August 2019 Palapa Society News
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Check out the extraordinary learning opportunities underway at The Palapa School, and extraordinary generosity from members of our community that help keep it all going.
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Announcing The Palapa High School
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The Palapa Society is passionate and committed to the future of our community. We are proud to announce that The Palapa School is not only providing quality education for local children in middle school (Secundaria, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade level), but that our inaugural year of high school (Prepa, 10th grade level) will begin later this month.
This first class of 22 students will have access to a progressive curriculum, a 21
st
century approach to learning to ensure they are prepared not only for University, but for their lifetime. This includes interactive, participatory, and peer-to-peer learning guided by motivated teachers, access to tools and materials for engaging learning, and opportunities for growth both on and off campus.
We look forward to sharing their journey with you in future issues of this newsletter and on our
Facebook
page. Let’s wish them much success in this upcoming school year!
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Blockbuster Summertime Fundraiser
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To Dave and Cindy Higgins, the Founders of The Palapa Learning Center, the concept of The Palapa School is simple: Provide a high-quality education to local kids. Every asset poured into the school is in pursuit of that goal. The Palapa Society is the organization through which the school, unique in all of Baja California Sur, came into being. The acquisition of land and the construction of The Palapa Learning Center buildings have been covered by their generosity. That’s the good news. But, without continued support, they are just buildings. A high-quality education requires the best teachers, small classes, a challenging curriculum, the latest textbooks, computers, science equipment, plus strong administrators, and all of the tools necessary to properly educate local kids. That's what donations will pay for, and that's how the school will succeed.
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Susan Smith was one of the first to donate to our Summertime Fund Raiser Drive to support the new high school. She told us, “I made the donation in my grandfather's name. He was born in Mexico and his family immigrated to Laredo Texas when he was a baby. He didn't have much formal education but when they started their family, he believed education was one of the greatest gifts he could provide to improve their lives. They moved away from large families in South Texas to Dallas for the education system. He read the encyclopedia to continue his education. One of my greatest supporters and my hero.”
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The
Cabo San Lucas Country Club
also surprised us with a donation for our cause by raising a total of $12,000MXN from a special golf outing. Thank you to Terrance Powell, Oscar Rosales and all of the club members and participants who donated their winnings.
Thank you to all of members of our community who have made this a record-breaking Fund Raiser for The Palapa Society. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the response, especially at this time of year. Plus, we have a chance to double our total, with the promise of a matching donation up to $50k USD by August 31
st
from an Anonymous Donor. Please scroll to the end of this newsletter to read our special Thank You.
Help us double our goal! If you’d like to be a part of the Summertime Fund Raiser Drive momentum, jump in now with your gift of support.
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Adult English Program Intercambio
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The Palapa Adult English program has been a part of The Palapa Society for almost 15 years. After the final Adult English class of the season, Program Director Kate Lewis hosts Intercambio, an annual party where the students get a chance to practice their new English skills with Ex-pats who are learning Spanish. Conversation flows freely at this potluck, because everyone feels relaxed speaking their second language with each other. Enrollment for Fall classes will begin on September 24
th
, with classes starting on October 1
st
. Details will be posted at The Palapa Learning Center, El Tecolote Bookstore, and on
our Facebook page
as soon as they are available.
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It can be tough for local children to learn how to swim in the Pacific Ocean. So, for over 10 years, Mario Becerril of Mario Surf School has been donating 3 weeks of his time each Summer to provide swimming lessons to 20 lucky Palapa Puente Bridge to English students. (The number is limited for safety.)
The Summer Swim Program is held in a swimming pool donated by a local resident where swimming instructions and basic water safety rules are taught. Then, the class takes a field trip to Punta Lobos to apply their new skills at the beach. Almost every student who started in the pool came to Punta Lobos last week, which is a record.
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Thank you Mario Surf School.
We recognize that all children in our community need to learn how to swim. It is our desire to develop year-round water programs that would include swim instruction, swim team competition, and lifeguard training. In the meantime, we hope that someone is inspired to start their own program as a service to the community.
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The Palapa Society’s Eco Kids Program is an environmental education program that uses interactive, hands-on activities and field trips to teach children how to respect the environment by understanding the benefit to their lives. The Eco Kids Program aims to create environmental stewards for the next generation.
Full time El Pescadero resident Susan Farrar understands that Southern Baja California has many sea creatures that need protection. Susan has created an educational program to teach children about the Olive Ridley sea turtles that come to our local beaches to nest. Her goal is to inspire students to protect sea turtles and other ocean animals throughout their lifetime, and encourage others in the community to do likewise.
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Susan will be sharing her program with The Palapa Learning Center, including books, videos, posters, two informational coloring books, and more, most of which are in Spanish, or in Spanish and English, some of which has been designed and illustrated by Susan herself. To learn more about this program, visit her website
Viva La Tortuga
!
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Mark these important dates on your calendar:
August 28:
First day of The Palapa School’s 2019-20 school year
August 31:
The Palapa Society’s Artists of Todos Santos Calendar available for pre-sale
November 18:
The Palapa Society’s Artist Open Studio Tour Calendar party
November 30:
The 13
th
Annual Palapa Tianguis. Now accepting donations at Nancy’s Tesoro Segunda. Email us at
info@palapasociety.org
for more information.
December 28:
The Palapa Society’s 5k Carrera
February 7, 8 & 9, 2020:
11th Annual Todos Santos Open Studio Tour
March 8, 2020:
Historic Home Tour
March 21, 2020:
Saturday Night Fever - Fundraiser for the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska
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Thank you to those who donated their special skills to help educate the children in our community:
Mario Becerril, founder and owner of Mario Surf School
Susan Ferrar of Viva La Tortuga
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It’s taken a village to raise funds needed to meet SEP-certification requirements for the new high school. Thank You to those who came through for us so far during our
Summertime Fund Raiser Drive:
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Andy & Connie Mical
Anonymous
Anonymous Gift Matcher
Anton Pardini
Barbara Fleming
Bill & Cathy Nation
Bill & Chris Durborow
Bill & Denise Steffenhagen
Bill and Cathy Nation
Bonnie & AJ Johnston
Brian Moonie
Cabo San Lucas Country Club
Cheryl Myers
Christie Hurta
Claudia Kopkowski
David & Cindy Higgins
Dennis & Nancy Naigle
Dudley Welsh
Eleanor Andrews
Gail & Scott Bosch
Glenn & Arlene Eige
Go Smart S de RL de CV
Gustavo Pelosi Ambrozio
Hal & Vickie Butler
Hope Gallop
James Ambrose
Jann Reed
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Jene Buckner
Jill Mollenhauer
John & April Ritchie
John Moreno
John Stuhl
Julie & Michael Dandurand
Karen Haley
Kathy Warnert
Linda Rasmussen
Marilyn Jacques
Marlene LeClaire
Marsh Laird
Oscar Rosales
Pauline Wright
Pete Dunn
Rand Foreman-Bergman
Sandra Sutphen
Sharon McAlexander
Susan Muenchow
Susan Smith
Suzanne Arnold
Sydney & Greg Schweitzer
Terrance Powell
Tony & Lee Irons
Virginia Gollery
Walt & Donna Schultz
William Small
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Talk to Us about Legacy Giving
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Writing your will? Planned Legacy Giving is the best way to ensure your impact on the causes you care most about for years to come. Our 501(c)(3) partner The International Community Foundation (ICF) can provide guidance to help you set up your endowment or legacy gift to The Palapa Society, whether you’d like to donate stock, real estate, or another type of contribution. Through Legacy Giving, you can reduce the tax burden on your family, receive estate tax savings, and make a real difference in the lives of others here in our community. For details, email us at
i
nfo@PalapaSociety.org
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Make A Difference in
a Young Life Today!
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Would you like to help our local youth and become a Palapa Society supporter? Click below to make your donation today.
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