Wrapping Up 2023 at the Puerta Abierta

Queridos:

As 2023 draws to an end, we are grateful for our friends and family from around the world who believe in our programs and share our HOPE for future generations at Puerta Abierta Atitlan.

Thank you.  Malitiox.  Gracias.

We are excited to display our collection of monthly memories, a virtual album of dreams, learning, experiences, and growth.

January:

Back to school!  We joyfully welcomed 90 students in our elementary school and 25 children in our early childhood education center.  

February:

We launched our “Amigos de Lectura” program, encouraging community members to read with our students in order to promote local engagement and reading appreciation.

March:

Through a generous grant from KinderLab Robotics, Puerta Abierta received 4 robotic kits and participated in a virtual learning exchange with Sewickley Academy in Pennsylvania.  

April:

We celebrated World Book Day and honored our favorite titles such as Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot and La Tortilla Corredora by Laura Herrera.  

May:

The municipality of Santiago Atitlan hosted the first school olympics in May post pandemic!  Our students were excited to return to in person community events and our girls’ basketball team took home the gold!

June:

Throughout the school year, our staff receives monthly art and creativity classes.  Art classes are lead by the talented Angelika Muller and provide our teachers with an opportunity to learn new techniques which they later integrate into their classroom curriculum.  

July:

Over the years, Puerta Abierta Atitlan has collaborated  with Mathkind Global, an organization that partners with teachers to deliver evidence-based math education.  We received a dedicated group of international educators via MathKind in the month of July who participated in teacher training, classroom engagement, and a family math day!

August:

Bird Detectives!  Our 4th and 5th grade students experienced a 3 month program to learn about local birds, an initiative sponsored by Vivamos Mejor.  

September:

Puerta Abierta Atitlan represented  the Festival de Flores de Antigua, Guatemala in our community Independence Day parade!

October:

Congratulations graduates!

November:

Thanks to a generous grant from CEDEPCA, our mothers’ artisan group purchased 14 industrial sewing machines and began intensive sewing classes in November to explore the elaboration of new products for income generation!

December:

The Guatemala school year runs from January-October.  During the vacation months, the music club has been practicing for future performances.  This year, our collection of instruments has grown!  We now have a drum set, two marimbas, ukuleles, a flute  and a trumpet!

We invite you to visit our webpage at atitlanabierta.com to learn more about our ongoing endeavors.  To support our programs, please click on donations.  All contributions directly support our programs and are tax deductible.  

Wishing all our friends a joyous holiday and felices fiestas!

With gratitude,

Amanda & Puerta Abierta Atitlan