by Lural Ramirez | Mar 31, 2017
As Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, Futuro Verde will hold a unique fundraiser to benefit both the environment and the completion of our multimedia center. Multiple Futuro Verde board members, parents and community supporters will choose an environmental charity of their choice and will then compete to see who raises $1,000 first. All participants will then climb into the strangler fig outside the art room on Futuro Verde’s campus on April 21st. As they enjoy the world from atop this majestic tree, they will also work hard to motivate further donations so that all participants reach their $1,000 goal. In order to get out of the strangler fig, each individual participant will have to make their $1,000 goal.
The money raised will then have a double benefit.The first participant to make their $1,000 goal will donate their money to the environmental charity they chose. The rest of the money raised will be used to purchase seven more computers for the school computer lab and to complete the equipping of our new school library!
Commit to the environment, support our new multimedia spaces and enjoy this fun Earth Day inspired event at FV! For further information, complete event rules and guidelines on how to donate check the school website www.futuro-verde.org “Support FV” menu. Stay connected on FV’s social media channels for regular updates throughout the event!
by Lural Ramirez | Mar 29, 2017
Over the past 2 months, we have made major improvements to our WIFI network.The range of the WIFI access has now extended to all the classrooms, meaning all of our teachers are now able to access the internet from their own classroom. Our students are also able to access the internet now in a secure way, with filters blocking inappropriate content, and with the ability to use the internet during school time to do research connected to their learning.
Our Google Classrooms launch has been a success! Secondary students are registered in their Google Classrooms and are receiving regular posts from teachers as a part of this innovative blended learning platform. As a part of their grade, students are required to respond to each post received from teachers, to upload work, and to maintain an interactive presence in classes. Parents, prepare yourselves! As a part of our gradual roll out of the platform, teachers will be adding parent/guardian emails to each student account. Please make sure you accept the invite email you receive from Google Classroom so that you receive the weekly summaries of your child’s assignments and work due the coming week. This guardian email will give parents regular, automatic updates on learning, your student’s progress and notification of any late work due as well.
Today’s world requires a 21st Century Classroom and Futuro Verde strives to support meaningful technology integration in the classroom by providing reliable and secure internet throughout the campus and teachers committed to technology integrated learning. In the years to come, students will be expected to supplement their use of our school computer lab with their own personal laptop. If your child does not currently own a personal laptop computer, it is never too early to start making plans for its purchase. As a part of FV policy, 11th graders in 2018 will be required to bring a personal laptop to school each day and other secondary grade levels, though not required to have a laptop, will be encouraged to bring one as well.
Parents, keep yourselves informed and updated on your student’s learning by following the regular Google Classroom updates and plan ahead for an even stronger digital presence at Futuro Verde in the future!
by David Brookshire, MPH/ School Counselor & Special Education Case Manager | Mar 28, 2017
Technology benefits our live in many ways because it makes communication easier and more efficient. It’s also important, however, to be aware of the dangers of technology use, especially when it comes to our children. With the ability to connect with anyone in the world, at any time in an instant through social media; we must take certain precautions to protect ourselves and our kids from those individuals that may not have the best of intentions. Because we have had incidents in our own community regarding online sexual predators, the need to have the conversation with each other and our children is urgent. Have you talked with your kids about internet safety? A simple conversation can go a long way in raising their awareness of the dangers and, give them some important information regarding their behavior online so that they can be empowered to make safe choices.
Here are a few key ideas for a meaningful conversation:
- What happens on the internet, stays on the internet!
This is an important reminder for all of us. Whatever we post on the internet is always available and can be found quite easily. We sometimes forget that we are always leaving a digital trail with everything we say and do online. A good question to always ask ourselves before we decide to post any content is this: “Would I want my grandma or grandpa, or little brother or sister to see this?” If the answer is “no,” don’t post it! This could include a comment, picture, or video. By creating this simple filter, we can prevent a lot of potential stress in the future for ourselves and/or the people we know.
- There is value in privacy.
Keeping private things private is often a value that is lost in the digital age. We must remember, though, that what we do represents ourselves and our families. With this in mind, we may not need to share details of our lives with strangers. An easy way to do this is to change our social media settings to “Private.” By only allowing people we know to access us online, we create an excellent safeguard that can prevent others from contacting us and monitoring us unwantedly. Let us please encourage our children and teenagers to only engage with people they know on the internet. By sharing these ideas and monitoring our kids’ behavior online, we can potentially safeguard against online predators.
- What does it mean to be a friend?
By reminding our children and teens to be careful what they post and to maintain their privacy online, we are helping them to be safe. Along these lines, we can take the conversation a step further and remind them that they don’t have to accept every “Friend Request” that comes their way. My simple rule is this, “If I don’t know you or you are not a friend of a friend, I do not engage with you on social media.” Obviously, there might be a few exceptions to this rule but, for the most part, this is a good standard to live by and the benefits outweigh the risks. This can be taken a step further by taking inventory of our “Friend List” and purging it of those that we don’t know. This easy step can add another filter for online safety.
- Help and support are a valuable lifeline.
By giving our kids a safe and open line of communication, we can create an environment of trust and support. Many times, victims of online predators feel isolated, scared, and alone. Often, if they would just seek help, the situation would not intensify. We need to let our children and teens understand that they can come to us when they need help without the fear of judgement. By feeling safe to reach out to a parent, teacher, or counselor before the problem becomes too unmanageable; they can get the help that they need and prevent future problems.
With these key points, we can engage in a meaningful conversation with our children and teens to create a safe online experience. With a few safeguards and the understanding that, “it CAN happen to me,” we can prevent dangerous situations from escalating. Please reach out to Futuro Verde if we can help or provide clarity in guiding the conversation.
by Webmaster | Mar 28, 2017
Do you have a hidden talent that is ready for the stage? Are you finally prepared to put yourself into the spotlight? Do you have what it takes to WIN? Well, get your ACT TOGETHER! Your time to shine has come!
We are pleased to announce the 1st annual Futuro Verde’s Got Talent Show on June 9th, 2017.
Dance to your favorite song
Sing with a group or go solo
Get your rock band out of the garage
Demonstrate your skill at soccer, martial arts, gymnastics, or ?
Perform a magic trick
Create a short video or play
Don’t want to be in the spotlight?
Join the Backstage Crew to help with sound, lighting, costumes, and props.
Comfortable in front of a crowd?
Join the MC team and help to host FV’s Got Talent.
Is your talent in Literary or Visual Arts?
Submissions accepted through May 19th.
Applications for all are being accepted NOW through April 28th online HERE
Auditions for stage presentations and acts will be scheduled during the week of May 3-9.
Don’t be shy, take part in a spectacular, never seen on the Futuro Verde stage, showcasing talents of all kinds and the participation of the audience!
Winners to be awarded via popular vote and judges panel. Selected winners will have the opportunity for further competitions.
by Stuart Millar, IB coordinator | Mar 27, 2017
We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place but can feel a little isolated and cut off from the bigger world around us. Even with all the technology at our disposal, it is easy for time to pass without us really being aware, although global events and political and economic change directly impact us.
Being knowledgeable is a choice and takes effort. When asked how they stay informed, one colleague replied that they choose not to read the news very often so they won’t be depressed about things they can’t change. Another colleague felt that being informed, both locally and globally, helps them make more considered decisions and gives a sense of control over their life. On a local level that could be where to send their children to school, where to live, or even when and where to surf that weekend. Global events can affect decisions about mobility and finances. Being aware of world issues also gives one a sense of perspective about our own situation, and can make you more appreciative. For example, we should feel fortunate that we can be informed and make decisions about our students’ education while six years of conflict in Syria has left a whole generation without a childhood or steady education.
There are so many ways to be locally and globally informed, but it’s important to make sure that we use quality sources and that we are aware of possible bias. The following are available on the internet or have applications: BBC Mundo, BBC News, CNN, CNNEspañol, Guardian, TED, CNN, NPR One, La Nación, Tico Times, Al Jazeera, Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/)
