Summer school program at the Cultural Center

Josephine and Beatrice - volunteer teachers 

This year we were blessed to have extra help in every area of summer school and it was the best summer school yet!  Our scholarship recipients helped in registration, more moms were on hand and we had 5 volunteer teachers!  

Audrey and Roberto of ACA, gave a drug prevention presentation for the older kids. 


All in all, it was a richer, fuller experience for everyone involved, not just the children.



Giles created a panoramic mural that gave us a head start to inspire us with the theme of this year: Mi maravilloso mar - My wonderful ocean! 



In Aticama, the ocean is literally at our feet but for the children it may have been the first time to consider it as a portal to the world.  Each day we studied some aspect of the ocean, from the tiniest organism to the largest animal on the planet and the endless variety of marine life.  We studied the coral reefs - that incredible and delicate nursery to millions of species of fish and plants. We looked at how the ocean affects the weather all over the earth as we experienced it first hand with record high heat and thunderstorms. Finally, we  looked at trade - how the ocean is the biggest road connecting us to the coasts of all the continents and bringing us every commodity imaginable.

Armando, Regis and Yamida

Each day the children added their drawings of fish, coral, sharks, whales, boats, etc. to a mural of their own. At the top are cut outs representing each child symbolizing their relationship to the marvelous ocean.

Moises in rapt attention

The star and mascot of our theme was the octopus. This invertebrate is intelligent, adaptable, sensitive, efficient and has three hearts! We need a creature with a lot of heart to symbolize what is really needed to take care of each other, the ocean and the planet.  We will need those qualities of intelligence and sensitivity if we are to adapt to the changes that await us.

There is really only one great ocean. That vast body of water connects us to everything and everyone and that was probably the most important thing shared - what we all have in common.

BMA Clinic Report - July 14, 2018

[español abajo]

We had a pleasant day with several BMA friends stopping in to say hello. It was the hottest clinic so far this year.

Dr. Beltran brought his wife Michaela. We're always glad to see her and have her help. They were celebrating their 29th anniversary - congratulations!

One of our early morning clients was the priest who brought in his little white cat. It was sweet to see him baby-talk her as she snuggled to his touch. By 8:30, Nena and Anne had checked in only 7 of our appointments. Katherine arrived in a rumbling cloud of exhaust fumes, with four on the floor (dogs, that is) and a cat behind the wheels - that's pure Katherine! Then Audrey came a second time with more dogs - in short order we were on a roll. In total, 2 cats: 1 female, 1 male, and 16 dogs: 13 females - 2 pregnant with 8 each, and 3 males.

Trini and her two granddaughters, Victoria and Valeria, took excellent care of the cats. Love for animals is definitely a family trait she is passing on.
Nena, Jenny, Minerva, Katherine and Amaranth were on the mats with the recovering dogs, cleaning ears and paws and de-ticking - our motto: No tick un-picked! Or as Katherine says, no tick left behind.

Midday, Jorge and Leon came by with a delicious Italian lunch and a perfect lemon cake. With a checkered tablecloth and red wine, we could have been in a Mediterranean courtyard - lovely! Thanks, Jorge for un delizioso pasto - bellisimo! Glad to have Barb, Giles and Wally join us too! Lunch with the team is the best part of the clinic!
Lest you think these clinics are a picnic, after every clinic, we are dog-tired. At the end of the day, we are slogging in sweaty weariness. While Anne and Kenny are pulling down and packing up, Wally, Katherine and Amaranth had four, drunk, big dogs and a wide-awake cat to load in Katherine's rattletrap, and if that weren't enough, we loaded a full garbage bag onto the roof of her car by sliding it up the windshield to drop off at Anne's. Then there are coolers and totes to load and unload and dogs to deliver to their owners ...

Why do we do this? Because we're bea-U-tiful, bell-Isimo BMA.

Our website has a new, fresh look thanks to Anne and Amaranth. Check it out:
http://www.bahiamatanchenanimals.com/

Informe de la clínica BMA - 14 de julio de 2018
Tuvimos un día agradable con varios amigos de BMA parando para saludar. Fue la clínica más caliente en lo que va del año.

El Dr. Beltrán trajo a su esposa Michaela. Siempre nos alegra verla y tener su ayuda. Estaban celebrando su 29º aniversario de boda, ¡felicidades!

Uno de nuestros clientes de la madrugada era el sacerdote que trajo a su gatito blanco. Fue muy dulce verle hablarle como un bebé mientras ella se acurrucaba a su tacto. A las 8:30, Nena y Anne se habían registrado en sólo 7 de nuestras 22 citas. Katherine llegó en una nube retumbante de gases de escape, con cuatro en el piso (perros, eso es) y un gato detrás de las ruedas - eso es pura Katherine! Entonces Audrey vino por segunda vez con más perros - en poco tiempo estábamos en racha. En total, 2 gatos: 1 hembra, 1 macho y 16 perros: 13 hembras - 2 embarazadas con 8 cada una, y 3 machos.

Trini y sus dos nietas, Victoria y Valeria, cuidaron muy bien de los gatos. El amor por los animales es definitivamente un rasgo familiar que ella está transmitiendo.
Nena, Jenny, Minerva, Katherine y Amaranth estaban en las colchonetas con los perros en recuperación, limpiando orejas y patas y despalillando - nuestro lema: ¡No hay garrapatas sin escoger! O como dice Katherine, ninguna garrapata se queda atrás.

Al mediodía, Jorge y León vinieron con un delicioso almuerzo italiano y un perfecto pastel de limón. Con un mantel a cuadros y vino tinto, podríamos haber estado en un patio mediterráneo, ¡qué bonito! Gracias, Jorge por un delizioso pasto - bellisimo! Me alegra que Barb, Gilles y Wally también se unan a nosotros! El almuerzo con el equipo es la mejor parte de la clínica!

Para que no pienses que estas clínicas son un picnic, después de cada clínica, estamos cansados "de perros". Al final del día, estamos cansados de sudor. Mientras Anne y Kenny bajaban y empacaban, Wally, Katherine y Amaranth tenían cuatro perros grandes borrachos y un gato bien despierto para cargar en la ratonera de Katherine, y por si fuera poco, cargamos una bolsa de basura llena en el techo de su auto deslizándola por el parabrisas para dejarla caer en casa de Anne. Luego hay neveras y contenedores para cargar y descargar y perros para entregar a sus dueños...

¿Por qué hacemos esto? Porque somos hermosísimos, bell-Isimo BMA.
Nuestro sitio web tiene una nueva y fresca apariencia gracias a Anne y Amaranth. Compruébalo:
http://www.bahiamatanchenanimals.com/

Summer School

Every year BMA participates in the summer school program of the Centro Cultural Bahia Matanchen. The theme for summer school this year is the vast and marvelous ocean:

Mi MARavilloso MAR. This subject is in keeping with the previous year on ecology.

Wouldn't it be wonderful for the kids to fall in love with their own front yard, how incredibly valuable and awesome the ocean is and how it connects them to the world? That's our aim!

Our curriculum will cover:

• animals of the ocean - from the tiniest to the largest.
• plant and coral life 
• ocean and weather
• ocean as the great highway - shipping and commerce
• how the ocean connects the world

The octopus is going to be one of the stars of the week. We are going to share the story of the intelligence of the octopus and the many wonder-full things of her unique design.

Got ideas or resources we can implement? Contact Amaranth - amaranthrose@hotmail.com