Costa Rica 2020

My name is Debbie Calixte and my 12 year old daughter, Emily, is a 7th grade student at Whispering Pines Seventh-Day Adventist School in Old Westbury, NY. As part of the school's Language Immersion Program, Emily has an opportunity to travel to Costa Rica this April for two weeks to study at the Centro Educativo Adventista Bilingüe de Costa Rica (CEABCR; https://bit.ly/2QbFxbQ) in Hatillo, just outside the capital city of San Jose. Daily activities will include attending classes with colleagues from CEABCR, intensive Spanish and history classes, English/Spanish language exchange with CEABCR students, participation in school events, and visits to culturally and historically relevant sites.

A little about Whispering Pines SDA School....
It is a small school serving students grades Pre-K-8th grade. In addition to the core academic courses, they feel it’s important that their students gain fluency in other languages and familiarity with other cultures. This is why ALL students are given instruction in two foreign languages, Spanish and Korean. Furthermore, they offer students of their Upper School (grades 7 and 8) the chance to experience life in a place where the target language is spoken. In past years, in addition to Costa Rica students have had the privilege of studying abroad in Puerto Rico and Korea for up to a month at a time because they believe that “living in the language” is the best way to learn it!


You’ll agree that this opportunity to experience life within a new culture is one that no child should miss! As a single mom, it is very difficult for me on my own to come up with the funds to help support Emily take part in this great learning opportunity. I really want her to achieve this dream of being able to travel to another country to experience culture from a different perspective, rather than learning it from a textbook. That’s why she need your support. Your donation- big or small, will help offset the costs of airfare, tuition, room & board, local travel, and other expenses. I want to ensure that she is not excluded from this thrilling opportunity.

THANK YOU for taking the time to learn about the Language Immersion Program at Whispering Pines SDA School, and please accept our gratitude for your generosity.

Sincerely,
Debbie and Emily