A Typical Day at Centro Infantil San Pablo
The children are brought to school daily by a parent or a relative and arrive by 9:00 am. There is always one of the teachers at the front door to greet each child and family member.
We begin each day listening to music (classical, baroque, traditional). This is intended to be welcoming and to help the children focus their attention towards their school activities, and forget whatever may have happened at home (rushing to get ready for school, arguments, or other unpleasant events). It is also our custom to salute the Mexican flag and do a little physical exercise.
From 9:30 to 10:30 the children are in their classrooms. The teachers follow a work plan for each grade level. This involves studying particular themes, such as learning vowels, the names of body parts, words for members of the family, caring
for the environment, organizing a birthday party, Mexican history, as well as many others. These are taught using different techniques, like singing, drawing, or games.
We have developed different learning strategies for each class (3, 4, or 5 year-olds). They are age-appropriate and focused to help the children acquire knowledge that they can put to use at home and in their daily lives.
Like ‘regular’ school, the children have a recess time for 15 to 20 minutes before returning to class.
At 11:00 a nutritious, hot meal is provided by Feed the Hungry. This is another non-profit organization based in San Miguel de Allende, which is dedicated to feeding children from very low-income families. We teach the children proper hygiene by having them wash their hands before eating and brushing their teeth afterwards.
After their meal, the children and teachers work on planned learning activities in their
classrooms or on the patio, weather permitting.
Like ‘regular’ school, the children have a recess time for 15 to 20 minutes before returning to class.
At 11:00 a nutritious, hot meal is provided by Feed the Hungry. This is another non-profit organization based in San Miguel de Allende, which is dedicated to feeding children from very low-income families. We teach the children proper hygiene by having them wash their hands before eating and brushing their teeth afterwards.
After their meal, the children and teachers work on planned learning activities in their
classrooms or on the patio, weather permitting.
Every day the children have a story read to them, with the older children
reading on their own if they wish.
To augment their classroom education, the teachers give the children assignments that they can do with their parents on the way home or at home; for example, identifying the colors of cars, the letters on signs, or the numbers on houses.
At 1:00pm the teachers help prepare the children to leave for the day. No child is
allowed to leave the school unless a parent or other relative known to the principal and teachers comes to get them.
reading on their own if they wish.
To augment their classroom education, the teachers give the children assignments that they can do with their parents on the way home or at home; for example, identifying the colors of cars, the letters on signs, or the numbers on houses.
At 1:00pm the teachers help prepare the children to leave for the day. No child is
allowed to leave the school unless a parent or other relative known to the principal and teachers comes to get them.
And there's more...
In addition to preparing the children for the first grade in the Mexican public school system, we offer the following enrichment programs:
- Introduction to English – a volunteer program to introduce the four and five year olds to the English language using simple commands and greetings, colours, animals and basic shapes and numbers. Computer classes are also offered by volunteers.
- A hot, nutritionally balanced meal is prepared in the Feed the Hungry kitchen on the premises and served every school day.
- Children receive regular medical, dental and eye exams and medications as needed. Physical and learning difficulties are identified early, allowing for successful treatment programs.
- Volunteers provide art and swimming classes, reading, story-telling and mentoring.
- Children participate in Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father's Day and Graduation events at St. Paul’s Church as well as other events in the community such as the Spring Parade of Children where they dress up and perform songs and dances in Plaza Garibaldi.
- During the school year there are field trips to acquaint the students with their community. Many of the children live with a single mother or grandmother and rarely or never leave their neighborhood.
- Parents are encouraged to become involved in their children's education and they receive health and nutrition talks and English classes. Parents’ Story Telling once a month is a popular activity.