ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY Weekly Newsletter
ISSUE 13.2 DECEMBER 9TH
2013 FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES
Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher Grassyards Rd Kilmarnock KA3 7SL 01563 526144 www.saintjosephsacademy.co.uk Twitter: @StJoAcad
ECUADOR (PART 6) In the final article in our series on a life-changing experience in Ecuador, Modern Languages teacher and trip organiser, Miss. McDaid, writes about two fantastic ladies who work in Sagrada Familia. Carol is a teacher there and Gloria runs the tuck shop and works in the kitchen. Carol's son is two and has had a difficult time learning to walk - he's getting there now, as you will see from his picture above (wearing a Killie Pie t-shirt, of course!). And Carlos, Gloria's son goes to the school - he wanted to come home with our pupils in their suitcases! The article ends with an important reflection on the need for continued funding for the school and parish. Carol is a teacher in the Sagrada Familia school. She works hard in school all day, and then goes home to her young son, Adrian. At the age of two he is finding it difficult to learn to walk. Over the last few months he has been receiving physical therapy in order to help strengthen the muscles in his legs. Now, he is able to use his legs, with someone holding him, and he is getting stronger by the day. He is such a lovely little boy, so full of life. He loves giving kisses and making lots of noise. At the moment Carol’s husband is living in Chicago, where he went for the better job prospects. Carol and Adrian will move there early next year, where Adrian will continue his treatment. It will be such a benefit to the family to live in the US, though it will be a big loss for Sagrada Familia school.
INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM: ADRIAN AND CARLOS Carol plays a big part in the day to day life of the school and is very good friends with her colleagues – she was even maid-of-honour for the head teacher at her wedding. She will most certainly be missed! Another important person in the school is Gloria. She works in the kitchen at the school. She spends the morning making empanadas (little cheese pastries) for break time – she is like a machine, working so fast! She put the rest of us to shame when we were trying to help her! The school has a small tuck shop, which she runs, selling small cakes and savoury snacks as well as water. The school has constant break times from about 9am, as it houses nursery, primary and secondary school. School starts at 7 and finishes at 1. Gloria lives with her two sons in another part of the city. She has to take 2 buses to get to school every day. Her son Carlos goes to the school. He was always with us and wanting to play – his energy was never-ending! Luciano is two years old and not yet at school. When our group visited two years ago Gloria and her familia were living in a small bamboo hut. She now has a better house in a slightly better area. Sagrada Familia school plays such a big part in this family’s life; if it were not for Gloria’s job there, they would still be living in the small hut. Sagrada Familia is a huge part of the community in Nueva Prosperina. It is becoming ever more difficult for Adela and the rest of the staff to keep the school open. We are one of their only sources of income, and after having visited the school and the community, we very much believe that it is our responsibility to continue doing what we can for them.