Symbolic Monarchs in Mexico

 

Pedro Ascencio Elementary, Grades 4-6, and Grades 1-3
The school is located in the Garatachea, in the Estado de México. Located right beside main entrance to Sierra Chincua Sanctuary on the border side of the State of México.

This is a “Uni-grade” school, two teachers share the six grades which implies Elementary education. One teacher teaches 1st., 2nd., and 3rd., grades and the other 4th., 5th., and 6th., grades, both teaching all subjects: Maths, Spanish, Natural Sciences, Geography, Mexican and Universal History, Civic Education and Ethics, Art and Sports; this last one only two times a week.

During this visit on January 22 Moms and Grand-Ma’s are shown at the school. These women are there to learn to read and write at the same time as their children/grandchildren are attending classes! They shared with Estela,

“When we were little girls and we remember going through the forest and seeing it crowded with Monarchs…  it was even dark in there since Monarchs made an effect of a shadow all over the forest due to the so dense population all around…  ever since, Monarchs are part of us and our lives.

“We are so proud that now our children have their own school in our community for about 25 years now… we fought very much for it.  Our husbands build it up and ever since we have managed to get really good support from the state, showing permanent interest as parents to improving it in all senses.  We want the best of education for our children,” they told Estela proudly.

With the older students they had a good discussion of local flora and fauna existing at the forests of Monarch Butterflies results really interesting with children at this age. They all go to the forests with their families and friends all the time and know well about those species of animals which population is really scarce now, such as birds (owls are rare to see nowadays –we discuss it--), and reptiles.  They name some of the animals in the forest rare to see nowadays and share anecdotes of them or their dads or grandpa’s having seen one of the most rare animals. 

Onto the topic of Monarchs’ life-cycle, their breeding in the North, the migration of the Mathusalen Generation to overwinter and mate in our Oyamel forests. 
Lots of questions arise:

“Could it be that Monarchs could result endangered in their population, Estela?”
“What if we plant lots of Asclepia/Algodoncillo plants here with us, would they breed here and not migrate anymore to the North?

With the younger students there is a good discussion about the local flora and fauna that are living and sharing our forests with Monarch butterflies.
The young students learn that Monarchs come from the North to spend and a warm winter with us right here in the mountains.
Estela shares about Monarchs and their particularities, such as how Monarchs coming to México live much longer that the previous generations.

Could you imagine our forests in this time of the year without Monarchs???” –Estela asked--.
“Noooooo”, --they all responded--, “since we were born, Monarchs have lived here with us”!!!

Children slowly writing their letters reflecting on how mushrooms, other plant species and all species of animals co-inhabit the Oyamel forests with Monarchs, emphasizing that our Oyamel forests are unique among a few others in all of our planet.

BREAKTIME:
11 am: Enjoying a snack they buy for 2- 5 pesos, not more.  It is cold and candies are welcome.   Getting warm while breaktime takes place is really pleasant.

This is the only school in the season that still preserves dinner service for their students. An excellent service, having today: Rice soup, Enchiladas filled with chicken meat dressed with green chili souce and cream and grinded cheese on; lemon water. After this lunch or early dinner at 13:30 hrs., children will continue school until 5 pm. 

This school and it Schedule is an exception in our region.  Directors and teachers are free with their educational system to engage with such a scheme of education and schedule and dinner service, or not.  Moms are very much needed to run such a project, and it is not always positively resulting.

Donations: “Technology” ilustrated book on last developments in technology for the older students, and “Animals” illustrated book of habitats in different latitudes and continents in the world for the younger students.


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

Saint Dominic Catholic SchoolBrookfield, WI
Gilbert Primary SchoolGilbert, SC
Nature Center at Shake LakesCleveland, OH
Shorewood Hills ElementaryMadison, WI
Shorewood Hills ElementaryMadison, WI
Saint Joseph Catholic AcademyKenosha, WI
The Wardlaw and Hartridge SchoolEdison, NJ
Florida Virtual SchoolDeBary, FL
Florida Virtual SchoolGulfport, FL
Florida Virtual SchoolLargo, FL
Florida Virtual SchoolLargo, FL
Florida Virtual SchoolDeBary, FL
Hawley EnvironmentalMilwaukee, WI
Brooklyn ElementaryBrooklyn, WI
Colebrook ElementaryColebrook, NH
Morgen Owings ElementaryChelan, WA
Thorne Bay SchoolThorne Bay, AK
Keysor ElementaryKirkwood, MO
Immaculate Heart of Mary SchoolAtlanta, GA
Immaculate Heart of Mary SchoolAtlanta, GA
Pace AcademyAtlanta, GA
Pace AcademyAtlanta, GA
Warring ElementaryPoughkeepsie, NY
Lake Placid ElementaryLake Placid, NY
Andes Central SchoolAndes, NY
Albany Jewish Community CenterAlbany, NY
Westerly High SchoolWesterly, RI