Marie Poussepin Center

It’s been almost a week since I left Stonehill and the foot of snow. So much has happened since then: moving into our incredible home, playing in the street with all the neighborhood kids, attempting to make beans, bike rides around the barrio, and training our dog Ranger to sit.

But for now I’ll just focus on the school. We’re working at the Marie Poussepin Center, named after the founder of the Dominicans of the Presentation. It’s a school for about 70 girls from grades 7-11. Since the country only requires that students complete 6^th grade, this is an opportunity for these girls to continue their education. All come from the surrounding aldeas and stay at the Center throughout the week and return home on weekends. A rigorous interview and application process ensures that the families and the students are dedicated to their education and faith.

Over 40,000 students in the country rely on an educational system through the radio for grades 7-11. They receive workbooks and follow along to learn the sciences, history, math, Spanish, and even English. Since the teacher is essentially the radio, it is very self-directed. It’s the student’s responsibility to make sure that the homework is completed and the material is understood. Some students are visited by tutors once a week who are trained to assist the distance learners.

This is essentially the same system that the sisters have implemented at the Center. There is still a strong reliance on the books which dictate the structure of the trimesters. Yet, there are several tutors which aid in educating in a formalized manner. The students come to class prepared (having read the book and listened to the radio) and the tutor helps with comprehension. We're also there to help provide activities to make sure that the material is understood well. 

When the students come to the school they are at very different levels. Some have been to a public school in their aldea while others may not have had the opportunity. Living in the “city” is very different than the aldeas where there may not be electricity or running water.

This first trimester I’ll be teaching two Spanish classes (grammar and literature) to 10 and 11 grades and a Techniques to Study course to the 7^th graders. I’ll also be holding review sessions for two English classes and two Spanish classes. I just finished some of my lesson plans for the semester and am getting excited. It was pretty overwhelming at first, but I’ll have fun with the material and it will be wonderful to be a part of the students’ learning.

I’m proud to be part of a school that has made so much change. Now many of its graduates continue to an agricultural college with scholarships. And the students seem to develop holistically. They learn about good eating habits, hygiene, staying healthy, faith, and being a contributing citizen. The three words painted on the wall that they chose to describe their school are: responsibility, respect, and honesty. I’m already inspired by the students and I haven’t even met them! And outside of the incredible support that the sisters offer, it is an absolutely beautiful place. It’s pretty quiet now, but in a week and a half, it will be brimming with activity.

Well I meant this to be a short post, but here it is! Hope everything is well back home. I send my love!

Paz, Cassie