CALASANZ SAN PEDRO SCHOOL. LA ROMANA-DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MERY YOCASTA PANIAGUA, PRINCIPAL
I have been working at Calasanz San Pedro School since 2000 and I have collaborated as a teacher guide, teacher of human and religious formation, computer, teaching coordinator and secretary.
It has been a journey full of joy and optimism and a wonderful experience in which I have been able to grow in the Piarist charism along with all the priests and lay people who have passed through the school. I make my own the Calasanz phrase: “I have found the best way to serve God and I will not leave him for anything in this world”.
To lead the direction of a Piarist center has been a great challenge, due to the changing nature of our Dominican educational system.
THE SCHOOL
It was founded by Fr. Sebastian Cavalotto in 1974 on land donated to the parish by the Roman Central Company and in 1984 the Piarist Fathers took over the administration and management of the school.
The school is located in Villa España, a densely populated area. Our school receives requests, not only from the surrounding neighborhoods but from all over the city, for the quality of our academic offerings as we offer other activities such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and music classes.
We teach the whole cycle of Infant and Primary Education up to 6th grade in Extended Day.
The school has a social project outside of its building in Villa España; it is the nursery school in María Trinidad Sánchez in a very poor area of the city.
The educational center is semi-official; that is to say, the teaching staff is paid by the Ministry of Education and the rest of the expenses are paid by the families.
CHALLENGES
The school has a trained staff and although it has improved its infrastructure, it still lacks many spaces that would better support teaching. We aspire to improve our facilities (playground) to offer greater security to our children.
Another challenge is to adapt to our changing educational system and to be able to adjust our own educational model, which will lead us to provide better opportunities for growth and improvement in the quality of education for our population.
We also need to continue expanding and strengthening alliances with institutions that can provide us with facilities or resources.
PASTORAL
The pastoral proposal is very rich and participatory because there is a large team of volunteers who work with great motivation to educate in an integral way with a Calasanctian seal.
The Movement of Infant Education and Schooling (MIES) works very well. Each stage is made up of 2 or even 3 groups. We have a weekly meeting, coexistence and camps at the end of the school year.
This year we have a new stage: (Friends of Jesus) and welcomes children in 3rd grade.
We hold Eucharistic celebrations, convivences and camps, always encouraging the participation of the families.
The participation of the Piarist fraternity is an added value to our pastoral offer.
INNOVATION
The expansion of the center to receive a larger number of students and favor a larger number of families.
The extracurricular proposal: sports clubs, music classes.
The operation of the School for Parents, run by the psychology department.
Expansion of the hours of English established by the Dominican curriculum, as well as teaching English classes from the first grade of the Initial level.
DETAILS
School Address: Calle A #4, Villa España, La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Contact: 809-556-9167 calasanzsanpedro@gmail.com
Date founded: 1984
Number of students: 724
Number of educators: 58
Non-Formal Education Offering: Calasanz unites us, Community Centers, Volunteering, Calasanz Cultural Center.
Complementary activities: Health Program, parish activities,
