Symbolic Monarchs in Mexico

 

11 de Julio Elementary, Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6
11 de Julio Elementary is located in Palo Amarillo Community, Ejido Palo Amarillo, in the State of México. Second belt Sheltering surrounding territory to "Sierra Chincua " Sanctuary.

In one of the concluding slides you see an overview of the location of the school community. It is easy to see that its forests have been thinned. This is becoming a threat to the density of the sheltering forest area to the Sanctuary.

Temperatures in our whole region are reaching up to 20° Centigrades during the day, but dropping down under zero (minus 2° average) overnight!  It is very sunny with bright days; and a full moon at night.  The cold, cloudy, rainy weather with snow is still not here, but will come up from one moment to the other!

After the science presentation and a discussion about their local environmental challenges children worked on their response letters in class. A lively discussion continued.

Estela, it is true that we should really get concerned about Monarchs’ survival and our own environmental future? We have seen how the rivers and streams coming down from our mountains have been slowly drying out over the last years, according to our parents and grandparents description of how wide and vigorous they were only 20-30-40 years ago!” 

Curiosly, a girl in the 6th. grade class, having received a tablet as a Christmas gift, shares it with her classmates. It is an unusual device to see, since mobile phones seem to be more useful, common and normal to anyone or any family.  Students are not allowed to bring cell phones to school; besides, the cell phone signal is still too weak in the region. There is no internet access in this community and the surrounding ones at all.

During their break time some students are allowed to bring their dolls and toys that they recently received at King Day (January 6). Time to go back to classes after break time (around 12:30).  Children run around at the teachers’ call to pick up any garbage left around after snack time at breaktime.  The garbage bin is at the center of the patio and children react to the call in a wonderful way getting the school patio neat in a couple of minutes!  This activity has not been observed before in any of the schools visited during the last years up to now!

Valeria, a 2nd. grade girl and her young mother ask for a ride home in Rocinante, who is highly pleased to do so!

Students going back home a the end of the day. All the students walk, going distances from half a kilometer up to 2-3 kilometers.

Estela Romero
Angangueo, Michoacán, México.

Butterflies Received
This school received Ambassador Butterflies from the following U.S. and Canadian Schools:

James R. Watson Elementary, Auburn, IN
Ansonia Elementary, Ansonia, OH
Ansonia Elementary, Ansonia, OH
Clear Creek Elementary, Shelbyville, KY
Maire Elementary, Grosse Pointe, MI
Irving Elementary, Oak Park, IL
Gladwyne Elementary, Gladwyne, PA
Hall Elementary, Portland, ME
Eagle Hill School, Greenwich, CT
River Valley Charter School, Newburyport, MA
University Elementary, Rohnert Park, CA
Cardinal John Foley Regional School, Havertoen, PA
River Valley Charter School, Newburyport, MA
Jones Elementary, Asheville, NC
Jones Elementary, Asheville, NC
FernLeaf Community Charter School, Fletcher, NC
Lotspeich School, Cincinnati, OH
Barretts Elementary, Manchester, MO
Pownal Elementary, Pownal, VT
Colebrook Elementary, Colebrook, NH
Yarmouth Elementary, Yarmouth, ME
Forestville Road Elementary, Knightdale, NC
Jones Elementary, Asheville, NC
Longfellow Elementary, Oak Park, IL
Longfellow Elementary, Oak Park, IL
LaSalle II Magnet School, Chicago, IL
Irving Elementary, Oak Park, IL
Longfellow Elementary, Oak Park, IL
Longfellow Elementary, Oak Park, IL
Longfellow Elementary, Oak Park, IL
Candler Elementary, Candler, NC
Bradley Elementary, Columbia, SC
Cicer Elementary, Cicero, NY
Clear Creek Elementary, Shelbyville, KY
Heron Pond Elementary, Milford, NH
Brookville Elementary, Brookville, OH
Ansonia Elementary, Ansonia, OH
Norway Public School, Toronto, ON
Piney Point Elementary, Houston, TX
Long Beach Island Grade School, Ship Bottom, NJ
Forest North, Austin, TX
Peter E. Hyland Center, Baytown, TX
Friends Seminary, New York, NY
Calvert School, Baltimore, MD
Durkee Elementary, Houston, TX
Crystal Springs Elementary, Jacksonville, FL
Bernie Elementary, Allen Park, MI
Highland Park Elementary, Stillwater, OK
Leisure Park Elementary, Broken Arrow , OK
Leisure Park Elementary, Broken Arrow , OK
Edward Best Elementary, Louisburg, NC
Edward Best Elementary, Louisburg, NC
Edward Best Elementary, Louisburg, NC