Colegio Atabal
Colegio Atabal is an elementary school for children 7 to 11 years old. It has Federal Department of Education (SEP) recognition and uses the SEP method (implemented in 1993) of constructive learning.
As co-founder, Sylvia van Dijk said "The children design their own study plan; the teachers act as facilitators." The aim is to learn how to learn, not simply memorize information, to be able to resolve future problems in a multicultural world. Academic knowledge is stressed, but taught without pressure, in a way children enjoy.
Self esteem, communication skills, imagination, abstract thinking and creativity are skills that are enhanced and used to solve problems. Children learn how to organize their time and space. Honesty and social responsibility are some of the moral values that are stressed. Teamwork and helping each other ranks above individual achievement. The school store is run by students, and the director says, "We have never missed a centavo."
Children of all ages are taught to do investigative work and come to democratic decisions. From age nine on, they choose a subject for presentation, do the investigation and present their work in class. Classes are taught in English and Spanish.
Future plans include a scholarship program, a secondary school, maybe as soon as the 2002-2003 school year, and eventually, a teaching college.
Atabal is located on the Libramiento a Querétaro, Club Colonial de San Miguel. Registration fee is $1,600 pesos per year; tuition is $1,428 pesos per month, and materials are $1,500 pesos per year.
For more information call 152-8855 (español) or 152-6173 (English).
