Several years ago, the administration of Niños de México noticed the children were not being well educated in the public school system. There were several problems with teachers and non-educational field trips as well. It was determined it was time to start a school.
Funds were donated, construction was made, and today Niños de México operates a bilingual K-9 school. The school is better able to address the spiritual and educational needs of the children. Remarkable improvements are being seen. The students are currently testing above average according to required government evaluations and exceeding far beyond expectations.
The school is divided into three areas:
1. Kindergarten
The children that come to Niños de México almost always have special needs. Many of them cannot read or even recognize letters or numbers. As a part of the school, Ana Lilia Vazquez teaches the kindergarten–many of the younger or uneducated children at Niños. When the children leave the kindergarten, sometimes after only a few months, they are excited about learning and ready to enter the Primary classroom and interact with other students. Ana LIlia has been on our school staff since August 2005.
2. Primary
The Primary classroom is for grades one through six. Aglahé Zamora is the principal of the Primary and oversees the education of those children. Niños uses “School of Tomorrow” home schooling curriculum for the Primary grades. The children have workbooks (called Paces) in each of the major subjects. They work at their own pace with goals to complete each day. They grade their own work but are kept accountable by monitors and the principal. Once they complete a Pace, they must pass a test before moving on to the next level workbook. Niños’ students are taught English and Spanish as part of the curriculum.
Twice a week the students have Physical Education, and the other days, they have a recess time to “stretch.”
3. Secondary
The Secondary classroom is for grades seven through nine. Nicia Licona is the principal of the Secondary and oversees the education of those children. Niños has adapted and uses the “Open School” curriculum published by the Mexican government and designed to educate young adults who wish to receive their education in a non-traditional format. The students have a series of workbooks (many in English) in each of the major subjects. They work at their own pace with goals to complete each day. Once they complete the Secondary curriculum they can move immediately into high school. They do grade their own work but are kept accountable by monitors and the principal.
Twice a week the students have Physical Education.
Private High School
After completing our Christian School requirements, our students are ready to move over to “Prepa Net”, a private high school that focuses in on higher education and career opportunities. The school offers our students scholarships, further education opportunities, as well as a head-start on finding a career for their particular skill-set upon the completion of their education.
