The Last Step: Graduation |
July, 2024
Dear Liga MAC Family
What’s happening at Liga MAC:
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There are many steps and many people involved in helping our Liga MAC students achieve their educational goals. Representing Liga MAC at ITES university convocation ceremonies on June 6, staff and mentors were the lucky ones to witness the final steps in our students’ education journeys.
The Liga MAC student support program registration process continues with some minor hiccups. The Learning Centre hosted orientation seminars for potential student candidates and their families on June 22.
Small improvements and construction finishing touches continue at the Learning Centre but do not impede meetings, counselling sessions, classes and program activities.
Continuing its tradition of helping students’ families with whatever assistance they require, Liga MAC has developed a strong program of advocacy, medical assistance and a transparent “despensa” (food assistance) program.
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University Graduate Profiles: 7 new graduates | |
The 6 students who received their degrees from ITES university and one from UNABC (Autonomous University of Baja California) Cabo San Lucas campus, have been a part of the Liga MAC family and involved in the educational support program, depending on the individual, for between 5 and 10 years. All recognized that without the support they received, their dream would not have become a reality. UNABC law student, Susana Vazquez Morales, told Liga MAC Executive Director, Elva Haro, that the dedication and responsibility she learned from her time with Liga MAC are things she will employ in her professional and personal life going forward.
Whereas most students’ crowning moments were shared with family, Norma Bracamontes (Profile in August 2022 update) was supported at the convocation ceremonies by her mentor, Tania Suastegui. Norma lost her parents to the violence in her home state of Guerrero and moved as a teen to be with her aunt in Los Cabos. When her familial relationship soured, Liga MAC helped source a mentor and role model for Norma. Tania and Norma’s relationship has blossomed over the years to the point where they consider each other family. Norma graduated from the Gastronomy program at ITES and with Tania’s help has found full time work in the kitchens of Cabo Azul Hotel.
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ITES University offers 9 semester programs, the last semester of which is work experience. Many students’ work experience evolves to full time employment and such is the case with Anahi Casarrubias De La Cruz who is employed thanks to Liga MAC’s help in Querencia’s IT department; Litzy Mendez de Leon who also graduated from the IT program and is working with Global VOIP de Mexico; Ana Julia Herrera Figueroa who graduated from the Gastronomy program and is working again thanks to Liga MAC at Don Sanchez Restaurant. Others have graduated and found work on their own like Heidi Ahimelec Rodriguez Gutierrez who graduated with a degree in architecture and is now working with Grupo Meir in Monte Real; Erick Antonio Meza Muñoz who graduated from the IT program and has found work at the San Jose airport with Grupo R & R; and, accounting graduate Juana Jared Gatica who works at Jazmin Restaurant in San Jose del Cabo.
Law student, Susana Vazquez Morales, who graduates from UNABC in July, is not currently working in her field but has been taking more courses, perfecting her English, working as an independent photographer and making sure her resumé reaches all potential employers.
Although it is the end of their formal relationship with Liga MAC, all Liga MAC educational support program students are considered part of the Liga MAC family and are encouraged to stay in touch. We look forward to hearing more from this crop of 2024 university graduates.
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Self-Esteem and Social Skills Workshop - The extension of the Self-Esteem and Social Skills Workshop deemed necessary to create a better student self image for our current crop of Grade 7 students has unfortunately been put on hold. Facilitator, Consuelo Espinosa experienced a health issue which required surgery. Consuelo is making a full recovery and will resume her duties in the new school year. | |
Agents of Change - Parents and guests have been invited to attend the scheduled conclusion of the Agents of Change program which will take place at the Boys and Girls Club premises on July 13 and include participants’ final project presentations. The program has been operated by the Boys and Girls Club at their facility. | |
Spanish and Mathematic Tutoring - The year long tutoring program has had multiple side benefits (see information on Registration in this Update) including fostering a better attitude towards study and school work. The program will culminate in a special ceremony July 6 with invited guests, parents, staff and students to recognize students’ participation, attitude and progress. | |
English as a Second Language, Pilot Program - The designer and facilitator of the ESL pilot program, Juan Carlos Cotamo, prepared year end student evaluations for presentation at the termination of classes on June 24. He is also preparing a results report and a proposal for the continuation of the year long program which will be presented to the Liga MAC Board for approval. Juan Carlos and selected pilot program students will also be involved in the July 6 special closing ceremonies. | |
Alas “Critical Thinking" - Facilitator Yessica Guillen invited parents of the 13 Grade 10 and 11 Liga MAC students who participated in her program to a special session at which she reported on the topics discussed and the participation levels of the students. Liga MAC Co-ordinator of Program Development, Maguie Martínez observed that a core group of 4 or 5 students participated actively but not all students were brave enough to express their opinions out loud. | |
Student Support Program Registration | |
As noted earlier, the registration process has received a number of setbacks, the most important one being, a 2 month long strike by secondary school teachers (grades 7 - 9). The strike lead to disruption of classes and teachers demonstrations. The result for the students was loss of class time and no semester test results from which to determine year end marks. The result for Liga MAC was a slowdown in the number of and dissemination of student support program applications. The good news for our Liga MAC students was that despite the teachers’ strike, our students were still receiving instruction through the Spanish and Mathematics Tutoring Program which provided a strong basis for test results once classes resumed.
Liga MAC staff worked tirelessly for the two weeks prior to the June 7 deadline for support program application submissions to ensure that as many eligible students as possible received applications. Thankfully, their hard work paid off as 159 applications were received for 80 new positions. Parents and students were invited to attend an orientation at the Learning Centre to outline the requirements and what will be provided by Liga MAC. On June 29 those students who committed to proceeding took an entrance examination. Meanwhile, Liga MAC staff will be renewing 220 contracts in the coming week.
Next month we will report on the outcome of the entrance exam and track the status of our two new student application cases introduced in last month’s update: Grade 8 student Camila Guadalupe and twin Grade 10 students.
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Finishing details continue at the amazing new Learning Centre:
- Sound absorbing drapes have been installed in classrooms to counter the affects of the mostly hard surfaces ie. tile floors, concrete and plaster walls and ceilings.
- Desktop computers are now adorning the desktops in the computer room although installation of wifi service is still in process.
- The Liga MAC kitchen is now complete and plans are being hatched to resume the “Health Through Education” program designed and executed by Dr. Mauricio Mercado and Chef Tadd Chapman.
- The activity space just outside the classrooms has been completed with a new brick floor providing a cleaner surface.
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From its inception, Liga MAC has pledged to help families struggling to access basic needs. Once education was chosen as its main focus, Liga MAC incorporated medical and food assistance into a “wrap around” policy to meet our students’ families needs. In many cases, support already exists for our families and advocacy is all that is required. However, with the cancellation of the universal health care program, Seguro Popular, families receive cash rather than medical care and must source help from pharmacies and other agencies. Liga MAC provides guidance in such cases.
With regard to “Despensa” or food supplements, government regulations to crack down on abuses have added an extra layer of vigilance. When families in need are granted a 1,200 peso food allowance, they must set up an appointment with Liga MAC staff so that the actual purchases are noted and paid for by staff who then receive a factura (official receipt) from the grocery store.
During COVID and Hurricane Odile in 2014, Liga MAC’s already well established assistance program allowed for a seamless delivery of service to our families.
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Ten years of involvement with Liga MAC can represent nearly half a student’s lifetime. It is no wonder that strong bonds exist between our Liga MAC staff, our students and their families. That bond extends to the hundreds of individuals who are involved in the process of helping our educational support students achieve their goals. We hear feedback from our students that consistently mirrors their surprise that so many people from so many disparate walks of life care about them and their future. That is the definition of family: love, caring and support. Thank you Liga MAC Family!
Gratefully,
Maria Lindenberg, President
Liga MAC Board of Directors
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To show your support please | | | | |