Yesterday was our first full day in San Pedro. We visited all three schools where students will be working. Ambergris Caye Elementary is a private school with 53 students in 8 grades. We met Dr. Renee Saarsland in the morning. She is from the US, Minnesota and she is a medical doctor who came to the island with her, now, ex-husband to establish a medical school in Belize. He left and she stayed. Now she is the director/principal of ACES. She told us that her teachers only have to have a high school diploma to teach. This is true for all K-12 schools in Belize. She requires them to earn their associate's degree if they are working at ACES. That program is 120 credits so it is similar to our teacher education program, however, they usually earn their degree in 3 years. Dr. Saarsgard also told us the children usually "graduate" from preschool at age 4 and enter first grade. They expect preschool to take the place of kindergarten. She said they struggle with the children being developmentally ready to learn the material in first grade when they are as young as 4. Some children move to high school, 9th grade, as young as 11.
We also visited San Pedro High School. There are about 400 children in school there-no air conditioning! The children from the local K-8 schools will go to the high school on Monday to take their admission exams.
Finally, we stopped by Isla Bonita Elementary. The elementary principals were in a meeting so we could not meet the principal there. We went back this afternoon and met her, along with the teachers. They have about 80 students in K-8 classes. No air conditioning again and it is very hot! Our students will be teaching first thing Monday morning. One student will have a class of all boys. Everyone is excited.
I visited two preschool programs today. We saw one on the beach having a "field day" as March is fitness month for the children. They were having races. I introduced myself to the head teacher and asked if we could visit. She invited me to come on Monday. Without thinking, I agreed. Later I went to the preschool and let her know I could not come until Wednesday-our students begin their work at the K-12 schools on Monday. Preschool is only from 8:30-11:30. There is one preschool in town with an afternoon session-San Pedro Preschool. I have not found that one. Finally, I stopped by ABC Preschool at 12 noon but they were gone. I will stop there next week and try to set up a visit.
Tomorrow there is a Bar-B-Que at the Lion's Den (like the Lion's Club in the States). It is a fund raiser for the teachers from San Pedro HS to attend a conference in Orlando. We will all go to support the teachers. The tickets are $5 US.
The hardest thing for me is to see all the stray dogs and cats. They are running everywhere. It is hard not to pet them but they immediately start following you if you pay them any attention. Someone told us not to touch the dogs because they get stoned by the local people and can be mean. Most of them have collars and tags from the Human Society that we think might mean they are spayed/neutered and then set free. A lot of them live on the beach.
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