Big Leap of Faith

Big Leap of FaithP.O. Box 531Mt. Mourne, NC 28123FacebookMailBlogger

HOMEPAGE

STUDENTS and TEACHERS

THE LEAP TEAM

HOW YOU CAN HELP

PROJECT UPDATES

CONTACT US

HOMEPAGE

100_1100

100_1109

100_1024

100_1021

100_1165

100_1168

100_1111

100_1297

100_1122

100_1294

100_1158

100_1010

100_1128

100_1153

100_1091

100_1084

100_1059

100_1062

100_1082

100_1121

100_1133

100_1057

100_1053

100_1041

100_1038

100_1034

As of Jan. 2011, we only need $8,000 to finish our building project!Family Focus: Teachers Traveling To Guatemala to help students.LEAP is a non-profit organization comprised of a group of teachers and parents from a creative and unique charter school in Davidson, NC.

Within our group, we have experienced teachers ranging from regular K-6 education to Special Ed, Spanish, Art and even Speech Specialists. We have people who have traveled very little and people who have traveled throughout South America. What we share is our love for children, our love of teaching and education, and our desire to make the world a better place by using our unique gifts and talents.LEAP's Mission:To develop an educational exchange that preserves cultural traditions while introducing progressive educational strategies and other services for basic needs in Guatemala.Learn.Learn about the Mayan culture and educational system of Guatemala.A group of local teachers traveled to Guatemala to provide support and supplies to a small school in the village of El Sistan.Explore.Explore the idea of community with the teachers and students of a small Mayan school in Guatemala.Achieve.Share our arts integrated and brain-based teaching methods.Partner.Foster an appreciation for all cultures among our communities of students. Bring school supplies and ideas to the school for future use.STUDENTS AND TEACHERSabout the kids...

img_0511

img_0561

img_0342

img_0337

img_0332

img_6989

img_1370

img_0692

img_0300

img_0293

img_0058

100_1261

100_1255

100_1250

100_1249

100_1181

100_1191

100_1192

100_1193

100_1202

100_1203

100_1208

100_1180

100_1123

100_1082

100_1062

100_1059

100_1053

100_1038

100_1020

100_1111

These are bright, inquisitive children who are eager to learn.Their smiles light up a room.Their questions show deep thought and curiousity.Their teachers work tirelessly to provide an engaging environment that will entice attendance. However, the economic situation that has plagued the Mayan people for generations makes it difficult to keep education as the top priority.Even though many of these kids come to school hungry and go to bed hungry, their hunger for learning never ceases.SOME STAGGERING FACTS THAT WORK AGAINST THE CHILDRENS' ABILITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIALEducational process was disrupted due to the 36 year civil war in Guatemala.Literacy rate in Guatemala is 71%.Public education is free and easily available from K-6. However, families must pay for books, supplies, and transportation for their children to continue past the 6th grade..Only 25 % of children from the village attends school after the 6th grade.Children attend school from 7:30 - 12:30 and then work in the fields or market. Average income for population near village is $2 per day (per adult). Average size family near village - 6 to 8 children.THE LEAP TEAMwho we are....At the core, we are a group of teachers from the Davidson, NC area who are reaching out to the world. Through a connection with one of our families, we found a small school (that is big in heart!) in the highlands of Guatemala. We have been spending part of our summers there for the past 4 years, sharing unique educational strategies and school supplies.

2010 LEAP TEAM

Inaugural Trip: Began connection with director & staff of the school in Guatemala. The foundation of our purpose was set. Taught lessons, brought sports equipment & school supplies. Ultimately named ourselves “Big Leap of Faith”. As teachers, every day we ask students and parents to trust us (take a leap of faith with us). And on this trip, there was a huge leap of faith across cultural boundaries.

2007 leap team

2009 LEAP TEAM

Through a series of what can only be described as serendipitous connections in 2007, we decided to visit a school in a small Mayan village in Guatemala. It turns out that a student of one of our trip leaders has a grandfather who grew up in the village which the school is located. That was the only thread of connection between our group of strangers, but what evolved was a magical week of crossing boundaries of geography, preconceptions, and the life of a profesor/a to create beautiful friendships. Our search for a sister school was unchartered territory and is the reason we call ourselves the Big "LEAP" of Faith. our on going objectives...Sharing teaching methodologies to enrich the learning experience for Mayan children. Provide much needed school supplies and art supplies and other educational materials. Raising funds to support a building project for the school which will add a computer lab (for the school & the community), a secure library, a staff resource room/office, and 2 new classrooms. Integrating the arts through music, dance, and drama. This makes every unit of study coherent, meaningful, relevant, and purposeful. Curriculum connections with our own school in Davidson, NC. core principles we employ in the classroom & share with our sister school...The Basic School Method by Dr. Ernest Boyer The School as CommunityThe Principal & Teachers as LeadersParents as PartnersThe Centrality of LanguageA Curriculum with CoherenceMeasuing for SuccessA Climate for Active LearningResources to EnrichSupport Services for ChildrenA Commitment to CharacterIntegrating the Arts Playing classical music in the background, creating songs for units.Dance in the classroom - line dance, modern, interpretive, etc.Drama - acting out stories, reading with expressionPlaying musical instruments Mayan Culture - teaching history field trips, cultural appreciationPainting & ColoringCraft projectsBrain Based ResearchPreparing the brain for learningCrossing the mid-line"Brain Gym"Organizing body through sensory integration (bumpy seat, chair lifts, heavy work, fidgets)Teaching StrategiesUtilizing Stations/Centers outside the classroom in different areas.Collaborative LearningAddressing all Learning Modalities Auditory, Kinesthetic/Tactile, VisualHands-On LearningReflectionsHOW YOU CAN HELPWant to be a part of this partnership, too? We have plenty of ways you can contribute. It is our sincere hope to make a positive and lasting impact on these children, their families and their community.Should you have any questions, please send us a note on the contact form or send an email to: guatetrip_carolina.rr.comshare the story...Although our summer trips are currently limited to our team of teachers, we would welcome a chance to talk with your business, civic or church group. donate...Monetary Donations will go towards building projects (classroom/library/office addition), increasing the school's collection of books, and internet access for the school and the community. We are a non-profit organization so all monetary donations are tax deductible. Make checks payable to Big Leap of Faith. Mail to: Big Leap of Faith / PO Box 531 / Mt. Mourne, NC 28123 School supplies: Pencils, pens, crayons, markers, glue sticks, rulers, calculators, and art supplies are needed. Whatever you can provide will be a tremendous boost to these students' everyday learning activities..Donate books (in Spanish): We are working on building their classroom libraries as they only have a handful of books for students K-6. Simple books cost $15 each in local Guatemala villages (about 5 times the cost here). You can buy books in Spanish online through Amazon or through Scholastic. Click on the icon to be directed to our "Wish List" on Amazon.com.Donate new or used games, sports equipment and puzzles (K-6): Connect Four, Dominos, Checkers, Chess, UNO, Battleship, Stacking Cups, Sequence, Jenga, Blokus, Twister, etc. Also donate sidewalk chalk, deflated balls, long jump ropes, and percussion instruments.

help us with fundraising & marketing...We could use your support with fundraising and marketing as well as graphic design for our website and brochures.PROJECT UPDATESRaise the Roof!!! But first, help us build the foundation...After many months of hard work, planning, raising funds and communication from abroad with our partner school the dream of expanding the small school of just a handful of classrooms with this addition is becoming a reality. The current plans allow for a 3 story structure which when all complete, will add 4 classrooms and an additional space on a 3rd level for storage.The foundation is set and students and parents alike are pitching in to help the construction crew build the walls for acceptance of a roof over the first level. Although together we've come very far, there is much work that is required hence we need financial support to see this through to completion.

As of June 2010, the following pictures were taken during our trip. Click on picture to enlarge.

guatemala 165

100_1094

100_1100

100_1091

100_1701

100_1092

100_1708

100_1689

100_1688

100_1787

100_1808

100_1797

100_1796

100_1084

100_1097

100_1089

100_1708

img_0512

CONTACT USWrite / Send Donations To:: We'd love to hear from you!!!Big Leap of FaithP.O. Box 531Mt. Mourne, NC 28123Please make checks payable to "Big Leap of Faith"email: guatetrip_carolina.rr.com