OVERVIEW

Emmanuel provides a comprehensive educational program for the children. Education is a priority at Emmanuel because we believe that God’s children deserve the best education possible. Thus, while the only grades the children are required by the Honduran government to complete are grades 1-6, Emmanuel’s additional classes include Pre-K, Kindergarten, Special Education, Junior High, and High School. In addition to the basic subjects (math, science, Spanish, and social studies) taught at Emmanuel, we offer art classes (taught by a Claudia, a junior staff member), Math Lab (taught by a volunteer), English classes (taught by junior staff member Felipe and other volunteers), and Computer classes. Moreover, this year, Emmanuel began offering quarterly extra-curricular classes in the afternoon to the children in grades 4-9. The classes include: agriculture, cooking & baking, computer programming, crochet, scrap-booking, leather work, sewing, drama, electrical work, cosmetics, photography, literature, and music.  These afternoon extra-curricular classes are taught two days a week by various staff members at Emmanuel.

The school year for the children begins in mid-February and ends in mid-November. Classes are in session from 8:30am-2:30pm Tuesday through Friday and 8:30-11:50 on Monday. Monday afternoons are allotted for the teachers to complete lesson plans for the following week. The breakdown of the students in the school this year is as follows: 6 students in Pre-K, 14 children in Kindergarten, 9 children in Special Education, 170 students in 1st through 6th grade, 30 children in Educatodos (an accelerated learning class for older students in elementary grades), 100 students in the Junior High and 32 students in the High School.

It takes a team of several individuals at Emmanuel (staff members, volunteers, and teachers) to operate the educational program each year. The administration does a wonderful job of leading the team at Emmanuel and ensuring each school year runs smoothly. Thus, thanks to God’s strength and guidance, the school continues to excel with the leadership of Merethe Sonne, Superintendent of Education for over 10 years, Robert Burrows, Administrator of the Elementary School, Juany Rodriguez, Coordinator of the High School, and Candice Thomas, Administrator of pre-school, kindergarten, and special education.

VISION

Emmanuel began the school in order to give the children the tools they would need in order to have a successful life. Each year, the school’s administrative team develops a vision and objectives for all academic areas in an attempt to provide the children with those tools. This year, the focus was on seven different areas – Preschool, Special Education, Educatodos, Elementary School, Art & Creativity, Junior High, and High School. Please read here if you would like to review the vision and objectives for 2009.

HISTORY

Classes at Emmanuel were first taught in 1990 by David Martinez and Gloria Sauceda. Although there was no formal facility for the school, classes were still held in Emmanuel’s barn. The school relocated to a wing of classrooms in 1995 when funds were donated by citizens of a town named Silkeborg in Denmark. The funds were used to build what is now the area where elementary classes are held. David and Gloria continued to teach in the school during this time although the school now had roughly 100 students. After 14 years of service, Gloria continues to teach third grade here. 

As Emmanuel continued to grow and a need for further educational opportunities arose, David and Lydia continued to expand the school. In 2001, the junior high (Instituto Emmanuel) was formed, starting out as one classroom with a small number of students. It was around that time that Emmanuel only had one area to facilitate all of their students; however, the Honduran government does not permit elementary and high schools to be located in the same building. There was now a need for a new building to be constructed that would facilitate students enrolled in high school classes. In 2002, construction began and was also completed for the high school portion of Emmanuel’s educational program. As Emmanuel grew, a need for more teachers became evident. Today, there are 17 teachers that teach in both the elementary, junior high and high school—not including staff, junior staff, or volunteers who either assist in classrooms or teach their own classes.

Additional expansion in the school occurred in 2003 when a donation was given by David and Tammy Haight that allowed the preschool to be constructed. The program, taught each year by volunteers and junior staff members, has been very successful in preparing the children for Kindergarten and Elementary School.

Since its inception in 1995, God has always been faithful to provide for the school. He always provides for the school through generous donors with a heart to provide for God’s children. For example, a wonderful couple, Linda & Lee LaFrenze, coordinated efforts that prompted McGraw Hill to donate a multitude of textbooks for Kinder-9th grade. Linda and Lee also donated funds in 2005 in order for the school to buy additional books for the library. Another recent donation was given this year (2009) that allowed the school to buy new books to stock the library. The computer lab was built on the donation of a man that earned his living working with computers and wanted to be a contributor to the wonderful things happening at Emmanuel. Moreover, the children’s uniforms were donated to Emmanuel and the 10th and 11th grade is currently being run by donations that come from faithful supporters of the school.

We are so grateful for God’s faithfulness and we thank those of you who have also been faithful to send your financial donations and supplies that have kept the school operating throughout the years. Because of those donations, Emmanuel’s children have been able to receive a better education than they could have elsewhere.

HELP NEEDED

English classes in both areas of the school are currently taught by staff, junior staff and volunteers. The volunteers that help in the school are very important to the continuance of the English program. Emmanuel always welcomes new volunteers and appreciates those that have the ability and desire to teach in the school. If you would like to volunteer for a longer period of time and you are from the U.S. or Canada, please contact Ray & Becky Clifton at volunteer@orphanageemmanuel.com. For volunteers coming from Denmark, please take a look at the IMPACT website for more information.