Summer 2015 Trip
The first trip of the Cotinga Foundation is officially complete! From June 12th, 2015 to June 22nd, 2015, the team traveled to Cayambe, Ecuador and worked at Instituto Fiscal de Educacion Especial Cap. Giovanni Calles.
The team consisted of three special education teachers: Terry Lancaster, Jennifer Paris and Nikki Sneed, and two college students studying to be music therapists: Kerissa Breisch and Jacinda Godfirnon. Two ladies went with us: Nancy Nesselhauf and Judy Meyer to help with cooking, laundry and childcare so that David and Brenda Meyer, the missionaries that live there, were free to translate at the school for us each day. Danae Busenitz was an intern in Ecuador this summer, and is also a teacher, so she helped at the school each day. Gissela Simbana is our Ecuadorian friend that cooked a wonderful Ecuadorian lunch for us each day.
We were given a warm welcome by the director, Galo, and all of the teachers that remembered Terry from last year. As we toured the classrooms, the teachers were anxious to show us all of the things that they have learned and implemented since last year. The biggest surprise was that they restructured the school based on last year’s recommendations. The students are now grouped by ability level, rather than randomly. Many teachers pulled out the totes from last year and the students showed us how they use different items. The students now write daily sentences about the date and weather and each classroom had a behavior chart of smiles and frowns to record their day. They were using the weighted vests and the few lap pads that we had left last year with great success.
Each morning, we broke into three groups as we visited classrooms to answer specific questions and work with specific students. This allowed us to concentrate on their most difficult problems. There was a particular student that we saw last year. We were able to identify his syndrome, research it and bring the information to the mother and the school. This will allow the school to help her get the medical help that she needs for her child.
In the afternoons, we held seminars t
hat all of the teachers attended. They were given their own personal tote bags and lots of supplies each day to use. We emphasized reading and math during these times, along with additional behavior ideas. A team of ladies in St. Louis sewed tote bags, a lap pad for each student, several different math placemats for games and number work, bibs for the wheelchair students, and drool wrist bands.
For fun, one family donated bright blue string backpacks for each student. We took fabric markers so that they could each decorate one. They have one hour of recess each day, but other than a few old pieces of playground equipment, they didn’t have any supplies. We took something new each day: soccer balls, Frisbees, jumpropes, blowup toys and sidewalk chalk. The kids loved them.
On Friday afternoon, we again invited all of the parents for a parent meeting. We helped bridge the gap between the teachers and parents by emphasizing the wonderful job that the school was doing. We listed all of the ways that the parents can help their child succeed by being in partnership with the school. These are new concepts there and were well received.
The school thanked us for coming by giving us gifts and putting on a show the last morning. They had a ceramic plate made with a plaque that says: “Gift of Thanks from the Special Education Institute to the Cotinga Foundation.” Everyone hugged us and kissed us and cried when we left.
A great work was done the school this year and we look forward to continuing a wonderful partnership with them.
