York City.
Eric Miles, High School & Middle School Academic Manager: Eric comes to CFS with more than 15 years of experience as a public high school art teacher and arts administrator in New York City at the Bronx High School for Visual Arts and the Urban Assembly School for Music and Arts. He has also taught environmental science in the wilds of West Virginia. He holds a Master’s of Fine Arts
degree from Pratt Institute and first came to Costa Rica back in 1991 to study sustainable develop-ment and biodiversity. He is thrilled to be part of the CFS community, and is looking to throw down on the Frisbee field, bag a resplendent quetzal sighting, and learn some mountainside agriculture tips along side his wife and two young sons.
Matthew Piscitelli, Middle School English Teacher: Matthew grew up in the beautiful city of Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in Education. Afterwards, he traveled the world as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English and spreading peace. He is a swim coach in the States and would love to pass on the safety and knowl-edge of swimming to the students at the CFS. He enjoys playing Fris-bee and hiking new and beautiful trails. He feels that he will bring an extra splash of positivity and enthusiasm to the middle school students. He is confident that this year is going to be awesome.
Luis Roberto Mendez, Maintenance and Cleaning Staff: Luis Roberto attended Kinder garten at CFS and has wanted to return ever since. He was born and raised in the Monteverde zone and has worked as a cabinet-maker for the past eight years. He loves the school and its surroundings and is thrilled to be back.
Philip Tapley, High School Science Teacher: Philip comes to us from Athens, GA, where he studied Secondary Science Education at the University of Georgia. He is cur-rently putting the finishing touches on a Masters of Arts in Teaching through independent study courses with UGA. Philip became familiar with the CFS after discovering the website while researching private schools in Costa Rica. The descrip-tion of the principles and mission of the school immediately interested him, and he quickly applied. After a visit to the CFS campus and an interview in March, Philip was the new science teacher and found himself happily feeling that his move to Monteverde was meant to be. Philip enjoys exploring the outdoors and sports and physical
activity in general, reading, and just talking about life. He is very excited to take full advantage of the mission of the CFS to educate the whole student.
Danielle Walters, 2nd Grade Teacher: Danielle Walters comes to Monteverde from Kingston, NY (up-state, that is), USA, with her family. Her two sons attend the CFS, and love it, and her husband is a science teacher at The Monteverde Friends School. Over the past 13 years, Danielle has taught young children 3-7 years old, many of whom have Autism Spectrum Dis-order, in a variety of types of class-rooms. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biology and French from Colorado College and her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Washington. She holds teaching credentials from Birth-6th grade. She comes to Monteverde with aspirations of appreciating and learn ing from the astounding envi-ronment, and the amazing people of the Monteverde zone. She is thrilled to be working, playing, and creating meaningful life experiences with the second graders at the CFS.
The Cloud Forest School Foundation is proud to partner with Costa Rica Travel Exchange. The following promotion is open to anyone and will help to support the operation of the Cloud Forest School. We encourage you to visit their website and consider their services when traveling to Costa Rica!
R A I N B O W F a l l 2 0 1 2 www.cloudforestschool.org 11
Cloud ForeST SChool FoundaTionP.o. Box 3223Sewanee, Tn 37375
Change ServiCe requeSTed
nonProFiTuS PoSTage
PaidSewanee TnPermiT no 63
in an effort to save paper we would like to provide you with the option to receive a PdF copy of the Rainbow by e-mail. if you would like to be added to the distribution list, please e-mail or call Mary Bruce alford at [email protected], 601-665-4672
Published by:The Cloud Forest School Foundation P.O. Box 3223Sewanee, TN 37375
Phone: 615-457-1670
e-mail: [email protected]
web: www.cloudforestschool.org
editors: Mary Bruce Alford, Elizabeth Lowell, and Mary Priestley
designer: Dan Reiff
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RooTEd In THE BASICS, continued from page 1
even a colorfully refurbished tree house just behind the new soccer turf. Also new this year, all students, kinder through 11th grade, have art, music, physical education and land stewardship classes built into their regular academic programming.
As we grow and expand, the founding principles of the CFS continue to root us in the basics —love for the land, and the people who live in it. Whether a student is with us for six months or twelve years, we seek to share with them a vision for a sustainable future. We’re looking forward to another exciting and transformative year and thank you for all of your support along the way!
12 www.cloudforestschool.org