December 5, 2019

December 2019 Palapa Society News

In this issue, check out the featured student spotlight and our official kick off to Season of Giving.

Season of Giving is Here, Now with Matching Gift

Thank you to those who donated to The Palapa Society on #GivingTuesday, kicking off our Season of Giving with a bang! Together we have raised $3,070 USD of our goal to raise $50k by January 20, 2020. If you haven’t donated yet, now is your chance to double your contribution . We are thrilled to announce that Cindy and David Higgins have generously agreed to match every donation dollar for dollar, up to $50k. Please, donate today – it’s easy. It only takes a minute to give, but the effects for our students can last a lifetime.

Please Click Here to Donate Today

Sparking Imaginations

Thanks to a generous donation of re-usable circuit kits from Todos Santos resident Paty Baum, Palapa School students are experimenting with electronics by learning how to build circuits for lights, motors, speakers and more. With over 100 interesting projects in each kit, students have an engaging way to learn how to follow instructions and troubleshoot issues when needed. It is also a precursor to robotics, which may be offered to Leadership Club and Science students next semester.

Appreciating Fine Art

On December 3 rd , well-known Todos Santos artist Nanette Hayles gave a presentation of her art work that she donated to The Palapa School. Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz another incredible Todos Santos artist who also donated a powerful work to the school was not present, but wrote her story to be read to the students. The power of connecting fine art with learning and education was clear through the ties of science, math, language and technique. We were excited to give a personal face to this art work that hangs in the great room of The Palapa School, to bring meaning to images that they see daily, and to provide inspiration to all.

Kicking into Fútbol Season

The Palapa School has an official fútbol (soccer to Americans) team. This new team named "Real Society" is made up of 14 students - 5 girls and 9 boys - who practice two days a week after school, and compete on Saturdays. Watch this newsletter for updates on matches and final scores when the season begins.

Teacher Spotlight, by Palapa School Student Olivia L.

Introducing Palapa School Prepatoria (high school) students, Leadership program journalists who will be contributing to The Palapa Newsletter every month.

Jesus Armando Vasquez García is a very amazing music and chemistry teacher that wants every student to succeed. He attended Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Ciudad Constitución where he studied chemical food engineering. He still practices being a food chemist alongside being a teacher. His biggest achievement has been sharing his knowledge with his students and the community. His goal as a teacher is to help every student find their path to success. I think he is an amazing teacher because we are always doing new things and he is always finding fun ways to teach us. He makes every student feel included.

Promoting Humans Rights and Gender Equity

In October, Palapa School Director Juan Diego Gonzalez and teacher Ana Castillo attended a seminar in Mexico City, with representatives from over 190 countries from around the world. This seminar, created by the United Nations, has a goal to end poverty, fight against inequality and injustice, and address climate change without anyone being left behind by 2030. By attending this course, The Palapa School will become eligible for grants to incorporate the promotion of human rights and gender equity into the curriculum.

Record Breaking Enrollment

Under Director Kate Lewis, the Adult English classes have record enrollment of over 60 students this year. And thanks to the number of quality volunteer teachers, the program is able to offer a conversation class, plus more 1:1 attention, and tutoring outside of class hours. A special vocational class for construction and restaurant workers may also be added soon. Watch for details on this, plus an invitation to the Intercambio party in December, where native English speakers are welcomed to the classroom for light conversation with students.

Did you know?

330 local children have library cards as of November 2019!

Board Member Spotlight: Cindy Higgins

Cindy Higgins, and her husband, David, split their time between Evergreen, Colorado and Todos Santos. They built a home in Todos Santos in 2006 next door to their daughter, Marimar, and their two grandchildren, Santi and Kalea. Over the last 50 years Cindy has raised three daughters, has been an elementary school teacher and has been involved in many volunteer organizations. Access to quality education has always been a priority for her. As she gained an understanding of the schools in Todos Santos she came to the conclusion that the town would benefit from a private Middle and High School alternative. The concept of the school would be to provide a rigorous curriculum with a pathway to a university education. In 2014 she and David submitted a proposal to partner with The Palapa Society to build The Palapa Learning Center. In addition to giving a home to the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska and Puente programs, plus a private middle and high school. Cindy is thrilled that the school opened its doors in 2017 and is very involved in contributing to its success.

Building Community at the Palapa Tianguis

Congratulations to The Palapa Parent Association for a successful 13 th annual Palapa Tianguis. Together, a little over $2,600 was raised to help fund student programs and off-campus learning, such as transportation for field trips to the Science Fair and Math Olympics competitions in La Paz.

Get Your 2020/21 Artists of Todos Santos Calendar Today

Pick up a beautiful 2020-21 Artists of Todos Santos 18 Month Bilingual Calendar for yourself, and a few extra as gifts for your family and friends who visit Todos Santos. It makes a wonderful souvenir, and supports a great cause. Available now in Todos Santos at El Tecolote bookstore, Galeria de Todos Santos, Galeria Jill Logan, Todos Santos Brewing, Hotel Casa Tota, The Hotelito, and in San Jose del Cabo at Pez Gordo.

Palapa Society Events 2019-20 Season

Bestseller Book Bonanza December 7, 2019 10am - 1pm Join Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska Director Donna Shultz and Our team of Volunteer Librarians on Saturday, December 7 th 10am-1pm for the Bestseller Book Bonanza. Be the first to read the latest bestsellers and new titles of 2019 for just $20, then donate the book back to the library. We’ll add a commemorative bookplate acknowledging your donation. All proceeds will go to the New Book Fund so we can continue to provide you with the latest and greatest reads.

Sat, Dec 28, 2019 9:00 AM MST Carrera de Todos Santos 5K Walk/Run Plaza de Publico de Todos Santos Tickets

Start the day by warming up your muscles with a Zumba class in the plaza. Then run, walk, skip or hop through the central area of Todos Santos and nearby neighborhoods. Trophies awarded to the fastest runners; commemorative medals given to the first 300 finishers, special bandanas given to all who register. Fun for the whole family! Sponsored by La Esquina and Cuatro Vientos. Registration is $350MXN for adults and $200MXN for children.

Mark These Important Dates on Your Calendar

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 May 17, 2020: Gastrovino Silent Auction to benefit The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C.

Special Thank You's

Donating Canada Style We received five suitcases full of shoes for the Migrant Farm Workers Children’s shoe drive, clothes for the Tianguis, and school supplies for the Puente program. The donation was planned by and delivered by Sandra Pearson and Sheila Linn. Sandra Pearson leads yoga retreats in Todos Santos and has donated to The Palapa Society in years past. The donation is a culmination of many people collecting and gathering donations throughout the summer and bringing it all down here from Canada. Sheila Linn helped plan and organize the donation. Thank you to Leta Jeanes, Darlene Kirkland, Tracy Sachiv, Tina Fitzgerald, Christine Crane, Ruth McDonald, Ryan Linn, Erin Linn, MaryAnn Waldner, Chelsea Johnson, Diane McNeely, Nancy Moyer, Sheila Linn and Sandra Pearson.

Thank you to Ricardo Madrazo , our go-to graphic designer and Spanish translator throughout the year for all of our Marketing communications including Social Media, Email, Advertising, Posters, and more. Thank you to Jack Schaub for your impactful creative direction and design for the Carrera de Todos Santos graphics and The Palapa Society Annual Report. Thank you to Nancy of Tesoro Segunda for holding a year’s worth of Tianguis donations in your Bodega. Thank you to Tori Sepulveda & Oscar Rosales for donating shipping fees for Palapa Society administrative materials. Thank you to Barbara Perkins for donating a Yamaha electronic piano to The Palapa School.

Thank you to all who have donated shoes to the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska Infantil Shoe Drive for kids in the Pescadero Migrant Farm Workers camp. Thank you to The Palapa School parents and all volunteers who made the Tianguis a success.

Thank you to Our November Donors

Grupo AF Constructors Mary Abbott Kitty Adams Constance Albrecht Liz Ashworth Scott Bailey Lisa Baker Cheryl Benware Marjolean Brugman Hal & Vickie Butler Liane Collins Whitney Cranmer Lynn Dyer Peter & Peggy Eggers Fort Collins Youth Lacrosse Kay Gallagher Jane Gehring Nancy Gobel Virginia Gollery Ann Hazard Kearsley Higgins & Todd Viziri Jeffery Horn IDICOM Bonnie Johnston Matthew Kane Marshall Laird Denes McIntosh Olivia McKeen Michael Mifsud Ted & Liz Mitchell Krista Murray Cheri Myers Dennis & Nancy Naigle Erin Nash Bill & Cathy Nation Joy OB'Brien Ricardo Amigo Realty Roy Rogosin San Benito Farmacia Daniel Scharf Greg Schredder BJ Semmes Tori Sepulveda Rebecca Silva Tienda 17 

Make A Difference in a Young Life Today! Would you like to help our local youth and become a Palapa Society supporter? Click below to make your donation today.  Please Donate Today