SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, Bolivia.
Victoria Díez School, located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, has celebrated its Twentieth Anniversary. The events took place in August, close to the feast of its Patroness.
The celebrations began on August 7 with the presentation of "Victoria’s Week" during "cultural hour," which is a mandatory civic event every Monday and it is when national anthems are sung.
There were activities for different groups and ages from the school and the neighborhood. The students, which total 1240, participated in soccer matches, basketball games, marathons, pep rallies, graffiti and talent contests (singing, dancing, painting, etc.). Furthermore each class celebrated the Eucharist.
The parents participated (the school includes 700 families). They had suggested to convene football and basketball games daily during the week of festivities. They organized a sale of sweets, snacks, and drinks to raise funds to buy instruments for the school band.
Also, teachers were summoned to a day of prayer and formation in the premises of Madre India Center. Amparo Arribas spoke on "The pedagogy of Poveda." The Director of the Bolivia Sector, Ana Maria García, presented on "The socio-educational proposal for Latin America” and Gueiza Dorado spoke on “The Spirituality of Incarnation." All of them shared a meal of fellowship that ended with cakes and a toast to the present and future of this beloved Victoria Díez School.
The highlight of the celebrations was a party in the streets of the neighborhood attended by members of the educational community, many residents, the parish priests, and Monsignor Nicolás Castellanos, Bishop Emeritus of Palencia, who works in these neighborhoods where he created “Hombre Nuevos” Foundation.
It started with a lively parade of students and teachers around the neighborhood at night, with lanterns, and the school band made its debut before a grandstand placed opposite the entrance for the occasion. Then, in the courtyard of the school, which felt overcrowded, people spoke with gratitude to God and to the members of the Teresian Association that developed the school and that continue making it happen. Then people sang songs to Blessed Victoria Díez.
There were also performances of traditional dances of Bolivia and various performances by groups of students and alumni. Dolly Torrico, an eighty-seven year old TA member, who ran the school during its first years, as well as the first teachers of the school were recognized. Ms. Juanita, the receptionist, and Monsignor Castellanos were also acknowledged. Finally, an alumna sang a song.
A bit of history
Victoria Díez School was created because of the enterprising spirit and good work of Asunción Fernández, a TA member, a group of volunteer teachers, and the help of some other TA members. The neighbors remember that moment with reverence and gratitude.
In the early days there were no streets and there was no water in the houses. The first phase of the building was carried out on an empty ground that was prepared by the neighbors.
Classes began in 1994 with 303 students in a school without doors or floors or equipment. People remember that moms stood on guard in the courtyard around the waterwheel, the only source of water in the neighborhood, so that children would not fall into it during recess. Even today parents spend two hours of community service a month and the relationship family-school community remains a characteristic of the school.
Later, the foundation of Bishop Castellanos took over to complete the work of the school with funding from a Spanish entrepreneur, Carlos Laborde, after whom the neighborhood was named. The school became property of “Hombres Nuevos” Foundation while the TA provides the leadership, management, and teaching style. The principals of the school have been Asunción Fernández, founding principal until 2004, Dolly Torrico during some months, and Angelita Antón until 2012. Also, for some time Sarina Ruiz (ACIT member) was a principal running the morning shift and Yolanda Janco (ACIT member) directed the afternoon shift. At the present time Yolanda Janco heads the school with the close collaboration of two teachers who are members of ACIT, Antonio Rodríguez and Sarina Ruiz. All the teachers have been trained according to the educational style of Pedro Poveda.
Amparo Arribas
Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia)