“Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.” By Henry Ford
Covid-19 Update…!
In Costa Rica, the number of Covid-19 cases continues to spike with a total of 5,836 through July 8th and 25 deaths. As a result the government has made new announcements in regards to the restart of the school year, reopening of borders, and Tourists Visa Extensions.
The Ministry of Education reported that schools will not reopen for class until at least September, which means students will have to continue their school year through virtual modality in hopes that by September the situation with the pandemic allows the gradual reopening of schools. The Copey Learning Center’s decision to remain closed until 2021 appears to be unchanged.
Regarding the reopening of borders, the government may open the international airports around August 1. Foreigners from countries that have “controlled the spread of the coronavirus” will be allowed to enter Costa Rica but which countries are involved will be listed in a later statement. (Source: The Costa Rican Star Newspaper dated July 11, 2020.)
What Is Left for 2020
“Friends” is concerned about the lost classroom time caused by the shut down of the Copey Learning Center. The Center’s Board decided to remain closed for the balance of the schoolyear which normally ends in November. Then, their summer season follows and it will be just short of a year in time before the Copey Learning Center resumes classes in March 2021. 
“Friends” understands this is not a good situation but we are optimistic and forward thinking folks. I am having discussions with some of our “educational friends” regarding some possible options for consideration designed to minimize the impact of a year loss of classroom education in Copey. Any progress we make on this effort will be shared in the upcoming weeks.
Mid-Year in Review
We began 2020 with great expectations. Our annual efforts to raise funds for the AGB Scholarship Fund and the Director’s salary were successfully conducted and
Anne G. Broady Scholarship Fund
AGBSF Goal: $1,500.00 Actual: $1,530.00 Deadline: February 14, 2020 VICTORY!!!
completed. Additionally, our hopes were running high because we knew there were two Copey students preparing to travel to the USA and at least three Emory & Henry College students were ready to their pack bags to travel to Copey. Then Covid-19 stopped these plans.
The Copey Learning Center was open less than a month before Covid-19 closed down their educational services.
“Friends” viewed these closures as an excellent opportunity to make upgrades to the Blog. In early May we began to make significant overhauls to the six year old Blog. Today, the Blog has a completely new appearance and the new format offers more communication flexibility. “Friends” will now be treated to special features almost weekly including a changing home page, changing photos in the Gallery, easy access to the past four Posts, and a pull down feature. More changes are planned and will be phased in as we continue in 2020.
Please look at the photos, special quotes and comments, we add each week to our new Blog. Let me know what you think.
Final Thought..!
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” By Erma Bombeck
As always, thank you for the news and the quotes. I will use the Erma quote with my former and future students. I wasn’t familiar with that one. So happy that we have creative ways to continue educating the students of Copey Learning Center. Keeping the faith!