Want to observe/volunteer in a class?

If you are good at listening and want to see us in operation, you are welcome to observe classes. With observers, we are able to give our students opportunities to practice their new skills with a variety of English speakers, including small group work, where students get more individual attention.
NOTE - IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OBSERVING, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE 3 STEPS:

1. Look over the class schedule to decide which class you would prefer:
July 12 - July 22, 2010 Class Schedule

10:00AM -12:00PM		Adult Basic
1:00PM - 3:00PM		Kids Basic
3:30PM - 5:30PM		Jr & Sr High School
6:30PM - 8:30PM		Adult Basic

2. Make sure the class will be in session:

3. Contact the school with the exact days and classes you would like to volunteer. (lagloria@gmail.com) For a more enriching experience, we suggest a 4-class commitment (come to the same class (one hour) for 4 days). During high season, it is best if you choose 2 options, so we don’t overload any class with too many observers. Once we confirm this time, it will be reserved for you. If your plans change, please let us know!

We love having observers and invite you to enrich your vacation with this unique experience, and appreciate your cooperation with the following guidelines:

1. Do not take pictures during the class unless given specific permission by the teacher before class starts. You are welcome to take pictures before and after class.

2. Please remember that the teacher may need time just before class to prepare her teaching materials, so cannot visit with you at that time.

3. Your children are allowed in the classroom to observe in classes of their age group when accompanied by a responsible adult.

Donate money!

Bring donations to the school!

Donations brought to the School range from good used clothing to school and office supplies to electronics, including laptop computers for students. Of course donations in pesos are most welcome and provide scholarships to local students. With all donations we are able to help distribute resources in the local community and reduce the expenses for the School. We also regularly give students ‘prizes’ for good effort and attendance. If you would like to bring a donation to the school, here is all the information you need:

WHAT TO BRING ~
1.      Good used clothing: There is a continual need for good quality used clothing especially children's and teen's. Baby clothes are always in demand. Generally there is no need for tall men’s clothing or for women’s dresses,skirts and blouses.  Please make sure they are clean and in good repair.
2. Small gifts: These are used for good attendance and performance in class and include gel pens, key holders, colorful pencils, playing cards and dominos, things like that.
3. Office supplies: We have constant need for white and pastel copy paper. White board markers, white-out, sharpie pens and markers; all office supplies are welcomed.
4. School supplies: These are always in demand, including colored pencil sets and crayola markers, spiral bound note-books, small pencil sharpeners, erasers, school glue, pocket folders, hand calculators, nice pens, scissors, you get the idea.
5. Dollars and pesos are always needed! Less than 50% of the students pay the full $1,000 peso tuition (about $80 dollars). The average tuition collected per student is closer to $40. Your donation at the school makes these scholarships possible.
6. Good used laptop computers: There are a number of students in the community whose families have stretched their budget to the limit to get them to high school or college, but cannot afford to own computers. Without them they are faced with the extra work and expense going to Internet cafes to try to complete assignments in a poor working environment. The computers must be changed to the Spanish version of XP or a newer version. Older computers are not useable, as it is impossible to convert them to Spanish. There is no way for us to recycle computers at this time, so pleased do not bring older versions.

WHERE TO BRING THEM ~
All donations must be brought to Isla Mujeres, but if you don't have time to bring them out to the school, there are several places in the downtown of Isla Mujeres where they can be left, and we can come and pick them up. Please email us at: lagloria@gmail.com or call us at 888-0666 to let us know you have dropped them off.
1) the Francis Arlene Hotel on Avenida Guerrero (www.francisarlene.com)
2) the office at Nautibeach Condos (www.nautibeach.com)
3) Casa Sirena (www.sirena.com.mx)
4) Manana's Restaurant in Centro (manana.islamujeres.info/)
We are not able to go to Cancun to pick up any donations.
If you cannot bring the donations to Isla Mujeres, please do not try to mail a box to us. It will be extremely expensive for you, and we will be forced to go to the airport in Cancun and pay to get the box out of customs. It could easily cost us $100 for travel and customs fees! Small manila envelopes usually make it through the mail and get to us – please do not mail money.
If you are not coming to Isla but would like to send a donation of goods, the best way is to find someone who is coming, and ask them to bring it in their luggage. There is a message board dedicated to Isla travelers at http://www.islamujeres.info/communicating/open_forum.asp which might be able to help you find someone.

WHEN TO BRING THEM ~
When class is in session, it can be very disruptive if donations are brought in during class time. We therefore ask that you bring any donations at specific times when there are no classes and someone will be there to receive them and have you sign our donations book.
When classes are in session (scroll up) it is best if you come:
Daily between 9:30 and 10:00 AM, 12:00 - 1:15 PM or
Fridays between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

When classes are NOT in session we are delighted to receive visitors any time 9:30 - 5:00 weekdays.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY,
WE COULD NOT CONTINUE THIS WORK WITHOUT IT!