by Angie Briceño | Jan 5, 2021
We are starting 2021 with a lot of enthusiasm in a hybrid way on our campus. With the green light from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, we begin a year of learning back in the classroom together with online learning.
Parents who wish their children to return to classroom learning must respect and follow all the protocols implemented by the Ministry of Health for the opening of the campuses and those families who stay at home will continue to receive online education in an asynchronous modality with synchronous classes once a month per subject. You will be receiving an e-mail where you must choose the modality of preference in which your children will receive classes during the 2021 school year (January to October).
Our teachers are ready, prepared and excited about the new year and all the learning opportunities that are coming up at Futuro Verde, and we are very excited and grateful to all the families who continue to trust us with their children’s education!
Don’t forget to fill in the enrollment modality form at Futuro Verde!
by Lural Ramirez | Jan 1, 2021
Dear Futuro Verde staff, teachers, board, parents and students,
The final week has come of what, for our family, has been a seven year adventure here on the peninsula and in Costa Rica! It has been over 15 years since we first made the plan to take our lives around the world, to join school communities in far off lands, to learn as much as we could, to give as much as we could, and to do our very best to live deliberate and full lives, replete with diverse experiences and enriching challenges. Finding Futuro Verde was a perfect fit over these seven years and we move on now with very full hearts and an enduring love for this inspiring school community!
When we came here our kids were still so little and we leave now with three teenagers in tow, growing taller each day, and excited for the adventures ahead. As parents, we are grateful that our own children leave with their hearts planted firmly in the rich soil of this beautiful land, with a love for the oceans, rivers, waterfalls and jungle. It has been an enviable childhood for them, by any accounts! As educators, we are grateful to each and every teacher at Futuro Verde who has shaped our children’s lives and has inspired in them an insatiable love for learning and a curiosity about the world. Thank you all for the big and the small moments- for teaching them to read, how to master long division, how to hook a reader into a story…and for the much more important teachings: how to be good people, to be kind and polite, to listen and to care. And, to our school’s loving auxiliary staff we extend our warmest appreciation. You have been like extra moms for our kids- finding their lost items, cheering them on when they try something new, and loving them even when they arrive early each day and hang around until late, waiting, like teacher’s kids do, for mom and dad to finally head home. We are firm believers in the village that is needed to raise all children and we thank you all for being part of our children’s village of caring and loving adults!
As members of the school staff, we send our love and appreciation to the Board of Directors for keeping this amazing school front and center in their lives, breathing air into its lungs and keeping the wind beneath its wings when it has been needed. You are the true, unsung heroes of the school and though many may not perceive just how important the work you do is, as your Head of School these past six years, I can attest to how important you all are- representatives of a broader association of parents, giving of your time and your energy, with no benefit but knowing that what you do truly matters. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you have done, and will do, to support Futuro Verde!
Alejandro and I will miss the parent community dearly! Thank you all for all you have done for us throughout the years, for your kind and friendly nature, your commitment and support and for raising these beautiful and special children that are our Futuro Verde students! Parents are the first teachers and you all are doing a fantastic job- committed to sacrificing so much to ensure your child lives in an amazing place AND has a top-notch education, leaving the doors open for endless future opportunities! We salute you and we reaffirm for you that the most important investment you will ever make, hands down, is the one you make in your child’s education!
But, as a teacher, it is always your students you most remember and miss and we have been fortunate to have made such a meaningful connection with all of our FV students over the years and we will miss you all! Thank you for joining in sport and song with us, for the heartfelt conversations, the laughs and for aguantando nuestras regañadas! We hope the best for each and every one of you- that you may be happy, fulfilled and that you learn as much as you can so that you can go off into life and do important and good things in the world, that you think of others before yourself and that you live purposeful lives.
Our Futuro Verde school community has come so far and the future is bright for this little school, with a big heart and big dreams, here on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula! There is nothing more powerful than joining together, united behind a cause like good education and we hope the community continues to unite and to support one another, bringing this dream of a school for all, united in peace and sustainability and determined to develop the leaders of tomorrow, and that you all hold our school forever in your hearts and in your minds because a good school is a game changer for the entire community and yet it must be prioritized, tended to and loved as we all strive to, as Barack Obama has said, ¨belong to ourselves, while belonging to others, in just the right amount.”
Thank you all for these incredible years and for your support and love! Happy Holidays, take care and be well!
Sincerely,
The Ramírez Family
Lural, Alejandro, Joaquín, Santiago and Quetzal
by Angie Briceño | Nov 30, 2020
Due to the Covid-19 crisis, many job sectors at the global and local level have suffered, some more than others. The educational sector has been no exception.
Since the beginning of this crisis in Costa Rica, schools and colleges have been called to close their doors and venture into the world of online learning to ensure continuity during this time of crisis. The educational sector, as well as others around the country, has been negatively affected since it depends on monthly tuition payments from students. We have seen a particularly severe impact since we live in a tourist area, and the tourism industry has also taken a hit, as well as the education sector.
Our families suffered economic loss, and as a community-oriented school we took on the challenge of offering responsible and professional discounts to the monthly tuition payments for those families that were seriously affected. That way, the students could continue their education during this time of constant change. It has not been an easy road, but we have tried our best as individuals and as an institution to ensure that students do not lose the educational opportunities or the holistic benefits of FV. Thanks to the constant work of the administration and teachers, as well as the support of parents, the board of directors and individual donors we have had along the way, not everything is bad news! We have been able to continue offering education, new programs to support the social-emotional development of the students, as well as encouraging physical movement and sports for the students.
The donations we received helped us to leverage our resources, materials, and facility improvements to implement the recreational center and welcome the students into a new program.
Fortunately, 2019 was a very favorable year in terms of the finances of the institution, which allowed us to weather this crisis and provided economic support for practically all of 2020 for the families that requested it.
2021 will be a different year, full of challenges and the search for financial stability. Our challenge will be to seek new income through donations and sponsorships as well as to find alternative benefits and incentives for our staff and student groups.
Summary of financial information for 2021
- The general assembly has approved a maximum 15% increase in monthly dues for the year 2021, with the commitment of the Board of Directors and administrative staff to work to decrease this increase.
- A financial committee was formed to evaluate new forms of income and improve finances.
- Early registration fee valid until December 1st
- New Family Fee (may be paid in installments during the 2021 school year)
- Monthly tuition payments can be paid in two installments (on the 5th and 17th of each month) upon request.
- If you refer a student you’ll get a 5% discount each month that the new student stays at the institution
- If you make your annuity payment in January you will get a 5% discount on that amount.
by Angie Briceño | Jul 11, 2020
We are very grateful to all the donors and friends and Futuro Verde who have helped us raise $2,806 to date. Thanks to this, we have been able to prepare for the return to school so that the students can return to a safe campus as soon as the government gives the order.
But, we still need your help! We still need to reach our goal of $55,000 to help those families who were heavily impacted by the financial crisis left by the COVID-19 pandemic and which continues to affect the entire tourism sector of Costa Rica. By facilitating the re-entry of students we will be able to continue paying the salaries of our teachers who have been doing such a great job during these challenging times.
Don’t forget to share the link of our chuffed.org campaign with your acquaintances: https://chuffed.org/project/futuro-verde-covid-19-crisis-relief-fund
Together we are stronger!
by Lural Ramirez | Jul 11, 2020
As schools across the world, and within Costa Rica, face the reality of a return to on-campus schooling in some form or another, emotions on the subject can run quite high and opinions, even among researchers and scientific experts, can vary widely.
From our perspective as a school, we continue to research the evolution of the disease as well as follow closely the recommendations from, not only the Costa Rican Health Ministry, but from other researchers and experts around the world.
Today, I would like to share some sample research and thoughts with you in the hope that it helps you have new and varied perspectives on the virus and the concept of school reopening when the virus is still present.
Health and safety
Regarding the concerns of wearing masks and the potential, related health risks of mask wearing, I recommend listening to this journalistic report from National Public Radio on the topic and their analysis of the scientific research behind prolonged risk from wearing masks.
Emotional and Psychological Impact of Quarantine
Does a pandemic cause emotional and psychological stress that is of grave concern in children? The answer is- it depends! Parental emotional regulation and the maintenance of a safe home environment are primary factors that contribute to the level of negative impact on children. The following article provides guidance and additional links related to supporting positive long-term health for your child throughout the distinct stages of the pandemic.
Considerations Regarding Short and Long-Term Response to a Virological Crisis
When there is a circumstance that so strongly impacts our lives and that is, in so many ways, out of our direct control, it is wise to consider the short and long term impacts of the crisis as well as the emotional response it is recommended by experts to take when facing such apparent uncertainty. In this article, renowned Belgian virologist, Peter Piot, reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Commitment as a School
One of the most commonly heard reflections from this time of crisis schooling is a re-commitment by families, and by society as a whole, to the importance of the incredibly challenging and essential work that is done each day by our professional educators and by our schools. We are fortunate in Futuro Verde to have an incredible group of highly-qualified and professional educators who have taken on the challenge of distance and online learning with the same enthusiasm and problem-solving nature that you have come to expect from a FV teacher! The ingredient currently missing from our learning program is, thankfully, not a lack of progression in learning, as is the case in too many schools around the country and the world, but instead a joint presence on campus during learning processes. Being together, though physically separate, is important for children’s mental health, academic progress and intellectual and social-emotional development.
For this reason, as soon as the health conditions permit, we plan to open our campus to students. The Futuro Verde campus reopening will be gradual and measured and will include the following of all health measures required or recommended by the Costa Rican Health Ministry.
We commit to the ongoing education of our students:
Online and through a distance format when that is required, through a blended learning model when on campus learning is allowed, and in a full on campus mode when the pandemic conditions permit.
by Lural Ramirez | May 6, 2020
As schools around the world transitioned to distance learning models in response to the novel Coronavirus pandemic, there have been milestones and moments that have been key, and as reported by the World Economic Forum on April 22, 2020, we have seen unprecedented global cooperation in response to the suffering and social-distancing efforts.
As the virus made its way to Latin America, Futuro Verde was weeks, and in some aspects years, ahead in our preparation for this required shift to online learning. The timeline below details our school’s response to this crisis and our preparedness efforts.
2014, over a period of months
Futuro Verde webmaster Khalida Lockheed spearheaded our application to Google to become a “Google For Education” school. Our application was accepted, giving us free, unlimited access to domain-specific @futuro-verde.org emails, Google For Education Apps like Gmail, Classroom, and the like. This step allowed all Futuro Verde board members, staff and students to have Futuro Verde emails and a controlled and safe shared domain for our IT needs.
How did this help us during the pandemic? All staff and students were already united under a common domain, which facilitated both more complex and collaborative online processes as well as an assurance that email server filters follow our students’ safeguarding protocols and policies.
2015, over a period of months
Futuro Verde webmaster Khalida Lockheed, in her dual role as webmaster and design manager, shifted our www.futuro-verde.org website to a content management system (WordPress), allowing for greater flexibility and collaboration.
How did this help us during the pandemic? Having the ability to quickly and easily link students and families to all of our online learning tools and resources aided in a smooth transition into a full online learning mode.
2016 school year
Secondary teachers began implementing the Google for Education Classroom app with more consistency starting in 2016. Students in upper secondary grades had become accustomed to having a parallel online platform which was initially used to document assignments and projects and to digitally receive student work for projects assigned.
This year as well, some preschool and primary teachers began to experiment with the Seesaw Platform, used then as a supplemental family communication tool.
How did this help us during the pandemic? As we shifted to online learning, Classroom and Seesaw became our main platforms for student online, at-home engagement and work. Our previous experience with both platforms made this new leap to larger use volume much more manageable and smooth.
2017-2019 school years
As Futuro Verde grew, we were able to acquire much needed, full-time support in IT and we began to purchase and systematically use several key databases, tools and programs that support student learning. Specifically, we acquired: Turnitin, a similarity detection tool to help students learn how not to plagiarize their work; EBSCO a database of reliable sources for information across a myriad of subjects and grade levels; Reading A to Z, a platform that provides independent level reading support for our pre-k and primary students; and IXL, a license we purchased for school-wide use to reinforce our students’ math abilities through an online platform personalized to their current needs and abilities and updated continually to meet their needs.
Additionally, from an administrative perspective, we purchased a school Zooom pro account in order to facilitate the confirmation of strategic university, governmental and private partnerships to benefit our students. And, perhaps most importantly, in 2019 we became a PTC member school.
How did this help us during the pandemic? Futuro Verde’s databases, tools and programs have been pillars in our instructional focus during online learning, shifting from the supplemental structures they once were to more integral and central tools for learning during our online program. Zoom Pro has allowed us to continue to effectively coordinate as staff and to maintain that high level of care and personalized attention our teachers and school are known for.
Via the listservs established by the PTC as a part of our membership status, PTC membership has meant that we have been kept at the forefront of the response by reputable international schools around the world. Furthermore, as I mentioned at the start of this article and as the World Economic Forum has confirmed, the unprecedented global cooperation between international and government schools has been invaluable to us at Futuro Verde. Our leadership team and governing body began receiving advice and updates from partner schools in China, then the rest of Asia, then the Middle East, Europe, Africa and now Latin and North America as the virus spread across the globe. The virus came to our continent last and we have benefited greatly from the lessons learned by our partner schools and we have modified resources eagerly shared with us by other schools who are weeks ahead of us in their response in order to best meet the needs of our unique student population. And please know that we have extended that same level of support in return, sharing our own best practice with other schools in the hopes that it might help them better weather this storm we are all in together.
This doesn’t mean we were perfectly prepared for everything though…
In the one day we took for teacher training on March 17th before immediately moving to online learning with students, we hurriedly got up to speed on Google Hangouts, for daily student check-in and accessibility for office hours with teachers throughout the day. We had always had access to this App as a part of our “Google For Education” status, but our first real use of the app coincided with the crisis. Luckily our amazing teachers are dedicated learners themselves and so they dove into this new challenge, and the others that have come, as we continue to innovate our approach and program as the weeks go by.
I sincerely hope this look back in time related to preparedness has helped further contextualize the value of investing in a high quality education for your child. Effective, coordinated efforts require time, in this case years, and they also require vision, commitment and determination. As Head of School, I am deeply appreciative for our fantastic staff who have contributed to our readiness for online learning, to our international school partners for their generosity and time, and, most importantly to our students and their families for their commitment to progressive, high-quality and future minded education on the Nicoya peninsula!
For more information on our specific programming, please visit our website which houses specific information and resources related to our online and distance learning program. And, stay tuned for new response to the crisis yet to come! The latest updates from our partner schools outside of Latin and North America is that most countries and schools are beginning to transition back to on-campus learning, with modifications and precautions new to all. So, if the pattern of this global crisis stays true, a whole new challenge awaits our community soon when Latin and North America also begin to transition back! If you know us well, you know we have been preparing for that for weeks now already…
We are starting 2021 with a lot of enthusiasm in a hybrid way on our campus. With the green light from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, we begin a year of learning back in the classroom together with online learning. 
