Symbolic Monarchs in Mexico

 

Colegio Corregidora Elementary and Kindergarten, Grades k-6
This school is located in the town of Angangueo, State of Michoacán. This is the second private religious Elementary and Kindergarten school in the region surrounding the Monarch Sanctuaries’ Mountains. It has been an important school for over 85 years. Eight years ago, when that terrible flooding event affected Angangueo, the facilities of the school was also severely damaged and they decided to re-locate the school.  It moved over towards the valley, and now after these 8 years they are now just newly being rebuilt.  Private education is an alternative to public education, specially in our state. Children attend additional classes here than at a public school, like English, Music, Art, Philosophy under a reinforced academic plan.

Tutition, similar to the other private school we visited a few days ago, are around the 800 pesos monthly, which for several families in our towns is not expensive to keep up with.

Classes start at 8:30 a.m., to done at 2 p.m.  Children wear their warmest clothes, since we are having very cold days with 2-4 C. degrees at this time in the morning.  Remember that at our schools and homes, we do not have heating systems, so we adjust to it!
Children learn about Monarchs’ migration from Canada and the United States to Central México. The massive migration corridor goes southwards along the Eastern side of both countries! Sixth graders teach each other:

All the way down the Mathusalen generation (the generation that lives the longest) fly down for an average of two months to reach us!  Incredible that they only live these 8-9 months from néctar and water and sunshine as their only nourishing sources to survive throughout the Journey South, over the winter and on their journey North." 
–6th graders said, proud of their expertise lerned in previous years about Monarchs’ life!

This is what North American and Canadian neighbour students and friends in the North experience:  "Their breeding”, --children shout--.  Estela adds:  “This happens along the enormous agricultural fields, gardens and along their roads where the Asclepia/Algodoncillo plant grows for them to lay their eggs and for baby caterpillars to feed themselves”.

Children discuss the different species of forest animals, plants trees and insects, stressing importance of the different wild flowers in our forests, meadows and prairies, which are their main source of nectar, and should be conserved for the monarch and for health of the Oyamel forests.
In order to correspond to their Canadian and North American student-friends,  they are excited tell them through their letters about the overwintering hábitat of Monarchs in our mountains.

Little children in this school attended the presentation, reflected in only a few very general ideas on the above described topics, and sent in their Ambassador Monarch, beautiful hand-made decorated Monarchs to their Northern friends in Canada and the United States.

BREAKTIME AT SCHOOL: In these very cold days, a warm hot-cake with honey or marmelade on, an “enchiladas” order ( a bended pair of tortillas with hot mole sauce spread on it and cream and cheese on top), hot chocolate and even a snack a sándwich or a torta maybe prepared at home by moms, brings a lot more energy and enthusiasm to children for the rest of the day!.

Donations: 6th. grade:  “Estoy Creciendo ¿Y qué?.4th. and 5th. grades: “Technologies”/”Human Body,” 1st. and 2nd. grades: “English Sound-tracks”, “Animals”. Kindergarten: “Monarchs’ life-cycle”


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

6th Grade: Crystal Springs Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Crystal Springs Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Crystal Springs Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Hilliard Elementary,Hilliard,FL
University of Illinois Extension,Macomb,IL
Hoover Elementary,Dubuque,IA
Maple Avenue School,Goffstown,NH
Asa Adams School,Orono,ME
Pembroke Hill School,Kansas City,MO
Daisy Brook Elementary,Fremont,MI
Campton Elementary,Campton,NH
Campton Elementary,Campton,NH
Campton Elementary,Campton,NH
Ashland Elementary,Ashland,NH
Plymouth School,Welland,ON
Lake Superior Students,Ontonagon,MI
Hillside Elementary,New Richmond,WI
Hillside Elementary,New Richmond,WI

4th and 5th: Hillside Elementary,New Richmond,WI
Hillside Elementary,New Richmond,WI
Mother of Sorrows School,Murrysville,PA
Indian Hill Primary School,Cincinnati,OH
Norway Public School,Toronto,ON
Hutchison School,Memphis,TN
Ravenscroft School,Raleigh,NC
Hutchison School,Memphis,TX
Walnut Springs Elementary,New Braunfels,TX
Sinclair Elementary,San Antonio,TX
Breck School,Golden Valley,MN
Breck School,Golden Valley,MN
Breck School,Golden Valley,MN
Crystal Springs Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Swinburn Elementary,Tulia,TX
Crystal Springs Elementary,Jacksonville,FL
Hutchison School,Memphis,TN
Fairview Elementary,Fairview,TN
Fairview Elementary,Fairview,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN

1st - 3rd: Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Liberty Elementary,Franklin,TN
Saint Andrew's School,Austin,TX
Prairie View Elementary,Otsego,MN
Prairie View Elementary,Otsego,MN
Hickory Hill School,Thomson,GA
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Meadowvale Elementary,Elk River,MN
Lincoln Elementary,Elk River,MN
Lincoln Elementary,Elk River,MN
Lincoln Elementary,Elk River,MN
Prairie View Elementary,Otsego,MN
Meadowvale Elementary,Elk River,MN
Meadowvale Elementary,Elk River,MN
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Lincoln Elementary,Elk River,MN
Nasha Shkola Charter School,Brooklyn Park,MN
Harambee Elementary,Maplewood,MN
Meadowvale Elementary,Elk River,MN
Rogers Elementary,Rogers,MN
Zimmerman Elementary,Zimmerman,MN
Fairview Elementary,Fairview,TN
Fairview Elementary,Fairview,TN

Kindergarten: Prairie Crest Elementary,Cedar Rapids,IA
Winchester Thurston School,Allison Park,PA
Winchester Thurston School,Pittsburgh,PA
Winchester Thurston School,Pittsburgh,PA
Winchester Thurston School,Pittsburgh,PA
Providence Day School,Charlotte,NC
Providence Day School,Charlotte,NC
Bonnie Grimes Elementary,Rogers,AR
Bonnie Grimes Elementary,Rogers,AR
Gard Elementary,Beardstown,IL
Riverside Elementary,Columbia,TN
Riverside Elementary,Columbia,TN
Riverside Elementary,Columbia,TN
Riverside Elementary,Columbia,TN
Saint Stephen's Episcopal Day School,Coconut Grove,FL