De Que Me Sirve la Vida: New Year, New Beginnings

Classes officially started back this week for the public school boys yesterday, so we're back in the swing of things here at JEC!

Julio, Juan Carlos, & Hector on their first day of high school

We have 6 enrolled in private, bilingual school, 19 in the public elementary school, 23 in the public high school, and one starting his college career. Could we be more blessed?

High school boys are excited to start a new year!

I am so proud and honored to work with such an incredible team of dedicated employees here at Jovenes. When I first arrived in mid 2011, many of the boys had repeated several grades and their averages were very low. The change the boys have made in the past 3 years is incredible. The houseparents are so dedicated to working specifically with each one by helping them with projects, encouraging them to do their homework daily, etc. This can be seen in many ways, but it is especially obvious by the rise of their grades. One of the yellow house boys finished last year with a 96% average!! Amilkar, we are so proud of you!!!

Amilkar with our education director, Demetria, at the merit bank awards ceremony

One of the ways we have motivated the boys is by creating a "merit bank", where twice a year the boys get to choose prizes from the bank according to their GPAs. These items usually come from donations from summer groups or we by little by little during the year.

Demetria and our 90 to 100 average boys!

Since school was about to start we decided to have our merit bank award ceremony on the last day of January along with that month's birthday celebration. Our new education director, Demetria, and I were in charge of organizing the afternoon's event in our cafeteria. Our extremely talented and creative house mom, Mary, made the cakes along with the help of that weeks' visitors, Sarah Catherine (one of my best friends) and her husband, Richy ("Ricardo").

Richy, Scat and some of the yellow house boys

Each boy's name was called in order of his GPA, and by 10 point groups (90 to 100, 80 to 90 etc) the boys were allowed to choose their prize. Amilkar of course chose the only soccer ball we had, so next time we know what to get more of!

We cheered and screamed (I literally lost my voice) for each boy, which brought out the biggest smile on their sweet faces. I can't say it enough, I AM SO PROUD OF THESE BOYS!!! They have come so, so far.

Some of the prizes

After the award ceremony, we presented Yoni Garcia (17 years old) with his 6th grade diploma. This is a HUGE deal for us as well. Yoni has been receiving private classes (home-schooling essentially) from our education director, and the country has legally recognized him as passing 6th grade. Our director, Ronald Millon, presented him with his diploma and talked to the boys that no matter how old you are or whatever obstacles stand in your way, you can do anything you put your mind to. Congratulations, Yoni!!!

Director, Ronald Millon, and Yoni Garcia receiving his diploma

The birthday celebrations are always a fun time. We finally finished our leftover pumpkins from our Halloween celebration in October. It took us a few months, but they were perfect to cut a hole in, fill with candy, and then watch explode! Our January birthday boys were William and Yimi from the yellow house, Noe from the pink house, and Cristian Ochoa, Gomez and Chino from the green house. Happy birthday, boys! We love ya!