Vasco de Quiroga Elementary, Grades 4-6

This school is located in the Western-oriented Valley at the base of “Sierra Chincua” Sanctuary, State of Michoacán.  (Senguio town and its Sanctuary just visited, is also located further westwards in the same valley).
This is one of the two private elementary schools in our region. Since the educational level at the Michoacán state is considered one of the lowest in our country, parents who have the possibility to send their chidren to this private school system, make a really good decisión, paying a really comfortable tuition (800 –eight hundred pesos a month).  The difference in academical level for children in this private system is really worthwhile, however, not al families –even having got the financial possibilities for it, which are less than 50 percent of the population--, decide for it.  This kind of education is run by Catholic Religious Congregations.

For days now we have had our coldest days of this winter time. We are waiting for snow while rather strong winter winds blow all throughout our contry. It is especially cold in mountain towns like this one located at over 3,000 meters altitude. Scarves, bonnets, gloves, and boots are scarcely enough to shield ourselves, since our homes and schools have no heating system due to our very short winters of about a couple of months, that is, mid-December to mid-end February. A polar front is covering all of our country but living at 3,000 meters altitude, feels having really intense winter time, according to our winter standards!

Once every phase of a Monarch’s life cycle is explained for children with its amazing methamorphosis step, children are simply fascinated!  Then, they love to hold the string with the shapes in their hands, and touch it and imagining how marvelled their counterparts in the North should feel at seeing this with them! 

“Exactly in the same way they wonder how fascinated we should feel to have Monarchs forming their Sanctuaries up here in OUR forests, which they cannot see, but know only through photos!”  --Estela shares with them --.

Once having reflecte on some aspects of our local ecosystem which surrounds Monarchs at their overwinterins sites, they tell their northern friends about it in their letters.

Foot-ball (soccer) is indeed the most popular sport in our society.  Children love to play it at school.  Girls tend to keep rather quiet everywhere talking to each other while enjoying their delicious lunch which they get for only 10 – 15 pesos –slightly less than one dollar--.

Downtown is beatiful and very old. The town dates as far back as the mid-late 1800’s, and it continues to keep its magic quietness and very traditional living.

The school at the end of the street only one block from the main square. Notice the Majestic mountains of the “Sierra Chincua” Sanctuary. This is where the valley Aporo and Senguio town are located. This is different from Angangueo, which is settled at the bottom of the Mountain chain walls, as if in a canyon.

Information content of a symbolic Monarch sent to our children on Monarch’s development and planting the ideal flower garden.

Donations: “Marathon” game; 4th. grade.“Estoy Creciendo, ¿Y qué?” book; 5th. grade. “Monarchs’ life-line” didactics; 6th. grade.

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

Shorewood Hills Elementary,Madison,WI
River Valley Charter School,Newburyport,MA
Hollis School,Peoria,IL
Southside Estates Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
River Valley Charter School,Newburyport,MA
River Valley Charter School,Newburyport,MA
Southside Estates Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Hinesburg Community School,Hinesburg,VT
Strong Magnet School,New Haven,CT
Crystal Springs Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Southside Estates Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Southside Estates Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
W R Thomas Middle School,Miami,FL
Breckinridge Elementary,Fincastle,VA
Evergreen Elementary School,Scotch Plains,NJ
Valley Forge Elementary,Huber Heights,OH
Valley Forge Elementary,Huber Heights,OH
Pittsfield High School,Pittsfield,IL
Knowlton Township Elementary,Delaware,NJ
British International School of Houston,Katy,TX
Fern Leaf Community Charter School,Fletcher,NC
Saint Francis of Assisi Elementary,Manitowoc,WI
Saint Francis of Assisi Elementary,Manitowoc,WI
Saint Francis of Assisi Elementary,Manitowoc,WI
Saint Francis of Assisi Elementary,Manitowoc,WI
Bonnie Grimes Elementary,Rogers,AR
Collegiate School,Richmond,VA
Collegiate School,Richmond,VA
Collegiate School,Richmond,VA
Collegiate School,Richmond,VA
Collegiate School,Richmond,VA
Collegiate School,Richmond,VA
Eisenhower School,Dubuque,IA
Baker Butler Elementary,Charlottesville,VA
Fern Leaf Community Charter School,Fletcher,NC
Knowlton Township Elementary,Delaware,NJ
Belpre Elementary,Belpre,OH
Hoover Elementary,Dubuque,IA
Bass River Elementary,New Gretna,NJ
Saint Francis of Assisi Elementary,Manitowoc,WI
Keysor Elementary,Kirkwood,MO
Keysor Elementary,Kirkwood,MO
Kennesaw Charter Academy,Kennesaw,GA
The College School,Webster Groves,MO
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Banner Elementary,Dunlap,IL
Decorah Homeschool,Decorah,IA
Amherst Elementary,Amherst,WI
Hilliard Elementary,Hilliard,FL
Morningside Elementary,Garden Grove,CA
Frances Hazel Reid Elementary,Leesburg,VA
Frances Hazel Reid Elementary,Leesburg,VA
Canterbury Elementary,Cleveland Heights,OH
Frances Hazel Reid Elementary,Leesburg,VA
Frances Hazel Reid Elementary,Leesburg,VA
Santa Ynez State Preschool,Santa Ynez,CA
Finley-Oates Elementary,Bonham,TX
Childrens Choice Montessori School,Kingwood,TX
Samuel W Houston Elementary,Huntsville,TX
Gladwyne Elementary,Gladwyne,PA
Piney Point Elementary,Houston,TX
Reagan County Elementary,Big Lake,TX
Piney Point Elementary,Houston,TX
The Foote School,New Haven,CT
Northwest Elementary,Hereford,TX
Crystal Springs Elementary,Jacksonville,FL