New School Year…New Challenges!

“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew.”          By Cicely Tyson

English Education Begins Again…!

Today, the Copey Learning Center starts providing on-line education to school students. Exciting…of course as this includes the support of Dream Team II. Another amazing cadre of teachers have assembled to provide the students with a very diverse English education experience. This is a significant shift from the more traditional way the Copey Learning Center has been providing English education. In comparison, pre-Covid-19 days included one or two volunteer teachers on sight working with all grade levels of students for 3 or more months at a time. 

Covid-19 now forces on-line teaching. To accomplish this the Copey Learning Center is utilizing six or more volunteer teachers from very interesting locations outside of Costa Rica. This provides for a wide range of student experiences. Last year, Dream Team I included teachers from several US states and Canada. This group, Dream Team II, represents Canada, the United Kingdom, and again several US states.

In house or on-line English education does not suggest one way is better than the other…at this time. Both approaches have benefits and certainly better than no English education. As long as conditions demand one approach, we will do our very best to make it work for the good.

Over the next few weeks, there will be more information to share about “Dream Team II”. I believe you will again be very impressed.

Where Are They Now…?

Our series continues with students we have supported over the years with the Pathway Project. Dahiana Brenes was part recipient and part chaperone when she traveled to the United States in 2018. She arrived in our country as a very good student with the maturity needed to assist the lead chaperone with the other two younger students on the trip. Dahiana is another example of the potential educational talent found in Copey. And, she represents the Copey students who now dream of new life changing career opportunities.

We quickly saw Dahiana as a young adult showing leadership skills. She assisted the lead chaperone and both chaperones conducted classes for the Young Scholars Program while at Emory & Henry College. It is a special joy to see students with obvious potential. We saw this with Dahiana and time has proven us right.

Dahiana has shared her thoughts with us:

Dahiana Brenes. 

In this moment of my life, I’m feeling really grateful for have participated in the Pathway Project. It has helped me to make decisions that I had never thought before. One of them is living in the city while looking for new opportunities out of my comfort zone. I am still growing professionally and learning new things that will help me reach my goals in life. 

I’m working in something that I never expected related to dental care.  I’m enjoying the process, however, I am still studying my career, Control of Natural Resources. I have just 6 subjects left to finish it. Also, I want to learn another language, Portuguese. So I’m looking for the best option to start as soon as possible. All this process has taught me that you can`t make a specific plan for your life, but you should enjoy every part of it, and never let your goals part from you. 

Another Aunt Katherine Recognition…!

Katherine Johnson, of NASA fame will be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame during an Oct. 2ceremony in Seneca Falls, New York. She will be inducted along with the late author Octavia Butler, Native American artist Joy Harjo, abolitionist Emily Howland, artist Judy Chicago, and ex-First Lady Michelle Obama. The Class of 2021 will also include PepsiCo Chief Executive Indra Nooyi and retired Brigadier General Rebecca Halstead.

This was recently presented in my Post dated February 22, 2021:

“The S.S. Katherine Johnson, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus capsule, launched on Friday bearing some 8,000 pounds of science and research supplies and vehicle hardware. This spaceship is headed to the International Space Station and is due to arrive today (Monday).”

Congrats:  Aunt Katherine!

 

3 thoughts on “New School Year…New Challenges!”

  1. Wonderful news! I am so glad that the Copey Center is back in action! And Katherine Johnson gets recognized again!!!

  2. Once again, congratulations to the great Aunt Katherine, and best wishes to the new Dream Team. You will love those students!

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