…… Thank You!!! Thank You!!! Thank You!!!

Big Winners!!! Dave and Elaine Greinier in Phase II have very generously donated 40,000 pesos – their winnings from the Estrella del Mar Golf Tournament! The two golfers, along with their six friends – Kelly Dunn, Bob Blanscett, John and Katerine Portz, Aaron Bunker and Tom Newton agreed before the tournament that whatever winnings the group had at the tournament would be combined and given to the Friends of Barron Library Project. Their total winnings equaled 40,000 pesos (Dave won closest to the hole). This fabulous gift will help us purchase windows, a door and the electrical wiring for the elementary/community library.
Greiners

Thank you to Tim, Nancy, Brent and William Muzyka from Phase III for their donation of 12,000 pesos which allowed us to fix the roof and walls in the library.

Kids in SchoolThank you to Christina, daughter of Jim and Frances Barnes, Phase I) for her donation of school supplies to the Kindergarten.

(From left to right, Barnes
Jim Barnes,
Kindergarten Principal,
Christina and Ana Luis, our parent interpreter.)

Christina’s son enjoyed spending time in the Kindergarten class.

A special thank you to Dick McGuire, Phase I, for his major contribution as a Spanish/English interpreter and his generous financial support.

Why Education is Important

Education is the knowledge or skill developed by a learning process or experience. It is central to the development of children so that they can lead a more fulfilling life. Education also has the ability to empower people so that they can make a contribution to their community.
“Education can significantly improve people’s lives. It benefits people, society, and the world as a whole. It enables people to read, reason, communicate, and make informed choices about their lives. A more educated person often has more opportunities in life, earns more and has a higher standard of living. Each year of schooling increases a person’s earnings by 10%! Skilled workers enable a country to develop and become wealthier as a nation, which benefits all. A skilled labor force creates, applies and spreads new ideas and technologies. Without education, inventions like electricity, medicine, cars, computers, video games, and much more wouldn’t exist!”
“Education is one of the most powerful ways to reduce poverty and inequality, and to pave the way for sustained economic growth. Studies demonstrate that illiteracy corresponds to regions with greater poverty.” http://youthink.worldbank.org/

Wish List for 2010

Kindergarten
1. Finish Rewiring 2 classrooms (also new electrical box with 220 v) DONE!
2. Finish installing cistern for water DONE!!
3. Replace pump for the cistern DONE!!
4. Build a security house for pump DONE!!
5. Buy 2 shelves for books DONE!!
6. Install 4 overhead fans DONE!!
7. Classroom supplies
8. Computer and printer
9. Books for classrooms
10. Gravel for Playground
11. Outside Storage facility
Total: 60,000 pesos

Elementary – Library
Renovate an empty classroom to make a Community Library (see the before and after photos below). We have already:

1. Repaired leaky roof DONE!
2. Sanded and painted walls DONE!!
3. Refinished floor DONE!!
4. Added 4 windows DONE!!
5. Placed security bars over 4 windows DONE!!
6. Installed 6 large 6’ bookshelves DONE!!
7. Electrical work for air conditioner DONE!!
8. Bought 14 trapezoid tables DONE!!
9. Bought 42 chairs DONE!!
10. We need a computer and printer
11. We need more books for library
12. Proposed Part time Positions for Library and Computer Lab (2 people for 3 days a week @ 1,500 pesos/ mo or 18,000/year.) We are also looking for volunteers for these positions.
Total: 137,000 pesos

Secondary

1. Air Condition three classrooms and principal’s office DONE!!
Total: 42,000 pesos
2. Support school in its application for a computer classroom. There are only 3 classrooms in the school – one for each grade and no room for computers. There are 35, 40 and 42 students in each of the classes. The community needs to raise 30% and government funding will provide 70%. So far the parents have raised 4000 pesos and will sponsor a dance and a raffle later this Spring.
Total : 87,000 pesos. (We will match what is raised by the community against this amount)
3. Scholarship and Adopt a Student Programs – These programs are aimed at encouraging greater attendance at Preparatory Schools (grades 10, 11 & 12) in Mazatlan (Barron has no Prep School). Under the Adopt a Student program, EDM owners and others will have the opportunity to support a student of their choice for Prep School. The Scholarship program will target and reward high performing students.
4. Bussing Program – One of the largest expenses for parents to send their kids to Prep School in Mazatlan is transportation. With the objective of encouraging maximun Prep School attendance for the kids of Barron, we are evaluating a bussing subsidy to assist with this expense.

Town of Barron
The Cosgrove family has assumed the sponsorship for the Barron Little League Team for the 2010 baseball season. Ken invites you to attend the league games in Mazatlan every Sunday.

What did we buy in 2009?

2009
The Annual Estrella del Mar Golf Tournament donated $6,000 US to Friends of Barron. The following items were purchased for the schools:

KindergartenBlackboard
1 computer
Bookshelves in each of the 3 classrooms
2 TV’s donated by Simon and Lauri StriblingComputer Classroom
3 Flip Charts
Retiled one roof because of leaks
Elementary
1 computer
6 tables and 36 chairs (hired local carpenter)
Secondary
Rewiring to bring in 220v electricity to school
1 computerGreen Computers
Cistern and pump for the bathrooms
Town of Barron
In March, 2009, Estrella del Mar sponsored a winning Little League Baseball Team by providing team uniforms.

What Did We Buy in 2008?

Elementary School

10 tables and 20 chairs for grade one classroom (replaced old metal ones)Library
renovated an unused classroom to make it into the new Media Classroom
bought co-axle cable for Internet access
computer technician from Estrella del Mar worked on a weekend to wire the classroom
20 small laptops were provided by TelMex through a contest the school entered so the school now has 27 computers – a full lab!Primary EntrancewayGreen Computers

Secondary School
Secondary School wanted a front wall and gate to the school as well as fencing around the school and playground to keep the chickens and pigs out. Friends of Barron paid for the front wall and gate and the school board did the fencing.

Classroom supplies were donated from Estrella del Mar owners (pencils, paper, felt pens, erasers, art supplies)

What did we buy in 2007?

3 white boards for the 13 elementary and secondary classrooms that had old blackboards in poor repair
Donation of 10 more white boards thanks to Norm Shaw.
Estrella del Mar workers installed all the white boards
1 filing cabinet (Principal had piles of paper on the floor – no where to file them)
Mexican flag and flag pole for assemblies at secondary school
School supplies from Estrella del Mar owners (pencils, paper, felt pens, erasers)Computer Classroom