by David Brookshire, MPH/ School Counselor & Special Education Case Manager | Jan 20, 2019
With the excitement of beginning a new school year, transitions can also sometimes be challenging. Getting up earlier, going to bed earlier, new teachers, new experiences….while all positive things, can sometimes be a little bit stressful as we adapt. With new experiences and expectations on the horizon, it can be helpful to embrace some routines at home for added structure and peace of mind as we get ready for the new year. With a few basic practices, routines can help the whole family. A routine is simply a sequence of actions followed regularly that helps everyone know who should do what, when, in what order, and how often. The following are some examples of routines that can help everybody adjust to a new schedule.
To prepare for coming back to school, it is beneficial to begin waking up at a regular time each day. This helps our bodies establish a natural rhythm that makes it easier to adjust once the school year begins. By getting in the habit of waking up at a certain time, getting ready for the day, and eating breakfast, etc., we adapt to change with more ease and less stress.
Getting in the habit of what happens after school can also provide ease to the flow of the afternoon. Having a snack, doing some homework, or finishing chores are all examples of ways to establish structure in the afternoon.
By having dinner together as a family, we strengthen family relationships and provide a space for bonding. Also, with a regular bedtime and set of tasks for getting ready for bed, it’s easy to know what to expect and can provide cues for a body and brain that it’s time to begin resting. Practicing this regularly makes it easier to avoid stress and conflict when we begin a new school schedule. Getting enough sleep becomes a priority so we can be our best during the day.
Routines can provide a lot of benefits for children and adults. One of the most relevant benefits of routines is the creation of safety and predictability. An organized schedule provides children with a sense of safety because it is easy to know what to expect. The predictability of routines reduces stress and takes the guesswork out of getting ready because children regularly know what to expect. When children know what is expected and practice it regularly a sense of responsibility is gained that can boost confidence and make it easier for them to take safe, healthy risks as they face daily challenges. A sense of responsibility is an excellent benefit of establishing predictable routines. And finally, by establishing regular routines and making them a habit, we save time and allow space in our schedule for other activities.
When routines are established and practiced regularly we, as parents, feel good about providing our kids with a sense of accomplishment and responsibility. We save time, avoid conflict, and strengthen family bonds. This helps all of us make the transition as we enter the new year.
by Lural Ramirez | Jan 20, 2019
A new year brings both new and updated infrastructure to our campus!
*A note on our much anticipated Sports Court: Unfortunately, we hit a snag on our permits that is being worked out diligently by our Board of Directors. Fortunately, we have external collaborators ready and waiting to help us with a cement truck pour of the court, so when our permits are clear the court will be up in no time!
And now, on to our beautiful new and updated spaces!
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders have updated spaces with improved air flow, walls and repaired floors
Our Futuro Verde main stage is ready for performances to begin, with new and beautiful stage lighting!
Permaculture classes will resume with Adriana from Escuela de la Jungla in our new outdoor classroom and gardening space! Thank you Green Wave, for the sponsorship of this beautiful space!
by Noelia | Jan 19, 2019
At Futuro Verde we are proud to have an excellent international staff, on this occasion we are very happy for the recognition of our language specialist, Debbie Bruylant who has been recognized as the “teacher of the month” by Dual Language Schools. If you want to know more about our appraised teacher see the Dual Language School article in the following link.
https://duallanguageschools.org/teacher-of-the-month/deborah-bruylant/
by Stuart Millar, IB coordinator | Nov 21, 2018
We are looking forward to another first as we celebrate a decade of Futuro Verde, our first year of twelfth grade! Some of the students might not be sure why that is something to celebrate, but one of the best things for the teachers and staff is that we don’t have to say goodbye to the students just yet! They have another year to prepare themselves for university or whatever comes next, and our younger students have another year to benefit from their maturity and learn from the good examples they set.
Twelfth grade means more than just a change for the students who normally would have graduated after their national exams at the end of 11th grade. This progress positively impacts our enrollment, there will be some exciting changes for some our teachers and administrators, and we will be examining how to make the most effective use of our learning spaces.
This is an exciting new chapter in Futuro Verde’s history and we look forward to keeping you informed about the progress of our seniors throughout the year.
by Angie Briceño | Nov 20, 2018
We come to the end of one more school year and we finished very successfully, some go others come but the enthusiasm is preserved.
We are very happy to confirm new families that join Futuro Verde during the next school year 2019. FV has grown a lot in the last 10 years since its foundation, in such a way that families who come to FV from various parts of Costa Rica and the world have decided to change their entire lives so that their children can receive a quality education.
With each passing year we experience important changes in our annual enrollment and you can see these changes in the classes. For the 2019 school year, we are very happy to confirm that we have groups that have reached their limit of 20 students per group.
All this was possible thanks to the enrollment process that has been improving year after year, and for this reason, we want to thank all the families that have collaborated with the flexibility towards these changes to have better results which have helped improve the school.
by David Brookshire, MPH/ School Counselor & Special Education Case Manager | Nov 18, 2018
With a holistic approach to learning and growth, it’s often important to support the emotional needs of children as they go through different ages and stages of life. At Futuro Verde we emphasize character education, social emotional learning, and access to counseling as ways to support the unique needs of every student. This allows every student to acquire emotional intelligence in addition to academic skills. As a result of this approach, students become self-aware individuals able to make responsible decisions, resolve conflicts, and manage their emotions.
Sometimes, as problems arise, children may need additional support as they tackle some of life’s challenges. This is where counseling can be very beneficial. Building a rapport with a neutral counselor, can allow children to open up about what’s troubling them. Through conversation and activities, this can help them identify and express emotions as they broaden their perspective through confiding in a counselor. This is very helpful in reducing stress, increasing self esteem, and building healthy relationships.
There are also ways for parents to support social emotional learning and growth at home. Being a good listener, for example, is an easy way to build this core competency in our children. This helps them become good listeners themselves, especially when it is modeled for them. Modeling is an excellent way to support emotional development because our choices and actions have a huge impact on our children. Be conscious about what values you hold as a family and carefully making choices aligned with those values is an excellent way to reinforce learning. Nurturing self esteem, giving age appropriate choices, and showing appreciation are also excellent ways to develop character at home.
Whether at home, through character education and social emotional learning our with the help of a counselor, it takes a village as we support every child as they learn and develop. Challenges are inevitable but with healthy coping skills, self esteem, and additional support when needed, our students are becoming self-aware, resilient individuals as they continue to learn how to engage with those around them in meaningful ways.
