The community of La Parguera begins the year 2023 dreaming of its ideal school

On January 10, 11 and 12, the school community of La Parguera in Lajas met at the Alejandro Tapia y Rivera School (ATR) to dream of their school.

Its mission is to offer a quality education to all, each and every one of its students, to provide rich and varied experiences so that young people find their vocation and pursue it, be well prepared to achieve it and to serve their community.  

Students, guides, families, allies of special projects, people from the community, members of the Auxiliary Secretariat of Montessori Education (SAEM) and members of the Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE) participated in the dream exercise. The exercise started from reflection and attention to the following questions: What school does Puerto Rico need? What school does La Parguera need? What do we want to see in our school in three years? 

The community seeks a school that promotes the universal values ​​of healthy coexistence, respect for others and for nature. A school that practices citizen participation, that encourages exchange between the community and the school, and develops social responsibility in all of its participants. A school whose academic and social project are based on the science of development and learning. 

La Parguera needs a school that gives back to the community the opportunity to educate their sons and daughters there, nearby. A school that serves young people well, that has a beautiful, safe campus which coexists with nature. A school that does not allow mistreatment of others, nor of nature. A place where everyone feels invested in and committed to the welfare and success of students and the community.

They dream of a school that has full enrollment, serving students from the south who now have no school. They dream of being part of the Montessori public sister schools network and promoting student and faculty exchanges between them. They dream of an optimal campus decorated by the hands of their students with murals, gardens and play areas.  

The Montessori project born at the ATR school has an emphasis on Marine Sciences and with diverse offerings, many linked to life in La Parguera: fishing, sailing, tourism, diving, theater, crafts, music, among others.  

During three days the school was not only dreamed, the dream turned into a plan for action: What do we have to do to achieve it? 

Among others, three important projects were born from that exercise: the Marine Science Laboratory Museum, the Meteorological Station that CARICOOS donated to the school this semester, and the Environmental Journalism and Documentary project. These projects deepen the skills and concepts of the curriculum and enrich the educational experiences of the youth. 

During those three days an atmosphere of joy and hope reigned, born from everyone's commitment to the young people who are going up, from the deep faith we have in them. 

This school reopened on January 31, 2022, after being closed due to damages caused by Hurricane Maria in 2018. For years the community took care of it. They always had faith that their young people would return to it. January 2023, the school dreamed of itself, already with it’s doors open and serving young people from 13 to 17 years old.