Yesterday had 11 students plus a volunteer from the high school & Don Eckel, another volunteer adult. The day looked like this:
I took the van, picked up the kids at their homes, went to the Performing Arts Center for a rehearsal, went back to Ocotillo Wells and worked with kids until 1:00pm, had lunch, loaded the kids in the van, returned them home, and then returned the van. It was late when I finished!
Most of the kids all speak Spanish. We have work books for all the kids for them to learn English. it is part of the English emersion plan.
The kids get rewards when they do well. For example, video games. I always ask kids about their lifestyle, for example when they eat breakfast, when they go to bed. At the center, the kids read out loud, write stories and do art projects. We have 2 art projects currently: a piñata & an orchid.
We feed the kids lunch from money we have received from donations. We want to thank Rotary for all the money that has been given to the learning center.
Kay then told her story of how she got involved in the school system: she had lost her job, her house burned down, and she was talking to someone in her beauty shop, who said "come and live in Borrego Springs".
She did so last August. She already had her teaching credentials, so she started the finger print process. She volunteered at the elementary school last year after completing the process oand was hired at the end of the year.