While most of us slept through summer – or tried to, despite oppressive heat and frequent power outages – a handful of La Manzanillans were busy developing projects that can benefit our community for generations.
New school in Cuixmala
The new Cuixmala School, like an up-scale one-room schoolhouse for students in grades K through 7, opened its classrooms on October 3. The non-profit private school, a joint venture between residents of Careyes and Cuixmala, appointed La Manzanilla’s Dean Klompas as Director.
Justifiably proud of what he, teachers and board members accomplished in just four months to open this school, Dean invited me up to look around. The campus, the classrooms, the learning tools and interactive teaching methods, the warmth and professionalism of the staff and their dedication to providing a new standard of education for area children blew me away.
La Manzanilla public schools do the best they can with the limited resources available. Sadly, children’s schooling can’t be a primary concern for financially strapped Mexican families. For some parents, however, the level of local education simply isn’t good enough. “It sucks!” is a frequently heard description, and a long list of reasons why goes downhill from there.
The Cuixmala School changes all that for students throughout the Costalegre. Its goal is “to create a learning environment where students master core academic subjects” at their own pace. Physical education and fine arts are indispensable, and responsible ethics and values are woven into the curriculum. Plus, they do it in three languages: English, Spanish, and French.
Technologically advanced classrooms, aside from being air conditioned, are spacious, colorful and surrounded by windows with views to the meticulously manicured grounds and the beautiful Cuixmala countryside. Students spend a minimum of six hours a day, five days a week, learning the basic reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic, plus science, the above mentioned languages, geography, world history, music, culinary arts, and more. The four teachers currently on staff are from France, Canada, Colima, and one grew up in Cuixmala.
Holidays, aside from the traditional Christmas and Easter breaks, are limited to five weekends throughout the school’s October to mid-June schedule. These are selected from the variety of cultures represented by the students themselves, who come from all over the world. One of the biggest complaints about our local schools has been that kids spend less time in class than they do on the streets.
Although only 10 students attend the school right now, Dean expects as many as 17 for the winter trimester. Some children of the European and South American families who winter in their Careyes residences already have been enrolled, Dean said. These part-time students are encouraged to bring their school books from home with them, so they can remain competitive within their individual curricula when they return.
Dean points out that Cuixmala is not an “exclusive school for poor little rich kids.” Annual tuition of thirty-thousand pesos for kindergarden and fifty-thousand pesos for elementary grades is within the reach of many families in this area. In fact, most of the current students are children of Careyes and Cuixmala area employees. Through donations, the school hopes to offer several scholarships.
The school is located on the grounds of the 25,000-acre Cuixmala eco-resort, about 20 miles north of La Manzanilla. More information is available at www.cuismalaschool.com.
New park started
What began as a dream three years ago for several La Manzanilla Mexican movers and shakers is finally taking off. The ejido has donated an approximately 6,000 square meter parcel of land just on the other side of the arroyo, near the soccer field, and the committee to oversee its development is anxious to get started. A scale model of the park is on display in the ejido office.
When completed, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy a picnic and children’s play area, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, another soccer field, an exercise course, and a planned indoor gymnasium. Trees, native plants, and benches will be located throughout, with shower and lavatory facilities on site.
“As soon as the engineers finish measuring the land and the ejido cedes it to the Parque Recreativo Deportivo de La Manzanilla Comite, the basketball court probably will be finished first,” says Juani Navarro Tamayo of Juani Rentals, committee president. Other members include Maria Aurora (Nena) Norvaez, Treasurer, Maestro Tomas Espinoza, Secretary, Lyn Loza, Garbriella Martinez, Ismael R. Garcia, Maria Guadalupe Chavez, and Dean Klompas.
The committee is relying on private and corporate donations from residents and local businesses to continue building their dream. A fund-raising dance was held at the Casino on September 16, and more fund raisers are planned.
Hurricane Jova
As I write this, category 3 Hurricane Jova is bearing down on the Costalegre, predicted to hit land in the vicinity of Barra de Navidad/Melaque on Tuesday, October 11. Unlike two previous hurricanes that had us in their sights and dissipated at the last minute this summer, Jova seems determined to wreak havoc on our beautiful coastline with 120 mph winds and 5 to 10 inches of rain.
Authorities are taking this one seriously. Hurricane warnings have been posted, and our coastal severe-weather warning system has made several announcements alerting us to get ready. Proteccion Civil has set up shelters along the coast, and soldiers have been deployed to the area for assistance as needed. Strong storm surf has prompted fishermen to move their boats from the beach to higher, dryer ground. By the time you read this, it could be all over but the clean up.