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After over a year of holding classes virtually, Spring holds the promise of re-opening to in-person learning at EEESMA. A target date of May 31st has been set. Teachers and staff received their shots against Covid-19 in early May and are feeling excited and confident to return together. On May 17th, Dia de los Maestros (Teachers Day) gave students and board members the opportunity to celebrate the amazing things EEEMSA teachers have accomplished despite the pandemic. Flowers for the ladies, chocolates for Diego and "Felicidades!" to each and every one of our wonderful teachers!
As a typically energetic and curious six-year-old, Jacobo attends primary school at EEESMA and is learning Mexican sign language for the first time in his young life. Jacobo and his family live in a rural community about an hour bus ride from school. When classes resume, he will rise at 6am with his mother and younger hearing sister to arrive at school at 8am, but he doesn’t mind because his eagerness to learn translates to a love of school. During his first few years, prior to Covid, integration to school was understandably a challenge for Jacobo because of his inability to communicate his needs. Learning sign language has changed that. He is now better able to participate in social activities, even online, and it will be a happy day for Jacobo when he can finally be back at school.
It is with great pride we announce two young deaf women, Fernanda and Juanita, have successfully transitioned from the Vocational Training programs at school to a fulltime employment opportunity! May 11th was Fernanda’s and Juanita’s first day on the job at Fiaga, a retail clothing store which operates its own sewing workshop. Working together as a team, the young women will support each other as they face the challenges of employment in the hearing world, something very new and strange to them. The students continue to learn that deafness does not preclude them from pursuing their dreams and will certainly not hold them back. Please join us in wishing them success!
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Inspiration is Contagious Too!
The challenging health issue we all face has brought an outpouring of inspiring messages in newsletters, emails, social media posts, as well as some wonderful window paintings and displays. The students, teachers and staff at EEESMA hope that this update on the kids' learning journey during the Covid-19 pandemic brings you joy and inspiration.
Despite the fact that school has been physically closed since March, the end of the school term in July brought a virtual celebration of individual student and group accomplishments. Virtual classes held on-line during the past four months have allowed students to advance in each of their respective levels.
EEESMA is excited and proud to announce that Rafael recently graduated from high school joining his fellow alumni Laurita, Azucena and Carla who graduated in 2019.
It is also with great pride that we announce three more students, Angelica, Noelia, and Jesús will begin on-line high school classes in September. This brings to seven the number of students at EEESMA to progress to high school. Felicidades a todos!
We are also pleased to announce that Diego Castro, himself deaf, will return to EEESMA in September to ably lead, translate and mentor this group of three middle school graduates through their high school modules.
Laurita has begun her undergraduate degree with Utel online university and her light shines on. See the microproject to fund Laurita's education https://www.globalgiving.org/microprojects/laurita-rises-to-the-challenge/ Although the intensity and difficulty of assignments make them a challenge, Laurita works diligently and has received high marks on her first exams and papers. She has a whole team of supporters at school on her side including a contracted translator who records on video in Mexican Sign Language the written and spoken course material for Laurita to better comprehend. After receiving her degree, Laurita plans to become a teacher at EEESMA. It doesn't get much better than that!
Although all at school are currently enjoying summer break, EEESMA continues to provide financial support, with all teachers and staff including part time vocational training instructors being paid as usual despite the school's physical closure.
A lot of planning and preparation is currently underway to reopen EEESMA for a new school year. Health and safety are the highest priorities. Secretary of Education for Guanajuato has yet to give the go ahead for schools to open on August 10th, as was previously announced. With the current rising of Covid-19 cases in San Miguel de Allende, it is unlikely that date will be met.
EEESMA, in the absence of lowering Covid numbers, will continue to run virtual classes until there is comfort that in-person classes can be held safely. To better support virtual classes there is a need to purchase additional electronic tablets for the younger students to use at home. Directora Juaniz is working to acquire more engaging and functional on-line educational apps from a regarded company in Mexico City to raise the level of on-line learning. Additional ways to support the students' mental and emotional wellbeing during this time of social isolation are also being researched. In the meantime, Laurita, along with a limited number of the older students, attend school once or twice a week for tutoring and to participate in Vocational Training workshops; all done with the proper physical distancing, hand hygiene, and the use of face coverings.
These kids inspire us all!
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