Rooted in the Basics - Cloud Forest...

Founded in 1991 by local parents committed to quality education for their children, the Cloud Forest School is an inde-pendent school located on 106 acres of cloud forest land in Monteverde, Costa Rica. 200 students matriculate in Pre-school–Grade 11 with 30 full and/or part-time staff. Most classes are taught in English, so that students are fluent in both their native Spanish and in English. The curriculum is webbed around the environ-ment, with all grades involved in land stewardship.

The local Board of Trustees determines policy and maintains close communication with the Cloud Forest School Foundation, the 501(c)(3) support organiza-tion in the United States which does much of the fund-raising for the school’s operating, capital, and endowment needs.

Cloud Forest School Foundation Mission:

Cloud Forest School Foundation (CFSF) is a not-for-profit educa-tional organization providing support to the Cloud Forest School known locally as the Centro de Educación Creativa (CEC), a bilingual, environ mentally focused school in Monteverde, Costa Rica. CFSF strives to provide CFS with an international network of friends, financial support, professional develop-ment opportunities, and teacher and volunteer recruitment.

The CFS admiTS STudenTS oF any

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Fall2012

Cloud Forest sChool Foundation

continues on page 12

Rooted in the BasicsLaura Grenholm, Cloud Forest School Director

T he back window of my office looks out onto a flourishing little garden of carrots, chives, tomatoes and lettuce. The greenhouse behind this garden is also full of life; tree seedlings germinating in recycled milk

boxes, native plant cuttings ready to be planted in one of our theme gardens, and hanging orchids that have been gathered by students on the school trails. Shades of green, rich dark soil, dirty fingernails: simple pleasures.

The hands that have nurtured the garden are those of students, parents, volunteers and staff. It is such a privilege to look out the window and see a parent kneeling in the dirt, a small child carefully laying down a seed, or a new plant sprouting its first leaves. A little plot of land being cared for, season after season, by so many: the essence of all on which the Cloud Forest School (CFS) is built. As we prepare to enter this, the 21st year of the CFS, we are in the midst of welcoming our growing family of local and international students, families, staff and teachers. We are also celebrating a few new additions to our beautiful campus — a new Audio-Visual Room, revamped Art Room with outdoor covered patio, flourishing gardens in both the lower and upper schools, and

Lucia Lara Cajuro, Kinder (Pre-K) Ezio Camilo Miles

www.cloudforestschool.org

over the 2012 vacation, the art room was renovated with help from a group of middle school students

from the Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT. This marks the fourth summer that Renbrook students have worked diligently and enthusiastically in transforming parts of our campus. The art room was constructed in 2006 when the current middle school/administrative building was built. Its original purpose was as a storage space during the construction phase, but it eventually was transformed into an art classroom. As part

A New Art Space for the Cloud Forest SchoolBy Carla Willoughby

of the CFS’s overall plan to develop and improve upon the school’s art curriculum, our maintenance crew supervised the Renbrook group and other volunteers to make some significant changes to the building. The art room that students from all grades will enter into this 2012-2013 school year is a definite improvement, thanks to all of these combined efforts.

Prior to this most recent renovation, a portion of the building remained walled off as a storage room for the maintenance crew. However, these walls were knocked down

Become a Member of1% for the Planet!

The Cloud Forest School is an approved non-profit parti ci pant of the organization 1% for the Planet. 1% for the Planet was founded in 2002 with the mission to “build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet.” The organization is a global network with over 1,100 members to date representing 37 countries.

By becoming a member of 1% for the Planet, not only are you making a commitment to the planet, but also with that membership you are effectively adding your voice to the movement, believing that all businesses should give back. Members establish relationships directly with the approved non-profits of their choice, providing the opportunity to donate throughout the year. Please consider a membership with 1% for the Planet and a chance to support the Cloud Forest School.

www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/

KEEP EARTHIN BUSINESS

®

More space, natural light, and

walls for displaying student work

will all contribute to better

working conditions to bring out

the best of our teachers’ and

students’ creativity.

2 www.cloudforestschool.org C l o u d F o r e s t s C h o o l F o u n d at i o n

Do you want some permanent sunshine this winter in the U.S.?

Consider buying Charley Harper‘s poster of Monteverde wildlife. It‘s 22" x 36" and will brighten any room. $24 plus $6 for postage and handling. You may order it by emailing [email protected]. All profits go to the school‘s scholarship fund, which helps to support 75% of our students.

and now the room is an open, rectangular space. Another improvement is that the room is now flooded with natural light from the newly installed, transparent roofing material. The previous tin walls have been covered with painted fiberboard and allow the art teachers a place to display students’ work. The covered back porch of the art building also has been converted into a workable art space for ceramics or as an overflow area when more than one class is using the building. The work required clearing out stored materials, pouring concrete to level the floor, removing a partition, and enclosing the space with a knee-high concrete wall and a security door.

What do all of these changes mean to the art program? First of all, more space,

natural light, and walls for displaying student work will all contribute to better working conditions to bring out the best of our teachers’ and students’ creativity. Secondly, the art program will expand to include art as an elective for all students in grades 5-11, while still integrating art into the elementary grades. Furthermore, our ceramics equipment and program will have more work space, and better protection from the elements.

Our current art teachers, Esperanza Mora (preK-4), Carla Willoughby (5-11), and Melodie Taylor (long-term volunteer and leader of our ceramics program) are excited to be working together in this new space to help artistic creativity flourish in our students at the Cloud Forest School.

Transforming the bodega into the art room

R A I N B O W F a l l 2 0 1 2 www.cloudforestschool.org 3

Maileth Solis, 10th Grade:

I am very grateful to have been chosen a Diane Berry Caves Scholar. I have been at the CFS for the last 12 years — it is truly my second home. Sending me to this school has not been easy for my family, but I see the pride in my father’s eyes and I feel that same pride when I tell people where I go to school. My mother abandoned my brother and me when we were infants and my father has raised us by himself. My goal and dream is to go to the U.S. to study. This scholarship will help me so much during my last two years at CFS. In addition to covering my tuition, I will be able to buy a computer which will help me a lot. It will also help take some of the weight off my father’s shoulders. This school has given me the opportunity to be a better student and person. Thank you so much for all of your support.

Andrey Navarro Campos, 11th Grade:

I started at CFS just last year — I didn’t speak English and my academic level was not on par with my fellow students. I have had to work to raise the funds to pay for school on my own because my parents have not been in a position to help me. I work every night after school and on the weekends. At times, it’s been very difficult, not least because my work depends on tourism. During low season, I’ve had to borrow money from my bosses or friends to pay my school fees. I’ve often had to study until 2 or 3 in the morning, completing projects or studying for exams, since I don’t have time after school to do my school work. I’ve worked hard and have been able to achieve good grades in all of my classes, even in English. I am so thankful to have been awarded the Diane Berry Caves Scholarship because it will pay for my last year at school in full, allowing me to focus on my studies and not worry so much about money.

Evelyn Peréz Durán, 11th Grade:

This is my eighth year at CFS. My family and I live on a farm in San Luis that does not belong to us. I wake up every morning at 5:00 and my father and I ride 8 kilometers on horseback to bring our cows’ milk to the Cheese Factory. That’s where I catch the bus to school. My family is poor, and for us, it is a huge sacrifice that I come to school at CFS. For that reason, I work hard to give my best every day so I can succeed. I love our school — you can almost breathe in the tranquility. I will use the Diane Berry Caves Scholarship to pay for my remaining time here at CFS, which will help my family save money so that I can continue on to university. I would like to study to be a veterinarian because I love animals and have a lot of experience working with them — every week end I work with my father on the farm. My parents are the best people in the world and this scholarship will help me stay in school without having to ask them to sacrifice so much. Thank you so much.

Diane Berry Caves Scholarship Winners

on behalf of the Caves family, the CFS is honored to present our first three scholarship award winners for the Diane Berry Caves Memorial Scholarship. This award recognizes CFS high school students who

have demonstrated exemplary achievement across three areas: academic achievement, leadership and care and concern for their community. In sum, these students represent all that the CFS hopes to inspire in its students. Thanks to the generosity of the Caves, each student will receive $1,000 to be used towards tuition and educated related expenses. Read below to hear from each of the scholars.


Capital GiftsDr. Leslie Burlingame

Shield-Ayres Foundation

plant-a-DonationHazel Alvarez

Microsoft Matching Gifts Program

Whitney Spalding

Jennifer Turner

patroCinioPatrocinios contribute all or partial tuition fees for specific students directly to the Cloud Forest School.

Jennette Affleck

Trinity Azul Dixon

Alison Carpenter

Os Cresson

Helen Dauer

Jim Dougherty

Strom Eddy

Sibylle Freiermuth

Christina Gibson

Rebecca Goertzel

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Gould

Rita Hartman

Charlotte Haselden

Lauren Brown Hornor

Anne Kernion

Thomas Kolimago

Marcy Lawton

Bethany Romano

Susanna Stoiber

Sarah Strozinski

Peter Studer

Loren Weighbright

Wetherill Winder

Amy Workman

Daryl Yarmolovich

sCholarshipDr. & Mrs. Scott Bates

Mr. & Mrs. Doug Caves

Lau & Bea Christensen

Ms. Lee Mason & Mr. Peter Hamlin

Mr. Lawrence J. Mitchell III

sCholarship WalkHazel Alvarez

Ms. Sally Bland-Boice

Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Caudill

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Courtnage

Mr. & Mrs. Charles N. Cranmer

Katherine Filardo

Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Frankie

Robert Gips & Karen Harris

Ms. Christine Gove Berg

The Rev. Carol Hoidra

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis S. Hoy

Ms. Susan Hughes

DoNorSto the

Cloud Forest Schooland the

Cloud Forest School FoundationJuly 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012

The Cloud Forest School community is the fortunate beneficiary of support from friends around the globe. Donors this year supported the annual operating budget, providing funds for

classroom supplies and environmental education.other donors gave their time, energy and talent to assist teachers and students, build and repair

trails, organize after-school activities, raise scholarship funds, weed the organic flower beds and vegetable garden, donate travel miles… the list is endless.

All of these gifts are essential to the life and health of the school. Your contributions are interwoven into the school community. All that you offer is invaluable as we seek to sustain and enhance the work that we do with the environmental stewards of tomorrow. We are grateful beyond measure.


Ms. Jean Kuntz

Ms. Jean D. LaManna

Mr. Marshall Levine

Mrs. Sarah Little

Ms. Gail Lovejoy

Ms. Elizabeth M. Lowell

Rachel Mason

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mathewson

Dr. Stephen Miller

Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Nash

Patricia S. O'Carroll & William T. Degnan

Dr. & Mrs. William Priestley

Melissa Richeson-O'Neil

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Rymph

Ms. Janice Schulman

Bob Shibley & Lynda Schneekloth

Ms. Janet K. Smith

Mr. Peter Uglesich

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Watters

Lydia Wheaton

sChool suppliesDoug Cameron

Doug Caves

Mark Hatch

Mark Lauria

Elizabeth Lowell

Renbrook School

Sardis Secondary School

Stephen Watters

textbooksCatherine Learmonth

General supportJennette Affleck

Ms. C. Nelle Alexander & John S. Miner

Mary Bruce & Tim Alford

Anonymous

Mr. & Mrs. Edward D. Ariail

Dr. & Mrs. Henry Arnold

Mrs. Eleanor Ashby

Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Ayres

Mr. James W. Behnke

Mr. & Mrs. Warren Belser Jr.

Susan L. Berry & Debby Flagg

Mrs. Harriett S. Beury

Sarann Bielavitz

Dr. & Mrs. Allan Birnbaum

Mrs. Susan Bluhm

Dr. Margaret E. Bonds

Barbara Brenton

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Burger

Dr. Leslie Burlingame

Jamie Buss

Mr. & Mrs. Doug Cameron

David Caponera & Mamie L. Wytrwal

Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Caudill

Mr. & Mrs. Doug Caves

Jim Christensen

Dr. & Mrs. William E. Clarkson

Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Courtnage

Mr. & Mrs. Charles N. Cranmer

Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Cross

Drs. Mary Sue & Joseph Cushman

Dr. & Mrs. James Davidheiser

Dr. & Mrs. C. Russell de Burlo Jr.

Mrs. Eileen Degen

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel F. Doeppers

Mrs. Melanie Dragan

Mr. & Mrs. Mel Duncan

Dr. & Mrs. Sherwood Ebey

Mr. & Mrs. Reid Edelman

Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Ellis

Roxanne Etmekjian

Frances Evans

Mr. & Mrs. David Fayram

Elizabeth Fayram

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Forrest

Fischer-Bauer-Knirps Foundation

VMware Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Frankie

Ms. Janice B. Fritzmeier

Russian Gift of Life, Inc.

Robert Gips & Karen Harris

Rebecca Goertzel & Anthony A. Mann

Dr. & Mrs. Robin Gottfried

Seth Gottlieb

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Gould

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond E. Grande

D oNorST o T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l A N D T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l F o u N DAT i o N

Support the Cloud Forest School Foundationdonation levels

$1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 other

Name

Address

Phone

E-mail

tax-deductible donations to the Cloud Forest school Foundation can be made online through the network For Good at www.cloudforestschool.org(Click on the “DonaTE now” button)

alternatively, checks made payable to “Cloud Forest school Foundation” can be mailed to:

Cloud Forest school FoundationP.o. Box 3323sewanee, tn 37375-3223 Pl

ease

det

ach

and

send

with

you

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natio

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Mr. & Mrs. Brian Green

Mary K. Green

Mr. & Mrs. Martin R. Haase

Ms. Karen Hadley

Ms. Angela Haggerty

David Haskell & Sarah Vance

Mark Hatch

Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Heniff

The Rev. & Mrs. William H. Hethcock

Jennifer Hill

Tom & Sue Hillhouse

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Howick

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis S. Hoy

John Hudson

Ms. Susan Hughes

The Roy A. Hunt Foundation

Abigail P. Hutchinson

Ms. Ellen R. Jacobson

Mr. Michael Jawetz & Ms. Margreta Purcell

Jessica J. Johnsrud

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Karp

Sandra Kauyedauty

Ann Kellogg

Dr. Kenneth S. Kendler & Dr. Susan A. Miller

Mrs. Maxine King

Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Krone

Robin Kropp & Russell Scott

Phyllis Lathrope

Mark W. Lauria

Dr. John E. Leggat Jr.

Ms. Rachel Locke

Matthew W. H. Lohrentz

Mr. Karl P. Long

Ms. Gail Lovejoy

Ann S. Lowell

Ms. Elizabeth M. Lowell

Betsy Maclean & Eric Miles

Mr. & Mrs. James M. Malkowski

Elizabeth McBride

Mary McDowell Friends School

Mercersburg Academy

Eric Miles

Martha Miller & Steve Ricci

Dr. Stephen Miller

Kathleen Misak

Dr. Eric Naylor

Charles & Rachael Neill

Mr. & Mrs. R. P. Nelson

Mr. & Mrs. Henry Nennstiel

Mr. & Mrs. Barry O'Connell

Ms. Ann Oliver

Ava Olsen

Ms. Mary O'Neill

J. Tim Parsons & Anne Judson

Dr. W. B. Patterson Jr.

Mrs. Mary Helen Paul

Ms. May Pendergrass

Mr. Phillip L. Petree

Dr. & Mrs. William Priestley

Mrs. Upshur Puckette

Caroline D. Ready

Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton Richards

Ms. Ilse Ross

Maria Rudzinski

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Rymph

Dr. Ruth Sanchez Imizcoz

Sarah Sargent & Ron Mumme

Bill Schuler

Dr. Denise J. Schwahn

Ms. Irma Scudder

Mr. & Mrs. Scott Shannon

Mr. & Mrs. Stanton Shannon

Caroline Shoemaker

David Sobel

Mr. & Mrs. Donald Stearns

Mr. & Mrs. Edward B. Stevens

Gary E. Stout & Paulette J. Marasco

Daniel Sullivan & Karen Dillman

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Tompkins

Ms. Linda Versage

Mr. Mark Wallace

Mr. George Walters

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas M. Watkins III

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Watters

Mr. & Mrs. Norman L. Webb

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Welch

Wetherill Cresson Winder

Daniel E. Wisniewski & Frances L. Degraff

Ms. Jane Wolff

Carol Ziesemer

Thelma Zuroff

D oNorST o T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l A N D T h e C l o u D F o r e S T S C h o o l F o u N DAT i o N

Volunteers anD interns

at the Cloud Forest School

2011-2012

inDiViDual VolunteersAdela Daniel

Meredith Earls

Schuyler (sky) Tise

Volunteer Groups

Catlin Gable School, Portland, OR

GeoExpeditions, Miami University of Oxford, OH

Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH

Renbrook, West Hartford, CT

Sardis Secondary School, Chilliwack, BC, Canada

Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN

United Friends School, Quakertown, PA

University for Peace, San José, Costa Rica

University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK

University of North Carolina – Wilmington, Wilmington, NC

University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI

Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA

internsEthan Burns

Taryn Colonese

Jessica Hughes

Katie Harris

Rachael Ksenyak

Sam Peterson


hiking up the steep incline that leads into the CFS compound on our first morning is always an exciting way

to open our visit each summer. The hill represents the final obstacle in our expedi-tion build up; fund raising, soliciting, purchasing, packing, carrying, and ultimately delivering important school supplies together with a few days of our energetic labor to spruce up the campus. Getting to Monteverde generally involves two days for us: a flight day (USA-San José), then a bus day (San José-Monteverde). That gives us 48 hours to build excitement and energy before our actual entrance to the campus.

Our old friends are there to meet us: Milton — his high energy morning greet-ings; Eduardo — his practical jokes and telephone tape measure; Gabriel — his endless patience to help us with our Spanish; Cristina — answering every question and

renbrook returns — it’s Now an Annual AdventureBy John Herd, Head of Renbrook Science Department

little chore with her endless smile. And our new friends are there as well: Laura — with her feet firmly on the ground now and in charge of coordinating her team; and Kathia — her familiarity with the CFS as a parent has allowed her to step into her new role as intern coordinator so seamlessly. Her grasp and knowledge of all the local details, small and large, that make our stays such a success is phenomenal.

Once on campus, we catch our breaths, and take in the magnificent view of the bay that is now such an ingrained memory. This was Renbrook School’s fourth summer visit to the CFS, and the views never get less spectacular. After catching up on all of the latest news since we were last here it’s time to get to work. We split up among team leaders to begin painting, cleaning, demolishing, organizing and constructing. Each summer is a different mix of jobs, and our kids love trying their hands at all the new skills asked of them. In this way, they learn much about concrete mixing, planting

Renbrook students hard at work painting a classroom

of native shrubs, cutting in trim and windows for painting, and good old fashioned sweat equity!

Mid morning, we unpack the school supplies we lugged all the way from Hartford, and display them on the picnic tables. Our fundraising days at Renbrook School raised $1000+ for supplies this year as our Renbrook student group poses in front of

the Upper Kiosk on the CFS campus


The Cloud Forest School Foundation now has a direct link to Amazon.com. Why? To provide us with much-needed funds. Tuition and donations do not a balanced budget make; and we need further resources.

shop at amazon.com; benefit the school

Here’s what it looks like

By going to www.cloudforestschool.org, you will see the Amazon.com banner. Simply go to Amazon through our website. The Foundation will receive 4% of your total order, at no additional cost to you or to Amazon. It will all go to our students’ financial aid.

community has embraced our team’s mission. A new wrinkle was added this year, where a Renbrook Family, the Degraws, held a birth-day party for their daughter, and suggested invitees bring school supplies that could be added to our packings in lieu of gifts. The result was phenomenal, as we added several additional suitcases of supplies to our already formidable array packed and ready to deliver.

Interspersed with our workdays, were several exciting adventures, all set up by our host, Kathia. This gave us the chance to get out into the Monteverde countryside, up into the rainforest canopy, under an icy waterfall, or into soothing hot springs.

Leaving the CFS each summer is always bittersweet. The time goes so quickly, and feels like we just settled into our work and play routines when it’s time to go home.

Renbrook students with some of their host families

Everything went so smoothly, with pick-ups, transfers, and meeting times all coordinated perfectly and with such friendly families who run the activities. There’s lots to do on campus as well, hiking in the primary forest to the kiosk on the new trail, or climbing high into the canopy inside the strangler fig tree. And who will forget the rousing games of fútbol on the new field matching our skills against the formidable CFS crew!

Our final day at the CFS coincided with the last day of summer camp, and our group joined the Friday sing with two numbers of our own. Then we played with the campers in several activities before enjoying a

delicious farewell luncheon put on by our homestay families. The luncheon is such an integral culmination giving us a celebratory atmosphere, and the forum to truly express what this visit means to both our students and their hosts. Leaving the CFS each summer is always bittersweet. The time goes so quickly, and feels like we just settled into our work and play routines and it’s time to go home. With slightly heavy hearts, we head back down the CFS hill, into Santa Elena for one last cup of coffee or a delicious smoothie before starting our two day trek back to the USA, refreshed for our own following chapters of summer and upcom-ing school years.

With several of us now with 3+ years of returning to this wonderfully welcoming and inclusive community, the bonds are in place for many more productive visits in the years to come. For information straight from the trip leader’s experiences, please feel free to send questions along via email:[email protected]


Renee Burgos, Kinder (Pre-School) Teacher: Originally from Pennsylvania, Renee moved with her family from Washington, D.C. to Monteverde in July. In the States, she taught English as a Second Language to adults at the community college level, as well as facilitated a type of conflict resolu-tion called Community Confer-encing as an alternative to the juvenile justice system. She is also mother to two fanciful girls, ages 3 and 5. Renée is excited to teach alongside Esperanza as the English teacher in the Kinder classroom. In her free time, she likes to spend time with friends, get lost in a novel or go hiking, among other things.

Yesica Cambronero, Prepa (Kindergarten) & Special Educa-tion Teacher: This is Yesica’s first full school year at CFS, although she taught during the 2012 sum-mer programs. She is finishing up her pre-school education degree, with a concentration in English at the University of Costa Rica. Yesica would like to continue her studies in Psychology and Special Education. She loves teaching, drawing, painting, folkloric danc-ing, cooking, reading, making handicrafts and collecting rocks. She is here for the service of the community!

Karen Cascante Martinez, Environmental Education Coordi-nator: Karen loves teaching chil-dren of all ages and exposing them to new things every day. She has a particular interest in water, because without it, there would be no life on the planet. She has a degree in education, with an emphasis in ecological tourism, from the University of Costa Rica. Before coming to CFS, she worked as a teacher of rural tourism and exploratory workshops at the Santa Elena Professional Technical High School and as a nature guide in the Monteverde zone for the past two years. Karen has a 4 year old son, her greatest treasure. Her new post at CFS brings together her passion for teaching and nature — it’s her dream come true!

Kathia Corrales, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator: Kathia is from Monteverde – she is Costa Rican through and through. She comes to CFS with 19 years of experience working in hotels throughout the Monteverde zone, directly in client relations, sales and merchandising. For two years she worked as a guide throughout all of Costa Rica, and, last year worked at Selvatura. She is the mother of three children; two are current students at CFS, the third graduated from CFS in 2007. Kathia loves the school and

its philosophy. Her goal is to make stronger links between the Santa Elena/Monteverde community and the school. In this way, she hopes to work for national recognition of the school and its model. She loves animals, especially horses and loves to ride them!

Molly Egger, High School English Teacher: Molly first heard about CFS through her brother, who attended school in Sewanee. She came to the school as a volunteer in 2005 as part of an Independent Learning Experience scholarship from St. Louis University. The experience inspired Molly to pursue international teaching. For the past three years she taught English and Social Studies in Guangzhou, China and is overjoyed to have the opportunity to return to Monteverde to continue her teaching career. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Educa-tion from Middle Tennessee State University. In her free time, Molly enjoys reading, sports, playing card and board games, and cooking. She is thrilled about the staff, students, and community that she will be working with here at the CFS!

Jodi Goodman, 1st Grade Teacher: Jodi grew up in a small, country town in North Carolina. She studied Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina

at Charlotte and taught elementary school for four years in Charlotte — two years at Community Charter School and two years at Socrates Academy (a partial Greek Immer-sion school). Her passion for travel, culture, and education has brought her to the Cloud Forest School where she is taken away daily by the beauty and new experiences here. Jodi enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends and loved ones. She feels fortunate for the oppor tunity to be a part of the Cloud Forest School family and is looking forward to all this year will bring!

Theresa Jarvis, Prepa (Kinder-garten) Teacher: Before coming to Monteverde, Theresa taught sixth grade and Kindergarten in her home town of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. She has also taught English as a Second Lan-guage to both adults and children. She holds a BA in Geography, a

New Staff at the Cloud Forest School

Front row (left to right): luis roberto Mendez, danielle Walters, Jodi Goodman, Kathia Corrales, theresa Jarvis, Yesica Cambronero

Back row (left to right): Betsy Maclean, Philip tapley, eric Miles, Matt Piscitelli, Molly eggers, Karen Cascante Martinez, Kris Macdonald

not Pictured: renee Burgos.


Teaching Certificate and a Certifi-cate in ESL from Simon Fraser University. She is very excited to facilitate discovery learning and environmental education at CFS. In her spare time she likes to hike, read and be in nature. Theresa has come to Monteverde with her husband and two children. She knows this will be a very positive experience for the students, her family and herself.

Kris MacDonald, Elementary School Academic Manager: A native Wisconsinite, Kris studied Psychology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. After completing her studies, Kris joined Teach for America and taught 6th grade reading and language arts. She then joined the KIPP (Knowl-edge is Power Program) network, teaching 5th grade reading and serving as the Grade Level Chair at KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy for three years. She continued to work for the Teach for America Training Institute in Chicago as a School Director for the past two summers. Kris is delighted to support 10 wonderfully talented and driven teachers at CFS, lead professional development, support and develop our literacy program, and explore the rainforest!

Betsy MacLean, External Relations Manager: Betsy has spent the past 14 years building afford-able housing and community facil-ities (schools, urban agriculture

projects — even a chicken coop! In Brooklyn!) and facilitating partici-patory community development in New York and Cuba. She holds Master’s degrees in urban planning and international development from Columbia University. Betsy was taken with CFS’s commitment to economic, social and environ-mental justice and is excited to learn from and contribute to this vibrant com munity. She has come to Monteverde with her whole family — all of whom are either working at or attending CFS —and is looking forward to taking advantage of the dramatic change of scenery from their home in New York City.

Eric Miles, High School & Middle School Academic Manager: Eric comes to CFS with more than 15 years of experience as a public high school art teacher and arts administrator in New York City at the Bronx High School for Visual Arts and the Urban Assembly School for Music and Arts. He has also taught environmental science in the wilds of West Virginia. He holds a Master’s of Fine Arts

degree from Pratt Institute and first came to Costa Rica back in 1991 to study sustainable develop-ment and biodiversity. He is thrilled to be part of the CFS community, and is looking to throw down on the Frisbee field, bag a resplendent quetzal sighting, and learn some mountainside agriculture tips along side his wife and two young sons.

Matthew Piscitelli, Middle School English Teacher: Matthew grew up in the beautiful city of Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in Education. Afterwards, he traveled the world as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English and spreading peace. He is a swim coach in the States and would love to pass on the safety and knowl-edge of swimming to the students at the CFS. He enjoys playing Fris-bee and hiking new and beautiful trails. He feels that he will bring an extra splash of positivity and enthusiasm to the middle school students. He is confident that this year is going to be awesome.

Luis Roberto Mendez, Maintenance and Cleaning Staff: Luis Roberto attended Kinder garten at CFS and has wanted to return ever since. He was born and raised in the Monteverde zone and has worked as a cabinet-maker for the past eight years. He loves the school and its surroundings and is thrilled to be back.

Philip Tapley, High School Science Teacher: Philip comes to us from Athens, GA, where he studied Secondary Science Education at the University of Georgia. He is cur-rently putting the finishing touches on a Masters of Arts in Teaching through independent study courses with UGA. Philip became familiar with the CFS after discovering the website while researching private schools in Costa Rica. The descrip-tion of the principles and mission of the school immediately interested him, and he quickly applied. After a visit to the CFS campus and an interview in March, Philip was the new science teacher and found himself happily feeling that his move to Monteverde was meant to be. Philip enjoys exploring the outdoors and sports and physical

activity in general, reading, and just talking about life. He is very excited to take full advantage of the mission of the CFS to educate the whole student.

Danielle Walters, 2nd Grade Teacher: Danielle Walters comes to Monteverde from Kingston, NY (up-state, that is), USA, with her family. Her two sons attend the CFS, and love it, and her husband is a science teacher at The Monteverde Friends School. Over the past 13 years, Danielle has taught young children 3-7 years old, many of whom have Autism Spectrum Dis-order, in a variety of types of class-rooms. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biology and French from Colorado College and her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Washington. She holds teaching credentials from Birth-6th grade. She comes to Monteverde with aspirations of appreciating and learn ing from the astounding envi-ronment, and the amazing people of the Monteverde zone. She is thrilled to be working, playing, and creating meaningful life experiences with the second graders at the CFS.

The Cloud Forest School Foundation is proud to partner with Costa Rica Travel Exchange. The following promotion is open to anyone and will help to support the operation of the Cloud Forest School. We encourage you to visit their website and consider their services when traveling to Costa Rica!


Cloud ForeST SChool FoundaTionP.o. Box 3223Sewanee, Tn 37375

Change ServiCe requeSTed

nonProFiTuS PoSTage

PaidSewanee TnPermiT no 63

in an effort to save paper we would like to provide you with the option to receive a PdF copy of the Rainbow by e-mail. if you would like to be added to the distribution list, please e-mail or call Mary Bruce alford at [email protected], 601-665-4672

Published by:The Cloud Forest School Foundation P.O. Box 3223Sewanee, TN 37375

Phone: 615-457-1670

e-mail: [email protected]

web: www.cloudforestschool.org

editors: Mary Bruce Alford, Elizabeth Lowell, and Mary Priestley

designer: Dan Reiff

Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle.

RooTEd In THE BASICS, continued from page 1

even a colorfully refurbished tree house just behind the new soccer turf. Also new this year, all students, kinder through 11th grade, have art, music, physical education and land stewardship classes built into their regular academic programming.

As we grow and expand, the founding principles of the CFS continue to root us in the basics —love for the land, and the people who live in it. Whether a student is with us for six months or twelve years, we seek to share with them a vision for a sustainable future. We’re looking forward to another exciting and transformative year and thank you for all of your support along the way!

12 www.cloudforestschool.org

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