This has been an eventful year at Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES). Last September we opened the first Sepcial Needs Classroom on the island of Ambergris Caye in San Pedro Belize. What a huge step forward in this small island community. We have sponsored events which helped to raise the awareness of the community in regard to the population of children with Special Needs on our island. More importantly, we have provided a much needed service.
Sarah Freudenberg our Special Needs teacher has made a major impact in our community. Additionally, she has researched the demographics and found at least a dozen more children who would benefit by coming to school at ACES. Unfortunately, often parents cannot afford to pay tuition or they do not have the necessary transportation to get their child with a disability to the school. The stories are heart-wrenching and knowing there are children not able to go to school makes our efforts even more important.
Over the course of the last year, with the help of a volunteer group from the US we were able to build a wheelchair ramp which will make going to school possible for any child confined to a wheelchair. We have also, improved our special needs classroom so the bathroom is wheelchair accessable. Kitchen facilities have been installed so the children who come to ACES will be able to learn the necessary life skills to improve their quality of life and encourage their independence.
The new school year looks like it will be filled with new challenges and new faces. This small class of three last year has now grown. The classrom will accomodate three children full-time while three more students will be mainstreamed in standard classrooms. The three students mainstreamed will receive help and mentoring from Ms. Sarah Freudenberg after classes to ensure they are getting the necessary attention to achieve the goals set for them in the standard classroom.
Our goal for this year is to be able to offer a scholarship to a student in need, this is where you can help. Not everyone can be on site and be in the field hands on, however helping to defray the costs of sending a child with special needs to school is as easy as making a donation. Global Giving provides this platform to accomodate your giving. Please consider this option...it truly is better to give than receive. The joy of helping children in need is heartfelt and very much appreciated.
So, we are off to a fresh start of a new year...wish us well!
On April 26, 2015, Ambergris Caye Elementary School, (ACES), took a giant step forward in raising the awareness of our Special Needs Program on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize. Not only for our school and our program but raising the awareness for individuals in our community and the need for more resouces for these members of our society. On April 26th we held our first annual 5K Walk/Run for Awareness. The event was a huge success with more than 200 runners/walkers together with the partiicpation and support of many business and organizations in the community.
The electricity and excitement that flowed through this small town on that morning was contagious! For those who weren't already involved and aware they were made aware by the buzz going around town. To see 200 runner/walkers flood the streets of San Pedro was awe inspiring. We had certainly reached our goal of raising awareness for our program and were able to raise approximately $1000.00 BZD toward our Special Needs Program at ACES.
This event was the brainchild of our new Special Needs teacher Sarah Freudenberg. Sarah joined us in September and has a Master's Degree in Special Education. We are so thankful to have her, we appreciate her efforts and all she has brought to our students! She has been a true blessing to our school.
Looking toward the future we would like to expand our program with more students and a bigger classroom. We look forward to enhancing our program with more resources and tools, this can only happen through continued support from people like you. Please give, children are our future....let's make it the best possible future it can be.
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