News Month by Month
December 2018
- Thanks to the generous donation of Ms. Ursula Heubaum, the floor of the playground was changed to one made of rubber. Thanks so much!
CAIF's 3 year old children had their yearly camp (approximately 60 children) at INAU's Araucaria House in La Floresta.
The older children from the Club (6 to 10 years) went to the Athletics Track with their teacher Santiago Riera.
Club's children from 6 to 10 years old had their yearly camp at Aguas Blancas, Lavalleja.
November 2018
Children from Simiente went to watch the FIFA Sub-17 Women's World Cup carried out in Uruguay. They were invited to participate in a 2000 children choir to sing the championship official song. This choir is being considered as a Guiness record given the important number of members.
October 2018
The Music and Theatre workshop teachers organized "urban interventions" with 5th grade children. These interventions consisted in getting off the school bus and interacting with the passers by. They were carried out in the Agricultural Market of Montevideo (MAM)
Following the idea "If there is a free spirit, there's a free space", the children worked inspired by the works of fine art artist José Gurvich. He is one of the most important figures from the Torres García atelier and Uruguayan art for his activity as painter, potter and art teacher.
- Children's Club organized an "International Gastronomic Fair" on October 23rd. Parents were invited to cook and the activity was wrapped up with an Uruguayan typical dance called "el gato" danced by the children.
September 2018
On September 28th, the CAM Group meeting (Share, Learn and Improve) was carried out at the Espigas Centre. Representatives from eight education centres shared experiences and worked towards finding solutions to the different centres’ problems. Our institution was represented by Centro Espigas’ team and the Liceo’s direction. The activity had a very positive evaluation.
Children from both shifts visited the Parque de la Amistad (Friendship Park) at the old location of the Villa Dolores Zoo.
In August and September, the Optional Workshops 2018 were carried out as part of the “learn by doing” method. Each child could choose 2 subjects to study, among a wide variety of options.
23 children from Simiente's 6th flew on a plane for the first time, thanks to an invitation received from the Uruguayan Air Force. They were very excited about the experience and afterwards they had lunch at Espigas.
August 2018
- On August 11th we had Espigas family's outdoors bazaar. The event was a success as it had a huge attendance, and both children and adults enjoyed it very much. Several hundreds of people had a great time, ate delicious treats and took bags full of prizes they won at the games that were organized.
We want to emphazise this event was only possible thanks to the work and commitment of all Espigas' staff and the families who participated in the organization. This year the funds that were raised will be used to cover the costs of the annual camps.
June 2018
- In preparation for the FIFA World Cup – Russia 2018, the Children’s Club team worked on Geography and the typical traditions of the countries that will participate in the Cup.
- In order to obtain funds for the camps, we are working with the parents’ workshop to organize a great outdoors bazaar to be held in August with a significant participation of the families.
May 2018
- On May 3rd, the groups chose names through the children's secret vote. During the last 2 months, they have been working on the native flora from where they chose the names.
- On May 8th we celebrated Espigas Centre's aniversary with several activities for the children, their family and our staff. Happy birthday to all who take part of this wonderful endevour!
- 5th grade children from Simiente visited the Science Space at LATU (Technological Laboratory of Uruguay). There they had the chance to experience a flight simulation to Antarctica.
- World Book Day (May 26) - - Several activities were organized in CAIF. Among them, the adults of reference from the "Early Experiences" Programme went to Espigas to read books to the children. In Children's Club, the teachers read stories throughout the week. On the 30th, a Book Fair was held and parents were invited to attend and participate in the different activities.
- El jueves 3 de mayo tuvo lugar la elección de los nombres para los grupos, mediante el voto secreto de los niños. Durante todo el bimestre se ha venido trabajado entorno a la flora autóctona, y los niños han elegido varios nombres que se sometieron a votación.
April 2018
- As usual, Children's Club and Simiente students started swimming lessons at Toledo Military School.
- Our music workshop teacher, Sebastián Muñoz, has formed a chorus with the children which visits all the programmes and sings for them.
March 2018
- After several months of work, we have completed Centro Espigas' kitchen's renovation. More than 500 girls and boys from Puntas de Manga who attend Espigas have their meals there. To celebrate this occasion, we held a reinauguration ceremony with the Centre's staff.
- Within a project to provide each group with its own identity, last year we used the names of native animals. In order to continue with this approach, this year we shall use names from Uruguay's flora for which we coordinated a guided visit and a lecture by Botany students at the premises of the Agricultural Science University. We also gave this activity a playful twist by organizing a photographic hunt.
January 2018
- We are deeply grateful to Meerhoff Optics who will freely provide reading glasses to all Espigas’ students, as per Urgenterap’s ophthalmologist’s prescriptions. A group of children already received theirs in December!
As Meerhoff Optics says in their website: "We are very happy to be able to colaborate in providing a better future for the children by offering them the necessary elements to have a quality eyesight."
