Part One: La Paz Community School: Self, Family, Community, and World

       In the past month I have found myself nestled in a small coastal area called Playa Flamingo, which is located in the beautiful Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. I must thank Emmanuel Javogue and his family for opening their home to me, and for introducing me to the La Paz Community School. La Paz is a very unique and innovative school that is changing the paradigm through which we see education.

       ”All of it was meant to be for various reasons”, according to Kerry McClennen fellow founder, teacher, and wife to director Abel McClennen. The McClennens and four other concerned teachers began thinking of a way to create a cohesive learning community among the vastly growing diverse population of Guanacaste. With the stress of tourism and development it became obvious something had to be done to save Guanacaste culture, environment, and to create a coexistence between the native and non-native population. So, they began to suggest a bilingually focused school with a foundation in community and environmental stewardship. The idea was accepted by several parents and teachers in the community who were looking for the same change. Shortly after a board of directors formed and together they came up with this mission statement:

“Our mission is to educate the culturally diverse youth of Guanacaste through bilingual experiential learning and enrichment that integrates the local community and ecology, while preparing students to become thoughtful, creative, and active stewards of their environment and future leaders of the world.”

       After being approached by Abel McClennen, Don Ruetz, owner of the “Jungle Gym”, graciously donated his land and was ready to begin the construction of the north campus. To begin the construction the founders had to obtain building permits, and get the school certified as a non-profit with both Costa Rica and the U.S. With the help of some political friends and the help of parent volunteers, La Paz was able to open only four months after the first official parents meeting in 2007.





 

  La Paz is not only a non-profit but it is also a International Baccalaureate (IB) certified school. The IB program is recognized globally and works with close to 4,000 schools in 147 countries. Following the IB model, La Paz strives to create a relationship between students, teachers, parents, their communities, and eventually the world. La Paz's adaptation of the IB learner profile is unique in its own way, incorporating a variety of learning tools including place based education. Place based education is expanding the classroom into the field using different environments in to teach basic and challenging concepts.

   
      My favorite part of La Paz story is their very first day of school. There were only 50 students and their teachers, and in the middle of the courtyard stood a tiny Caro Caro sapling (the Guanacaste tree) waiting to be planted. Clutched in the hand of each student was a bit of earth, and right before the sapling was fully covered they each added their handful. The tree and the school grew together, and the students learned to care for it and to learn from it. Seven years later the tree had grown too large, and the students moved it to its new home at the new south campus. Today, the school boasts about 300 students, consisting of both native students and students from all around the world.

 Stay tuned for Part Two of this article on Friday, November 14th!

Learn More

Volunteer at La Paz