Initial Campus Proposal

Saturday, February 4^th, Froylan Alvarado with Alvarado and Associates (Architecture Firm) presented the initial LTA campus plan.  This rendering includes Pre-K through Standard VI (US Eighth Grade).  With this being the first proposal, we are seeking individuals to review and give suggestions for improvement prior to meeting with Froylan this next week.  If you have any thoughts or suggestions please email: 

LTA.MAILUS@GMAIL.COM

Building for the Future

Preparations for the construction of the Living Tree Academy campus continued to surge ahead. Currently, several members of the LTA Board of Directors are in Belize to update plans for the first building, accommodate building site preparations, and further improve the road to the property.

The first building will provide several vital and central functions for the campus, and design plans are being modified to best accommodate those purposes. Considering the cost of building materials, the addition of a second story will be the most cost-effective design. The fact that the foundation as originally planned has already been approved for additional stories makes the new plans even more advantageous. The second story of the building will be designed to house educators and other workers of LTA.

In order to accommodate construction materials for the larger building, the building site needs to be expanded to cover more square footage. Plans are already in place for these preparations to the site, and workers will execute these changes within the next 30 days.

Before construction materials can be brought onto the building site, the road to the property needs to be further developed, as well. Being on an island with limited resources, the work on this road has so far progressed to the point of allowing only travel by golf cart. Now the road will be widened and improved to support the trucks and heavy equipment needed to bring in materials and begin construction.

We will continue to update you as the work progresses on the construction of the Living Tree Academy campus. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Together we are building for the future.

Site for building materials when construction begins

Corner of building site - stakes represent where the building will be located (2 shown)

 

 

Adding fill to the building site from the LTA trailer (rebuilt and donated parts)

Headed down our road from the property (worker has LTA shirt on)

Interviewing Schools - Belizean Grades

We have interviewed two schools in the past couple of school days to learn from their experiences and to know more about the island education.  These schools are called Primary Schools (elementary and middle).  Below is a breakdown of grades in Belize compared to the US:

Infant I             =          Grade 1

Infant II            =          Grade 2

Standard I        =          Grade 3

Standard II       =          Grade 4

Standard III      =          Grade 5

Standard IV     =          Grade 6

Standard V       =          Grade 7

Standard VI     =          Grade 8

Most of the classes have a 25/1 (or higher) student to teacher ratio.  One school interviewed had 320 students in 10 classrooms.  The other school had more students with 17 classrooms. 

Most schools on the island are government funded schools and several have church affiliations.  Only one is considered a private school at this time. Both schools we visited are government funded which means the teachers salaries are paid by the government. The teachers generally come from the mainland; one of the schools had concern about the high turnover rate of teachers at their own school due to expenses. 

LTA has been informally invited to the Principals’ Meeting on the Island next week to get to know the some of the principals.  

LTA Sign Complete

Amazing local artist helps LTA with our sign.  We are very thankful to have found him and appreciate his work.  Keep looking down the road....

Primary RC School

Yesterday we had a meeting with Ms. Monica from the RC Primary School in San Pedro to begin our statistic research.  She allowed us to take pictures of her classroom as she explained the grade system within the country of Belize (which we are still trying master the US equivalent).  She teaches one of four Standard I classes.  This grade has an average of 29 students.  

The Primary School ends June 24 and reassumes classes in August.  The teachers have a month workshop in preparation for the following year (2 weeks in San Pedro and 2 weeks in Belize City).

Caye Caulker High School

LTA representatives met with Ocean Academy’s Principal in Caye Caulker on Thursday, April 28^th.  Caye Caulker High School has been running for a few years now.  As a local from Caye Caulker, the principal shared her heart with us on many points in regards to starting and maintaining a school on the cayes.  Cultural sensitivity was a point of concern.  

This was the first visit to Caye Cauker for all of the LTA representatives; therefore many pictures were taken from the time we docked to the arrival of our meeting place.  The meeting was held at the Town Council’s office in Caye Caulker.  

Land Documentation and Caye Cauker HS

Yesterday LTA met with Alberto who has been assisting with the title deed for the three acres.  After months of waiting from the States, we finally stopped by his office where he had paperwork to give us.  We now have the receipts in hand of the payments made for the taxes on the property.  This is proof that the purchase was completed; however, we are still waiting on one more document.  The final document (caution form) will have a stamp from Belmopan (capital) that shows we are entitled to utilize the land as ours until payments are completed. 

Inquiring with Alberto about his home, he shared that he resides in Caye Cauker.  Interesting enough, he is also on the Board of Directors for a new high school in Caye Cauker.  He provided great insight on schools in general, the high school there and the island.  Their school began with one grade and each year thereafter added an additional grade.  He will coordinate a trip for us to visit the school next week. 

San Pedro High - One of 29 Countrywide

Belize has 29 high schools countrywide. Currently San Pedro High is the only high school on the island of Ambergris Caye.  

San Pedro High is open to local San Pedranos as well as Belizean students from all over the country whose parents come to San Pedro to work mostly on tourism or construction.

Founded in 1971, San Pedro High began the provision for educational opportunities to the local community. Before San Pedro High was established, only 2 students from the island attended high school on the mainland.  San Pedro High was started with 30 students of which 9 students graduated in the first graduating class. Current enrollment is about 200 with an average graduating class of 30.

The school year begins late August and runs for 36 weeks. Students attend 40 minute classes with 8 periods each day, 5 times a week. Extra curricular activities are available such as band, music, choir, yearbook, newspaper, drama, and environmental club.

San Pedro High mostly focuses on training students to work in business. Students who wish to specialize in other areas, move on to a tertiary level of education (known in Belize as sixth form or junior college). During the evening hours, San Pedro High offers adults computer and beginning Spanish classes.

As a private Anglican based school that is partly government funded, San Pedro High has continued to operate for many years within the community of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.