Index LINCOLN MAGAZINE
Number XVIII, January 2014
11 Lincoln School helps
12 reduce educational gap
Acknowledgements
Fundación Quirós Tanzi
Marilis Pinto
President
Federico Chaves
Vice-president
Rafael Mora
Treasurer
Charlene Ramírez
Secretary
6
Lincoln School
waves with honor a
four-stared Blue Flag.
Gastón Monge
Vocal I
Christopher Music
Vocal II
Sergio Santiesteban
Vocal III
Anna Gilmore
Vocal IV
26-27
Cultural Travel
Costa Rica - France
17-23
Service Learning in Elementary
Anik Zurcher
Vocal V
Robert F. Rinaldo
Director General
Karla Lizano
Admissions and
Communications Coordinator
Raquel Echeverría
Communications Officer
Mirzam Desueza
Graphic Designer
24
Secondary Community
Service Club (CEDA)
Lincoln School
Phone: (506) 2247-6600
lincoln@lincoln.ed.cr
www.lincoln.ed.cr
San José, Costa Rica
4
Lincoln School
From the Desk of the Director General:
“The Heart of Education”
process that helps young people discover their talents and achieve
academic, artistic, and athletic success.
Nevertheless, in the fast paced and ever changing world we live
in the benchmark for success must not stay stagnant. It is not enough
to only prepare students for the rigors of academic life after high
school. As educators our approach must be more holistic to include
the instilling of values, such as integrity and compassion that are so
easily overlooked in today’s society. When students leave high school
it is difficult to measure our effectiveness as educators in the “quality of
person” we helped form. We often hear that a former student finished
his or her undergraduate or graduate degree and went on to find
employment. What we don’t know, or cannot measure, is whether we
were truly successful at developing conscientious global citizens. Our
benchmark for success must expand beyond college degrees and white
collar careers. Let us call the development of men and women that
exceed at their individual trades, yet always keep the greater picture of
social awareness in mind, a true accomplishment.
Dear Lincoln Community,
The start of each new school year
invariably leaves me impressed and
inspired. I have had the fortune of
working with self-assured students
that exude passion, confidence, and a
burning desire to learn. Simultaneously
I have had the same fortune to work
with students that possess hidden
talents and are just in need of additional
support and guidance to shine.
I have seen both of the
aforementioned student types reach
their academic goals, graduate and
continue their academic careers,
some attending the most prestigious
universities in the world and eventually
working for fortune 500 companies.
It truly is a privilege to be part of a
Charles C. Haynes, a senior scholar at the Freedom Forum First
Amendment Center, wrote, “Developing students’ hearts, I believe, is
what educators are called to do. Each and every small act of honesty, service,
responsibility, and compassion that teachers and administrators encourage daily
in their students—and model consistently in their own lives helps create moral
and civic habits of the heart that instill in students the courage to care.”
The theme of this volume of “Lincoln Magazine” is social
responsibility. It is not a new concept, but has gained a steady increase
in popularity over the past fifty years. Social responsibility is a theory
encouraging organizations and individuals to act in ways that benefit
society at large. It is a movement that inspires us all to care a little more
about those around us, and to take action when needed. At Lincoln we
pride ourselves on the quality and excellence found in our academic
programs, but in addition we must continue to inspire and provide
opportunities for students to develop their hearts.
Robert F. Rinaldo
Director General
November, 2013
Lincoln School
5
Message from the
Board of Director´s President
The decision to educate our three children at Lincoln School was clear;
we wanted a school that provided an outstanding academic offer but also
a holistic education based on a core of family values. Early on this school
gave me the opportunity to participate in various working committees and
after some years I became a member of the Board of Directors. Working
amongst parents, principals, teachers, students and staff gave me an insight
of our great community. Lincoln School gradually captivated my heart.
Today -with great love and commitment- I assume the responsibility of the
Presidency of the Board of Directors.
Lincoln School is a leading educational institution with an excellent
bilingual and multicultural academic program offering three degrees:
The Costa Rican Baccalaurate , International Baccalaurate and the
U.S. High School Diploma. But we are much more than that. We are a
community of parents who got together to provide our children with the
best education possible.
With our new school mission “Excellence through Innovation, Integrity
and Leadership” now more than ever, we have the huge responsibility to
strive for excellence and to remain at the forefront of education in Costa
Rica. I am confident that our leadership team will achieve this goal.
In recent years, Lincoln School has managed to reinvent itself –both in
form and substance- to become a better institution. With the efforts of our
whole community, we have made great innovation strides which include:
A new world-class campus with a first class Center for the Performing and
Visual Arts; Smart Board technology for each classroom and –of course- the
“Kid‘s Can´t Wait” program (providing each Kinder-12 grade students with
an iPad). But our journey towards excellence does no end here; our mission
requires us to continue being pioneers in innovation, in order to be able to
give students the best tools to improve and deepen their learning process.
At Lincoln School we believe and value an integral educational
experience. We run a great sports and cultural co-curricular platform that
includes a complete after school club program, international exchanges and
a variety of school wide events, where students have the opportunity to
develop their interests and to reach their true artistic and athletic potential.
We are training tomorrow’s leaders.
This further requires us to show them the
path of integrity. Times are tough and now
more than ever we must work together to
shape healthy, compassionate, solidary and
ethically sound human beings. It is our
dream and our responsibility as a Lincoln
community to make these ideals a reality.
I invite all Lincoln parents to participate
in the various committees and the Board.
The future is full of challenges and we
must face them together. Never forgetting
that our students are our greatest treasure,
our teachers are our greatest resource and
excellence is our ultimate goal.
Marilis Pinto
Board President
6
Lincoln School
Lincoln School
waves with honor
a four-stared
Blue Flag.
Since august 5th we wave full of
pride and joy a new flag in our school,
the Blue Flag. On Friday, July 19th , at the
CENAC, we received from the Minister of
Education, Leonardo Garnier, recognition
of the efforts made with the delivery of
this prestigious award.
Since 2004, the Ministry of Education
implements the Ecological Blue Flag Program
for Schools, promoting improvement in the
quality of education, the implementation
of sustainable development projects,
improvement of sanitary conditions,
improved physical infrastructure and safety
aspects and risk management.
The school has worked hard through a
number of activities scheduled in a Work
Plan, which sought to meet the requirements
to obtain the coveted Blue Flag. Each
requirement was evaluated according to the
following parameters: water quality, disaster
risk management, environmental education,
sanitation, clean and safe spaces and reports
of activities throughout the year.
Among the activities developed by
the school is the student participation in
campaigns for environmental protection,
tree planting, plastic recycling programs,
program desks prepared from tetra pack
in conjunction with company Dos Pinos,
creating an orchard, a nursery and a
butterfly, among others.
For school participating in the Blue
Flag program has meant an important
opportunity to raise awareness among
students, staff, service, staff and faculty
about preserving the environment,
promoting values and attitudes that promote
promote this culture in the educational
community and in the country.
But our work is far from over ,
continues to grow and bear fruit, with
energy saving projects, with the use of
LED lights in the north parking lot, using
solar panels to heat water and the use of
more efficient paper dispensers that allow
lower consumption of paper.
We congratulate and thank our students, families, community
residents, faculty and staff, service personnel, and especially
the Committee Coordinator College Blue Flag
for their effort, commitment and dedication.
Lincoln School
Lincoln School launches
Solar Panels
As of Tuesday, November 26, 2013 and
consistent with its commitment with the
environment, Lincoln School has installed
solar panels to heat water in the kitchen
Cafeteria and gym showers.
By using solar panels, Lincoln School
is contributing to reduce the electricity
bill by achieving savings in the
generation, transmission and distribution
of electricity, which will result in a
reduction in the volume of fossil fuels
used and in reducing the emissions of
greenhouse gases.
7
8
Lincoln School
Milk boxes for desks
Impacting the
environment and education
For a total of 796 kilos, out of which
15 desks have been produced;
and given to Obras del Espíritu Santo.
The School is still working to reduce its ecological
footprint and make a positive change in education, by
supporting the program on desktop production out of
recycled tetra pak material.
To make a Dos Pinos desktop, you need more
than 40 kilos of material, so it is highly important to
continue with this beautiful and important program,
both for the environment, and to improve the
educational conditions of many low-resource schools.
To have an idea, we have so far collected:
1. 2011-2012 School year, 386 kilos
2. 2012-2013 School year, 185 kilos
3. 2013-2014, School year, 225 kilos
Let’s keep
them coming!
Lincoln School
9
Tree Planting Program
at Lincoln School
For the last 6 years we have quietly and slowly planted trees.
We started with the Compañia de Fuerza y Luz with the “A Que
Sembras un Arbol” program, started years ago by Mauricio
Artiñano and other Lincoln Alumni. We are working this year in a
joint program with Rios Tropicales and Earth University to reforest
former cattle land.
Many people have asked why we plant on private land. Basically
unless we have cooperation from the local municipalities we are
not allowed to plant on public land. We also need the commitment
of the owners of these planted properties to care for the trees. We
have lost trees from one or two planted sites due to negligence. Not
anymore. It has been a learning experience.
We have planted 3,090 trees with 407 students and 53 adults.
We only plant native trees that will give habitat, flowers or food for
birds and animals. No lumber or fruit trees are planted. If you have
suggestions for planting sites or would like to participate in future
events please contact Susan Koberg, Service Learning Coordinator at
skoberg@lincoln.ed.cr or 2247-6630
10
Lincoln School
A couple of years ago , a group of seven
Lincoln School 1989 Generation Alumni,
through one of its members, decided to join
forces to make a change and give a student the
same opportunity they had, to study in a school
that offers so many opportunities .
To achieve this everyone should commit to
a monthly donation for a period of four years.
The amount, whether large or small, was not
important, they were all able to put together, the
required amount to grant an excellent education
opportunity offered by Lincoln School to an
exceptional student.
“The true meaning of life is
to plant trees under whose shade
you do not expect to sit.”
- N. Henderson
Today, that group of 7 alumni, is greatly
satisfied to know that, together, they changed
the life of a young Costa Rican, full of talent
and desire to succeed , who was only waiting to
be given a chance.
Currently, this group of 7, has become a
pride for the School and an example for others.
Lincoln School
11
“Connectandonos”
with Barrio Del Socorro School
Lincoln School helps reduce educational gap
12
Lincoln School
On June 5, 2013 the Lincoln School Board
of Directors signed an agreement with
the Quiros Tanzi Foundation and became
partners in the “Conectándonos” program
with the Barrio del Socorro School. This little
public elementary school is our neighbor
and for years we have tried to help them
by funding Christmas parties, purchasing
a stove, computer, etc. Our students have
invited the children over weekly, for after
school club activities, soccer camps, tutoring,
etc.; but our students, staff, and families
have always wanted to do something more.
Something that would be a life changing
experience and help these children and their
families have a better future. When we met
with Alejandro Egea, Director of the Quiros
Tanzi Foundation, we knew this program
was it. Now we have expanded our after
school program with students and teachers,
to continue to become more involved with
this community.
This program consists of giving each
child and teacher an XO computer, free wifi internet connection, bi-weekly mentoring
for teachers and tech support. By the end of
2013 there will be 3,050 children in 43 schools
in Costa Rica registered and participating in
this phenomenal program. Lincoln School is
the first private educational institution to join
the FQT and to begin to take a higher quality
educational experience to children in public
schools. It is a mission to help close the large
gap between a private and public school
education.
By sending these special computers
home every day with the students is not
only helping them but their families as well.
Parents, siblings and other family members
learn how to use a computer and in some
instances this has even helped these parents
with their work. No more two hour bus
rides to hand in work; now they just email it!
We would like to invite other private
educational institutions to join us and be the
difference in the education in this country.
The government cannot do everything. We,
as neighbors, need to pull together and raise
the life quality in our communities, with
every change we can get.
Lincoln School
13
Lincoln School helps the
Medical Examiner’s Department
of Legal Medicine.
Last Wednesday October 30th,
Lincoln School donated a colored
television and a VHS player
device to the Medical Examiner’s
Department of Legal Medicine in
San Joaquin de Flores, to improve
the waiting room for children who
suffer from physical, psychological
and emotional aggression and come
for treatment to the clinic.
14
Lincoln School
Secondary Values Program
At Lincoln, we always emphasize values
in all the activities carried out in school. The
Values Program supports all school events,
and it also brings in new ones to reinforce
morals within the school culture. As part
of this amazing program, there is a schoolwide value for every school month, based on
the IB Learner Profile traits. Bulletin boards
in the Secondary building are constantly
decorated with pictures, definitions, quotes,
etc. We organize activities according
to the value of the month, as a way of
strengthening positive behavior in our
students, as well as integrating these values
into our curriculum.
Every month, Secondary students
preside an Elementary Assembly, with a
nice presentation; they also carry out fun
activities according to the month’s value.
This is a great way for all students to bond,
and there is greater interaction between
Elementary and Secondary students. The
Elementary children love having the “bigger
kids” in their assemblies! Throughout the
year, we have Elementary and Secondary
students participate in friendship gettogethers, where they can share and
interact with each other.
There is also special recognition to
students that excel in a particular activity
outside school; we grant them the special
recognition they deserve. This new program
has been a total success and we will
continue working on it to reinforce values
within the community.
Lincoln School
There is no greater pleasure the one derived from helping others.
Giving service is one of the core necessities for individuals, in
order to achieve balance and bliss. However, service is not an
obligation, but rather a twitch that comes from your heart; it
must be an impulse you feel towards giving, without expecting
anything in return, other than satisfaction.
In the CAS program of the IB Diploma, I have had the
opportunity to render service and to think about my activities.
Currently, I am working on a project, together with Tomás
Batalla, another senior student, and we call it “Entre Jóvenes”.
This is a project to raise awareness on the consequences of
pregnancy among teenagers. We are planning to create a video
in which different teenagers provide facts and opinions with
regard to pregnancy in adolescents. We want to show this video
to adolescents at an institute in Pavas, to help children and
teenagers in psychosocial risk. We hope that this iniciative will
give teenagers, attending this institute, a better knowledge on
this problem. We believe that if they hear it from other people,
who are their same age, they will understand better.
Since pregnancy at such an early stage in life, is risky and
has many negative consequences, it is important to raise as much
awareness as possible to prevent it. This project will allow us
to teach these teenagers, who know little about this issue, what
pregnancy at their age implies.
I am fully satisfied to know that I am making a change in
someone else’s life, and this is what service is all about. I know
that service is something that I will keep on doing my entire life
because there is no greater pleasure than the one you get when
you do something like this.
Diana Argilés
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Lincoln School
CAS
Sofia Bonilla 12th Grade
PINTA CR Santa Ana, 2013
CAS Sofia Bonilla 12th Grade
AASCA Cross Country Adventure Race,
Sarapiquí, 2013.
“I have learned that community
service is part ones life.”
It makes me evolve into a mature but cooperative adolescent that cares and
values its community as a whole. It makes us unifying into a society that goes
beyond individuality and works as a homogeneous cooperation among all of its
integrants. Serving other is the act of learning from deep cultural, social and
emotional experiences that can easily change your perspectives and way of
living. Life is based on how I enjoy my individuality and use those unique traits
to collaborate a social success.
My approach to CAS was quite remarkable when I achieved a balance among
my Costa Rican, Lincoln and gymnastic community. Although am not an athlete
anymore, gymnastic runs in my veins. I decided to become a coach and a judge
that dreams to pass the next generations p all the valuable lessons I had learned
from my gymnastic career. I now dedicate to encourage girls to succeed in one
of the hardest and most rewarding disciplines. For my Lincoln community, I am
involved in both sport and cultural activities to create a balance between clubs.
I practice Cross country running five times a week (two of the trainings
practiced at school). On the other hand, I have been working on the Lincoln
newspaper to practice my writing skills and my opinions towards different issues
and changes that happen at school. Being part of my Lincoln community makes
me feel as if I am giving something in return thanks to all of the opportunities i
have received back.
Navidad es Jesús, La Guácima 2012.
“I think CAS has not
only taught me about
giving a meaningful
service but devote and
actually feel part of the
community I belong.”
Lincoln School
17
Service Learning
in Elementary
Service Learning is now more than just donating
our old toys and school supplies to the needy. It is
now an ongoing process melded into the curriculum
that allows students to learn with their hearts as well
as with their minds.
Teachers and students engage in a variety of
experiences depending on interests of both teacher
and student, student abilities, parent acceptance, and
ease in planning. Lower grades tend to achieve more
indirect service with donations, but teachers have done
an excellent job in making sure that our students have a
full understanding of what and why they are doing these
service activities as well as the needs of the community
they are working with. They are exposed as much as the
teachers deem necessary for a complete understanding.
We continue to grow in many areas every year. Service
Learning is one area that is constantly moving forward.
Pre-K Service
Learning Page
Meet the kids we helped!
Kinder Service
The four PK classes decided to join efforts and work
together with the Hospital Nacional de Niños in order to
support four children who have special needs.
The four Kindergarden classes joined efforts and worked together with
the Hospital Nacional de Niños, in order to support four children who
were born with Bifid Spine.
Each week, our students brought one item from the canasta básica.
We divided the items per class per week and by the end of the month
delivered a full CANASTA BASICA to each one of these families. Every
Kinder student had the opportunity to meet with these families, making
this a truly meaningful experience.
We planned several activities to help these families.
The first one was a weekly food drive where children
brought one item from the canasta basica. We divided the
items per class, per week, and by the end of the month we
had 4 CANASTAS BASICAS, one for each family!
The last Friday of that month, a group of mothers came
and helped the teachers put together the canasta basica to
have it taken to the children’s homes.
All Pre-K families had the opportunity to visit these
four homes and to live the wonderful experience of
interacting with children having different kinds of needs.
Students created their own “All About Me” book and
read it to different people in order to collect donations for
their assigned friend. They also worked together to create
“Thank You Cards” for the companies that cooperated
with this project.
Furthermore, the Kinder students created original artwork that
was auctioned at an Art Show and carried out a Bake Sale to raise
funds for these families. With these funds, we were able to purchase
a wheelchair, leg braces, a bed, eyeglasses, a special shower chair, and
other household appliances.
Through this experience, our Kinder students
have been exposed to children who are different
from them. It has taught our students to be
Global Citizens who work towards peace and the
importance of helping those in need.
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Lincoln School
Prep Service
Learning Page
All four prep classes, Fundacion Aprender, y
Crecer, are working together to paint some the walls in
Escuela La Peregrina, located in la Uruca.
Our goal was to create a more enjoyable
environment through Art, for both students and staff.
On May 28th, we visited Escuela La Peregrina,
and all four groups worked on a different wall
with their paint buddies from that school.
We went with 8 moms per class and
shared a snack with our paint buddies.
First Grade Service Learning Page
Here is Andy with his friend Andy!
Help us save andy!
Andy is a sloth who needs a home! We put on
a show to help him, so he could grow. Leslie is cool,
kind, and sweet. We like her, her animals, they are all
pretty neat!
Lincoln School
Second Grade
Service Learning
Let’s Help the Jaguar!
What are we doing?
Second graders are committed to help Costa Rica’s
jaguars. Today, the main threat to current Costa Rican
jaguar populations is no longer only poaching, but also
deforestation, taking place for the sake of agriculture.
We want to help them by making sure their habitat
expands by supporting the reforestation of Costa Rica’s
Biological Corridor and/or buying more trap cameras as we
did last year. This way jaguars may move freely and safely!
*What problems do Costa Rican jaguars have?
#1 Farmers cut down the trees in order to have more land for their cattle.
#2 Hunters kill some of the species that jaguars eat, leaving them
without food.
*Consequences
#1 Jaguar hunt domestic animals.
#2 Farmers hunt and kill jaguars.
*How are we helping?
1. Teaching our community about the jaguar’s situation.
2. Cooperating with Panthera, an organization involved in wild cat
conservation around the world.
3. With donations recollected from our River Unit Presentation, we will
donate trap cameras so jaguars can be detected and monitored throughout
our rainforests.
Jaguar’s Interesting Facts
“A wild beast that can kill its prey in a single bound.”
It has the most powerful bite of all felines, even more than the lion
and tiger.
The cubs can’t see during their first two weeks. They stay with their
mom for the first six months.
Hard work.... dedication.... enthusiasm.... love!
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Lincoln School
Third Grade
Service Learning
The third graders have been working with La Casa
de Los Niños. Their mission is: To offer children at social
risk, and in selected communities around the country,
feeding and development opportunities to enable them
to complete their education cycle and improve their life
quality, breaking the poverty cycle.
Our third grade students worked hard at collecting
books. One of the founders came to our school and talked
to us about the way the children who are receiving the
books live. She discussed and answered questions about
how many students there were, what their backgrounds
were like and why they benefited so much from La Casa
de Los Niños.
Fourth Grade
Service Learning
It has been a priviledge to work with the Fundacion La Casa De
Los Niños. The Lincoln fourth grade class had the honor of visiting
the Foundation for an afternoon of entertainment, snacks, sharing,
and caring.
The mission of the Foundation is:
To offer children at social risk and in selected communities around
the country, feeding and development opportunities to enable them
to complete their education cycle and improve their life quality,
breaking the poverty cycle.
The fourth graders worked hard to help the Foundation in
fulfilling this mission, through time, donations, and positive
learning activities. In the end, we were grateful and blessed to
be able to work with and learn from the students and staff at the
Foundation. We are looking forward to one more day of activiites
with the wonderful kids of Casa de Los Niños!
Lincoln School
Fifth Grade
Service Learning
Educating our community
About the environment
Through Action!
The fifth graders collected data around the school by
creating and giving out surveys, making observations, and
researching how and what our school is doing to be GREEN.
Throughout the year we have been planning activities
that teach students about Reducing, Reusing, Recycling, Rot,
Rethinking, Respecting, and more. Keep reading to find out
how we are educating our community to start thinking about
the environment.
No Plastic Challenge!
Ms. Sairy’s Class Challenged the whole school via video
not to use plastic bottles for a week. Then Ms. Kasey’s class
answered back. In the end, the classes which successfully
completed the challenge were treated to treats!
Educating our community
through Poetry...
Fifth graders researched and found poetry that was written
about our environment.
They then shared with other Lincoln Students and asked
them questions about the poems they read; they discussed
different ways in which we can help our Lincoln Community
become more aware of the environment. They also created
their own poems about our environment.
Check out some of the Poems we
found and created...
Let’s Recycle
Look around,
there’s so much plastic,
Let’s recycle,
it’s fantastic.
Don’t forget,
about paper and glass,
Recycle together,
with your entire class.
We’ll make sure,
we never litter,
Let’s recycle,
we’re not quitters.
When we place our
garbage,
in the right bin,
Both us and nature,
will clearly win.
Thanks for keeping the
environment
healthy and clean,
Recycling is fun,
and also quite green.
Found by Javier Gomez
at anitapoems.com
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Lincoln School
Teaching Through TEchnology
Recycle Guide
A little triangle with number inside
Tells you the plastic-a useful guide...
The fifth grade students created keynote presentations and went to different classrooms to teach them
about the R’s and what we can do to help save our environment.
Clear bottles are made from number
1
Re-use, recycle when you’re done.
Middle School Service Activities
HDPE bottles, you can’t see throughBear the label number 2.
Clear packaging labelled number 3
It’s all made from PVC.
Plastic bags-they’re hard to ignore.
They’re all made from number 4
Tubs & trays that you have seen
Labelled ‘5’-Polypropylene
Polystyrene-pots again...
To recycle ‘6’, we try in vain!
Seven is anything that is not one to
six!
ABS, polycarbonate, or simply a mix
Re-use that bag, tray or pot.
Valuable resources are all we’ve got.
So “what can I recycle?”
I hear you askRemember this rhyme to complete
the task.
ONE and TWO you can do
Keep FIVE and SIX out the mix
Found by Maria Fernanda Monge at
http://lightwater.wordpress.
com/2008/05/30/recyling-in-schools/
6th Grade:
During the interdisciplinary field trip to the RESERVA FORESTAL DE
MONTEVERDE in March, sixth grade students completed their service learning
hours on four different activities on which they worked to preserve the
community’s way of life.
Monteverde’s people are highly conscious of taking care of the cloud forest
which is the main contributor to their economy. All students’ activities were
related to cleaning spaces in order to keep the place as a clean and presentable
as possible.. For example, one group picked up garbage along the reserve trials,
another group cleaned a huge lot next to the local school, and others organized
recyclable and salvageable materials in an abandoned facility so they can be
used by the people of the community.
Lincoln School
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7th Grade:
VOS TENES VOZ
The seventh grade generation
worked to educate our community
on the issue of Bullying.
Movie Days at Lincoln School
for the Community
Once, every semester, our students invite children from the Barrio Socorro
community as well as children from the Obras del Espíritu Santo organization
for a day at the movies. We use staff development days when the theatre is not
being used. First semester popcorn was donated by “Palomitas Para Mi Pais”
and the second semester pizza was donated by Papa Johns.
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Lincoln School
Secondary Community Service Club
(CEDA)
Secondary students worked with the
community of Fundamentes this year.
This foundation works with children
in the Pavas area who need help after
school. They are provided a safe place to
stay, food, art and music lessons, tutoring
and for those who need it, psychological
help is offered. The foundation needed
financial help to place a second floor
inside their building to be able to receive
more children. Our students sponsored
a fashion show with the help of Lincoln
Plaza to raise funds.
Lincoln School
25
International News Letter by
In many parts of the world, school
has once again started another year and
students are getting back into the swing of
things in their classrooms. In many of those
classrooms, students are getting together
to discuss ways in which they can raise
awareness and funds in their communities
for women suffering from obstetric fistula.
Here are a few recent student projects
that inspired us. We hope they’ll inspire
you, too!
Costa Rica:
8th Graders Commit to Treating Fistula
Over the last two years, 8th grade students at Lincoln School in Costa Rica have raised
nearly $10,000 to join forces with the Fistula Foundation in their effort to provide treatment
for women who suffer from obstetric fistula.
Inspired by a teacher who has a passion for the most important issues happening
nowadays, students are committed to help in the healing of women with obstetric fistula,
through fundraising activities that involve bake sales, projections such as A Walk to
Beautiful, and jeans day - a popular activity at this school where uniforms are otherwise
required.
Upon sending the class donation, the supervising teacher wrote to tell us, “One of my
students expressed it in the best way possible, when he said: ‘these women are amongst the
most courageous and brave in the world. The poor and needy are truly the strongest. They
are my heroes.’”
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Lincoln School
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osta Rica - F
On Saturday June 22 a group of thirtyseven students and four teachers left for
France. It was a three week trip in which
they visited different places in the French
Riviera, such as, Nice, Saint Tropez, Cannes.
In addition, students were taught French at
the Centre International d’Antibes. During
the last week we visited Mont Saint Michel
and Paris.
“ Enseigner une langue
c’est proposer un voyage,
l’apprendre c’est partir”
Norbert Kalfon
On summer 2013, I was lucky enough
to attend the school trip to France together
with the teachers Brenda Miranda, Milena
Alfaro, Antonieta Gonzalez, and Sylvia Soto.
It was a wonderful experience. The first two
weeks we stayed in the small neighborhood
of Juan les Pins in the south of France. In
the mornings, we attended school where we
learned French, and in the afternoons, we
were able to walk the streets of Juan les Pins
and get to know the place. The neighborhood
was full of restaurants offering delicious
food and the beach was really close to the
hotel. Other days we took tours, and we were
able to visit Monaco, Cannes, Saint Tropez,
Grasse, and two art museums. One day we
had the incredible experience of attending
the Tour de France in Nice and to support
the Costa Rican cyclist Andrey Amador. On
our last week, we stayed in Paris. We were
able to visit the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, the
Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Champs- Elysees, and
many others. We also had the opportunity to
visit Mont Saint- Michel and the wonderful
palace of Versailles. At the end of the trip
we did not want to come back, we learned
about the culture, their language, and made
new friends. This was the trip of my life, the
one I will never forget. At the end, all of us
became really close friends. I couldn’t ask for
better people to travel with, all of those who
participated were the most incredible people
I ever met. There was no day we did not
enjoy. If I had the opportunity to travel with
the school again, I would not doubt it!
Diana Huebner
Lincoln School
The trip to France was truly an
unforgettable experience. Visiting the
Mediterranean coast of Nice is a surprisingly
pleasant contrast compared to tropical nature
in Costa Rica. The food is of impressive
quality, and offers options ranging from
local dishes to more worldwide selections
such as pizza. Paris exceeds any expectation
whatsoever, and exhibits an insuperable
amount of activities. It is a sight to behold.
Antonio Gil
My experience in France was a most
wonderful opportunity. We discovered first
hand, the cities of Antibes and Paris, as well
as the French Riviera, walking the streets and
going to the most famous touring places. I
was probably, able to see more of this country
than most tourists do in their first voyage to
France, since we went to specific locations,
besides visiting the most common ones,
such as Mont St Michel, Cannes, Monaco
(even though it is not part of France), L’ile
Marguerite, Sacre Coeur, and we even had
the opportunity to attend the Tour de France.
This trip required a strong organization of
both money and time. In three weeks we
visited extensively, walked long distances,
and participated in a two-week intensive
French program, as well. There is no way we
could have done this without proper time
management; which was excellently done.
Going out to eat and shopping was also an
important exercise in getting to know how to
handle one’s budget. In my case, I did this
carefully, because I had a limited amount
of money; however, this did not limit, in
any way, the opportunities I participated in.
Additionally, the people participating in this
voyage were a major aspect. Overall, I met
many people, and by the end of the three
weeks, I can assure you that our group had
all become very close and we really enjoyed
spending time together. This does not often
happen, especially since we were 37 students.
Nevertheless, the conditions were there for
us to remain as one sole group, without any
segmentations. I surely recommend this
experience to all students, since it represents
an opportunity to grow, a special journey,
and a learning process.
Mariana Soto
My trip to France was so remarkable that it
is impossible for me to describe it in only
a few words. One of the aspects I enjoyed
the most about this trip was having to live
with other Lincoln School students for
three weeks. It was fun to go out to dinner
and visit the beach together, laughing and
joking everyday. Throughout all those days,
I was able to get to know them very well
and we all became friends. At the institute
where we went to learn French, I also had
the opportunity to meet people from all
around Europe. It was amusing to teach
them common Costa Rican expressions, such
as mae, tuanis, and pura vida and to learn
words in other languages from the students
in the institute. We were thrilled to go to
Nice to support Andrey Amador, wearing
the Costa Rican shirt and flag, to make noises
like any “buen tico”, was also one of the
most exciting experiences I have ever had in
my life. It was an honor to be there and to
be able to give our support to such a great
Costa Rican athlete. The last week of the trip
we spent it in Paris. I was able to finally get
to know the famous Eiffel Tower and I had
the opportunity to go to the top and see the
panorama of the entire city at midnight. This
wonderful experience filled me with such
excitement that I even cried. Watching Paris
from the top of the Eiffel Tower at night is
one of the most beautiful things I have ever
seen in my life and I will never forget the
rush of emotions I felt at that moment.
Such an amazing experience is worth
repeating; I hope that sometime in the future
I can go back and live all of these wonderful
memories once again.
Diana Argilés
The trip to France gave us an opportunity
to learn in an unconventional manner. We
were able to experience the French culture
27
and in addition to being exposed to other
nationalities in our French classes. We
were able to visit towns in the south of
France, such as Cannes, St.Tropez and we
experienced first-hand, the Tour de France in
Nice. After two weeks in the south of France,
we went to Paris, and we visited the major
landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the
Louvre and the Arc de Triumph. It was an
enriching experience where we learned a lot
and gained more independence.
Gloriana López
My experience in France was honestly one
of the best experiences of all. Living without
our parents, just friends, for almost a month,
was amazing. Eventhough we went to French
classes and this required getting up early, I
loved it. The classes really helped to enhance
my French abilities and now that I am an IB
French student, all these new concepts we
learned are coming in handy. From the group
of thirty-seven students, I probably only
knew about half of them. During the trip I
was able to talk to each and every one of the
students who participated, and honestly, I
made very valuable friendships. Among my
newly made friends, there are people older
and younger than me.
When I came back to Costa Rica I felt alone,
it was like losing part of my family, my
family in France. Honestly, one of the best
experiences I have ever been granted. When
we returned, we even organized a BBQ
during vacations, so we could get together
after our wonderful trip. If I could repeat this
experience, I definitely would.
Daniela Durman