by Hileyn | Aug 26, 2019
In our institution ethics, research, and information literacy are very important, which is why teaching and guiding our students to locate reliable, safe and credible sources for academic writing and to make sound decisions both in and outside of school is high on our list of priorities.
EBSCO is the most reliable database in the field of education, a valuable and verified information tool available to students, which will help them find the resources they need to perform their academic tasks and learn about specific topics, making their academic research being more effective and credible.
It takes a transition process for search preferences to point to EBSCO compared to more traditional search engines, which, although they may be a faster and simpler option, have the disadvantage of not being reliable sources.
With training in how to search for information within a world full of technology and with the constant use of the EBSCO database, students will develop more qualified search competencies that prepare them for a more advanced academic and professional world, such as university.
EBSCO opens the doors to digitally reliable, reviewed and certified resources from all over the world. The use of this tools allows us to find resources such as: prestigious magazines, complete academic articles, electronic books, videos, maps, images and much more.
Hoping that these technological advances will benefit the student community in their learning and training process, EBSCO is one of the most important academic research tools at Futuro Verde, providing the assurance that what is produced within the institution is of high quality.
Futuro Verde EBSCO packages
We have databases that cover all the specific needs of our institution. At primary level, we have a subscription to more than 1000 ebooks, academic articles in the elementary field, and educational videos, all of which support our curricular goals from first grade to sixth grade, being of great benefit to both teachers and students.
At secondary level, we are subscribed to more than 5,000 prestigious academic journals, have access to the best ebooks with topics related to high school, to support for teachers regarding pedagogy, adolescence and learning methods, to a Premier Academic Source, and to a database specialized in secondary schools with over 8,800 available titles for students to gain information from quality primary sources.
IB students also have access to their own databases, designed with academic excellence in mind and containing information for their professional growth through full texts and thousands of photos, maps, and more.
by Katie Chiaverini | Aug 8, 2019
Scarlet Macaw Release at Wild Sun Rescue Center
Last Friday, July 26th, four Futuro Verde students were invited to be the Masters of Ceremony for the fifth annual Scarlet Macaw Release at Wild Sun Rescue Center. Futuro Verde is excited to be collaborating with ASOPROLAPA and Wild Sun Rescue Center with several different projects so our students participate in hands-on experiences with various environmentally focused entities and learn to take action for a cause they support. It was an emotional event and wonderful to see our students as leaders within our community.
Reflections from our student and teacher participants:
Ashlen in 10th grade: “It was a really great experience to be able to encounter the release of a reintroduced animal who goes out and explores once again in an area. It was also great to have the possibility to speak in front of lots of people to improve my public speaking skills. It was a big responsibility to take part in representing the school in such a sensitive topic.”
For her CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) Project, Ashlen was volunteering at Wild Sun Rescue Center. When asked about the connections she was able to make between these two experiences, Ashlen responded, “because of my CAS project, it was great to come back and experience WIld Sun from another standpoint, seeing it from another point of view, seeing a different side. We were working on bringing more volunteers and educating students for my project and this was helping in the release of reintroduced animals.”
Rafa in 8th grade: “It was really beautiful to see the work that Wild Sun and ASOPROLAPA did together and how all that work was reflected in the release. It was also really amazing to be involved in the event as a presenter.” Rafa’s mother also expressed her pride in her son for being chosen to take part in the event as a Master of Ceremony.
Lian in 5th grade: “I liked when Jeremy (Wild Sun Director) talked with so much emotion about how much effort he and his team put into the project and how much he loves animals. It was very exciting when they opened the gate and all the macaws went out, especially when one went out first and then called to the others to come.”
Atila in 4th grade: “The best part was when I saw the first Macaw. It was so cool because I had never seen one so close. Then, suddenly they were going to freedom. I also liked seeing so many people together at an important event.” When Atila turned to Don Alex, Operations Manager for Los Delfines – ASOPROLAPA base and said “this is the first time I have been involved in such an important event” with very wide eyes as he looked at all taking place around him his teachers got a bit emotional.
Javier, IB Biology Teacher and Sustainability Coordinator: “Activities such as the Macaw Release at Wild Sun Rescue Center are those that make one proud of being part of a community so united in environmental conservation issues and efforts.”
Katie, Curriculum and Special Programs Coordinator: “It was very exciting to see the joint efforts from so many different community groups, including local businesses, non-profit institutions, schools, and community members. The 5th Annual Scarlet Macaw Release is an excellent example of the power of collaboration and the importance of involving youth in community initiatives. I was so proud to see our Futuro Verde students take active roles in this important environmental event.”
by Noelia | Aug 6, 2019
In the past newsletter, Katie Chiaverini highlighted the benefits of summer camps in a detailed article. If you haven ́t read it yet, you can still see it here – it is also worth reading again. This month, several of our students share their personal experiences with summer camps in the past vacation period.
Fiona Jimenez
I went to Oxford Royale Academy for two weeks this year. It took place in Oxford, England. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I took two morning courses on medical biology and genetics and an afternoon course on acting and performance skills. It was very well balanced. We had a lot of freedom, so we could really explore Oxford and have a better understanding of what university life is. I made friends from all over the world. In a group of just 8 of us, we represented 13 countries. It was extremely diverse. I met people from countries I didn’t even know existed. I learned so much about biology and about different people’s cultures. It was truly incredible.
Abayneh Millar
The gist of my summer camp was a bunch of kids doing crazy tricks on skateboards, scooters, roller blades, skis, roller skis, snowboard, and roller board, and having fun while doing them. The biggest take-away from the experience was learning how to do a 180 off a jump on skis. I would definitely recommend this camp to somebody who would like to learn tricks on skateboards, scooters, roller blades, snowboards, or skis. I would recommend it because WoodWard is a positive and supportive environment that doesn’t push you unless you want it to. If you go to WoodWard wanting to learn something they will try their hardest to teach you how. Everyone that I met there where nice people.
Santiago Ramírez
I went to a camp called IDTech and it was AWESOME! The camp happened at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon in the US. In the camp we made and coded our own computers. The name of the computer is Pi-top. On the computer we got to code games on Python. Some of the games were Hangman, Black Jack, the creation of spiral drawings and games on Scratch. My instructor’s code name was Kiwi and she was the coolest! I made good friends, including one from Hawaii. I own the computer now that I put together and coded and I learned how to continue to add more code by myself. It is so much fun! Learning how to code was really, really cool! A lot of people think coding is hacking, but it isn’t. Coding is creating and designing your own programs within a computer. My camp also taught me about hardware of a computer (and now I own that computer!) and that was really special as well! I would recommend this camp because you don’t only code but there is also free time during breaks and during that free time you get to have fun with the coding you are learning. It means you get to socialize, code and have fun- which was the best part of it all!
Wilson Millar
My camp is called Westwind, there’s a lot of fun things you can do like: gu gu ball, elimination (it’s kinda like volleyball) and we go to the beach. The water at Westwind is really cold. I do really recommend this camp to other people because you get to learn new stuff and socialize with other kids. I love this camp. We also sing songs and I go to this camp with my cousins and brother. Love this camp so much.
Joaquín Ramirez
I went for a week to a basketball camp called Cascade Sports Camp in the state of Oregon in the United States. It is a great camp if you love basketball because you play for five days straight. I got four blisters and I twisted my ankle, but it was all worth it. Also the counselors are really good there and the coaches are well qualified for the sport. What I most enjoyed about the camp was the opportunity to learn more about basketball and to practice my skills. We did drills for shooting, dribbling and defense. I would say that my skills in shooting, dribbling and defense all got better throughout the week. I really recommend this camp but you have to be in good shape before you go. The food is great there and you get to go to a really cold river daily.
Dilana Campos
Traveling has always been one of my favorite things and music is one of my passions, so mixing both experiences was incredible. I have always been interested in getting to know new cultures and countries. My twelve days in the United States helped me to see that we are not limited to anything, you just have to work hard for what you want to achieve. I hope that was the first of many experiences to come during which I will have the opportunity to combine music and travels, two activities that provide great pleasure and a touch of adventure. Each piece, each concert, the new people and the many hours of travel made all the effort of going worthwhile.
by Noelia | May 5, 2019
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out” is a phrase by Robert Collier that sums up the work we do at Futuro Verde in general and, more specifically, in the library perfectly.
From the moment the library was founded, firm goals and convictions were established that are reinforced day by day, regardless of the circumstances. We started out with a simple space with a closed bookcase and a collection of no more than 750 books. Today, we have more than 7,000 copies in accessible shelves, as well as two reading, study and teaching areas. Hence, we believe that every minute dedicated to the library has been worthwhile and has paid off.
With the aim of changing the perception that documentation centers have become tedious and lifeless places, the school administration, collaborators and library employees have taken on the task of converting this area into a comfortable and attractive hub, mainly for the students. Attempting, without a doubt, to draw them closer to the most important source of culture, information and knowledge: books. Through school investments, donations and various fundraising activities, we have managed to improve in 4 essential areas:
Increase the bibliographic volume of books in Spanish, English and French.
Bring library spaces to life.
Provide the necessary means for successful investigations.
Instill a love of reading from the smallest levels onwards.
This last point is, undoubtedly, one of the most important and the school decided to support it by hosting our first Annual Book Fair, held the same day as International Book Day on 22, 23 and 24 April.
Since we sold 70% of the books that we had purchased, recovered the money we had invested, and earned a profit in both money and books (since all the books that were not sold will be incorporated into the library), we are extremely proud to announce it was a huge success! Moreover, we feel great satisfaction knowing that many parents and students invested their money in books, which they are enjoying today.
For all of us involved in the preparation of our fair, it was gratifying to see the excitement and emotion on the face of each child, youngster, teacher and parent who came to the stand to admire or buy a book.
I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the people involved and collaborators: Doris Madrigal, Mariel Urban, Jusneyling Marenco, Angie Briceño, Katie Chiaverini, Lural Ramírez, Evelyn Vargas, Joaquín Salas, Hannia Granados, Hellen Molina, Walter Mairena, Alannah Anglin and Khalida Lockheed, without your support and collaboration this wonderful week would not have been possible!
We also wish to thank the sponsors of our bingo:
- Chelo’s Pizza
- Farmacia Montecristo
- Transporzuma
- Repostería Doris Madrigal
- La Selva
- Maureen’s bracelets
- Piscina Torogoz
- Macondo Montezuma
- Santa Teresa Travels
by Axel Alvarado | Mar 29, 2019
This event allows students to express themselves, through music and literature. Our debut was on March 28th, from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, at Futuro Verde Educational Center. Garage bands, dance, poems, and songs crowned the night. 11th grade prepared a soda full of delicious food and snacks. There was a jam session time for those who wanted to improvise and showcase their talent. We are grateful for the support of parents, family, and friends.
The reason behind this CAS project is the lack of artistic expression in this area. We know that some places, offer Open Mic nights, but more are needed. Many people want to showcase their talents, and do not have the opportunity. This is why we felt the need to create a space where students, teachers, and parents get together during an afternoon of entertainment filled with improvisation in both music and literature.
We know that more and more people are going to want to participate, so we decided to organize one every two months. We are counting on the collaboration of parents to announce the event to more people!
by Stuart Millar, IB coordinator | Mar 28, 2019
One way we can tell is that the first mid-trimester report of the year already made its way home. The mid-trimester report is just one way that Futuro Verde communicates your child’s progress with you.
As stated in the Futuro Verde Assessment Policy: Teachers determine midterm report grades and final grades for each trimester and academic year by combining grading done on daily class work and participation, projects, rubric-based evaluations, teacher observations, portfolio development, written exams (when appropriate), among other assessment tools.
After just six or seven weeks of school, the mid-trimester can be a litmus test for your child’s end of trimester report, giving you a heads up and an indication if your child might need support or just encouragement to keep on achieving! Having received the report, if you are at all worried about your child’s progress at school, now would be a great time to get in touch via email or make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher(s). We are always here and keen to work with you to ensure your child can be as successful as possible!
