Reports from Instituto Nueva Escuela

Feb 2, 2021

10 Highlights of INE's 2020

By Amarilys Lozada - Fundraiser

In lights of this hopeful new year, we are sharing with you 10 highlights of how, with your help, INE served the Public Montessori Community in one of the most challenging years yet.

37 Public Montessori Schools were visited and allowed us to identify needs to ensure a successful implementation of the Montessori methodology in the communities.
5 of our schools were benefited from an alliance that established an entrepreneurship program called SEEDS.
5 conferences were coordinated for our students with astronomers and farmers.
100 people from this school communities participated in astronomy nights.
37 teachers were certified as Montessori guides by INE and the American Montessori Society.
136 principals, teachers and assistants started or continued their training in Montessori education.
338 follow-up visits to teachers were made by our academic staff.
1,079 members from this communities participated in alternative and recreational therapies through our "Casa Familiar" program.
11,270 "Cajitas Viajeras" with Montessori materials were delivered for the students to use at home.
97% of our families said they would recommend their Montessori Public School when surveyed.

Thank you for your role in the transformation of the public schools in Puerto Rico.

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Oct 22, 2020

Thank you!

By Amarilys Lozada - Grant Writer VISTA

The "Cajitas Viajeras" project was born to protect the right to an education that contributes to academic and social development, even in times of a global pandemic. This initiative also supports the guides (Montessori teachers) in their task of serving their students that now are working from their homes.

Most of the content of this "Cajitas Viajeras" was prepared by our amazing Montessori assistants and consists of homemade "Montessori materials" adapted for the students to use at home. These kits also included books, pencils, paper and other school supplies depending on the student level. Through these educational tools, students were able to work with literature, geography, geometry, psychomotor skills, movement, practical life, music; and as a priority, language and mathematics.

Thanks to your donations through GlobalGiving, alliances made with local entrepreneurs and many other allies we have reached the fundraising goal for this initiative and, until September, Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE) has delivered more than 2,000 "Cajitas Viajeras" and continues to do so.

In the name of the children and youth in the public Montessori schools, we thank you and encourage you to continue supporting all the work that INE is still doing for our communities.

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Oct 5, 2020

Montessori thrives in challenging times

By Amarilys Lozada - Grant Writer VISTA

Instituto Nueva Escuela's (INE) mission is to accompany, train and servecommunities in Puerto Rico through public Montessori education to develop prepared human beings that contribute to the common good.

We train public school staff in Montessori curriculum, work hand in hand with the communities and provide them resources and strategies to empower them and to help them thrive.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you INE has faced the challenges of the pandemic and continued to be there for the Montessori public school community in order to give continuity to the high quality education all its students deserve. The collaborative work with the communities have strengthened successful initiatives, such as:

Montessori at Home: This project that was born out of the Covid-19 emergency keeps growing stronger and now includes educational guides to help the teachers, assistants and even families in the important task of working with children and youth in their home environment. These guides are available online for all the levels from Infants to High School.
Cajitas Viajeras: Thanks to many donors and alliances, our amazing assistants could make "Montessori materials" adapted for the students to use at home. These materials, mostly made out of laminated cardstock, replicate the ones available in the classrooms and support academic areas like geography, geometry, psychomotor skills, movement, practical life, music, language and mathematics. The packages also includesd books, pencils and other instruments depending on the student level.
Virtual Montessori Courses: For the first time in INE's history Montessori courses were taught online. An evaluation made by the participants show that 94% were satisfied with the work of the facilitators and resources, highlighting as positive aspects their punctuality, commitment, fulfillment of the agenda and the offer of rich material while 99% evaluated the virtual courses as a good experience.
"Casa Familiar" Online: Through the Casa Familiar strategy INE has been serving families who have been impacted by any circumstances that affect their wellbeing. During the pandemic professionals from Casa Familiar have been offering music therapy, recreational activities, yoga, telepsychology among other services using the technology. This summer the project was selected by the Director of the External Resources Division, Mrs. Mariela Cabán from the PR Department of Justice as one of the most successful projects.

Now more than ever, the continuity of the education of the students in public Montessori schools is a matter of social justice and equity and we are gratetful to have you in our side for this important task.

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