Christmas Greetings 2009

Dear Friends, The students and staff of Holy Cross Anglican School join me in wishing you a Blessed and Joyous Christmas Season and a Happy New Year! Your prayers, donations of school supplies and financial contributions have created Holy Cross and will help ensure that this ministry continues to grow and nurture the children of San Pedro throughout all of 2010. We often pray the words of St. Paul found in Philippians 1:6, “That the God who started this great work in you (Holy Cross Anglican School) would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”

And speaking of 'great work', I wish each of you could have been with us for the Holy Cross Christmas Pageant held yesterday at the high school. Please enjoy the attached photos (thanks Cullen!) and try to imagine the excitement as hundreds of children sang like angels, danced with joy and joined in thanking their Heavenly Father for the precious gift of Jesus.

I'd like to share just one of the offerings - an original poem by Standard V sung to the "Twelve Days of Christmas" and dedicated to Holy Cross.....

On the first day of Christmas, Holy Cross gave to me, a scholarship to high school;

On the second day of Christmas, Holy Cross gave to me 2 glasses of milk;

........ 3 johnny cakes;

.........4 powder buns

Five plates of food!

........6 slices of melon;

........7 dentists drilling;

........8 volunteers;

........9 computer lessons;

........10 doctors helping;

........11 teachers teaching;

........12 Christmas gifts!

I think their words say it all - I just wish you could have heard their sweet voices and seen their smiling faces!!

In this season of miracles we thank God for each of you, for the many blessings He has showered upon us all and for the ability he has given us to share with those in need. May your lives be filled to overflowing with God's love, peace and joy - this Sacred Season and throughout the coming year. In Christ, Francis

Please visit the School web site at www.holycrossbelize.org and the new Holy Cross Education Foundation site at www.hcefoundation.org

Tax deductable donations to Holy Cross may be made through:
Holy Cross Education Foundation
755 Corporate Way
Eden Prarie, Mn 55344



Usborne Books e-show

Dear Friends of Holy Cross, Please take a few minutes to read the following email from long time Holy Cross supporter, Jean Willard. Jean and her husband John along with many friends from St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Durham, NC have brought numerous mission teams to the school. Jean is doing a fund raiser for the school which will help us get wonderful library books. Now you can do your Christmas shopping AND support Holy Cross at the same time!!! Many thanks and blessings, francis
Greetings,
I'm here to help you with your Christmas shopping this year! I am hosting an e-show of Usborne Books. In hosting this e-show, I will receive free books. The $$ amount sold determines the number of free books. All free books received from this e-show will go to the library at Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro Belize. Our church has taken mission teams to Belize for the past 9 years and has spent the last 3 years helping build Holy Cross. We have watched it grow from 3 classrooms in a mangrove swamp with 62 students to 15 classrooms and 525 students from K-8th grade. We return in February 2010 with 25 team members and hopefully lots of new books!! The annual trip is one of the highlights of our year!

Never heard of Usborne Books? They are high quality, award winning books. They have earned the Learning Magazine Teachers' Choice Award, Dr. Toy's 100 Best Child Products Award, Parent's Choice Gold Award and Mom's Choice Award and more. Their 1300+ book selection ranges from baby board books through High School reference books. They have readers, fiction, puzzle stories, finger puppets, maze books, jigsaw puzzles, hands-on activity books and kits and much more. The sales representative for this e-show is my daughter, Jill Baird. When we went to visit them in Hawaii this past September, I got to help host her first sale. She had gotten a box of sample books and John and I spent hours and hours reading those books to our grandsons. They couldn't get enough of them! We later saw them at Volcanos National Park in the gift shop and have since found them at other National Parks we have visited. We were VERY impressed with the quality of the books, and I am very picky about children's books!!
Please take a minute and visit the website for this e-show and check it out! They're wonderful gift books for all children. And they'll be delivered right to your door! Or, you can do a separate order for each family and have it delivered to their door! Can't beat one stop shopping! If you're not sure what they would like, just send them the e-show site and ask them to make up a wish list for you!
If you have questions, please send me an email at willarjm@mindspring.com or give me a call at 919-471-0816. To learn more about Holy Cross Anglican School, check out their website and Julie's blog who is volunteering for 2 months at the school and writing about her experiences. Feel free to pass this info on to friends! The more the merrier!
Thanks for your support of this e-show!!
:-) Jean

Halloween Fair - 2009


Dear Friends, I just wanted to share some 'Happy Halloween' photos from the school FUNdraising Fair held this past Friday. The kids had a wonderful day and the school raised $1,608.50US for the Feeding Program - that's a ton of quarters!! Many thanks to the teachers, parents and to local businesses who made generous donations: Casa Pan Dulce ( a delicious cake!); Quality Poultry (a great price on the chicken we bar-b-qued!); Martin McKoy (toe-tapping music and the sound system!) and Daniel Nunez (soft drinks!).

Please join in the fun of Holy Cross by making your contribution today!! Checks may be sent to:

Holy Cross Anglican School
San Pedro TownAmbergris Caye, Belize

And, please check out the new Holy Cross Foundation Board web site and the School web site. Many thanks for your prayers and continuing support. It truly takes all of us working together to make the miracle of Holy Cross a reality for 500+ children!!
Blessings, Francis









Happy Friday the 13th

Dear Friends,

Happy Friday the 13th! We’re having a wonderful day here at Holy Cross Anglican School. The sun is shining after many days of rain, the sounds of learning are quietly (or not so quietly!) echoing around the school and construction has begun on our incredible state of the art composting toilet system. Thanks to a generous grant from the Episcopal Church Women, by September 2010 we will have two girls’ bathrooms and two boys’ bathrooms, 24 toilets, 10 urinals, 4 staff bathrooms and the ‘greenest’ sewer waste disposal system available!!!! I never thought I could get so excited about toilets but providing bathroom breaks for 500+ students and 29 staff with only 6 toilets and 3 urinals is more complicated than rocket science.

I know you each rejoice with us as the school blooms and grows. And I know most of you could recite the critical needs we have here at Holy Cross from memory….feeding program, land fill, school supplies, shoes, uniforms, first aid, electricity for the computer lab, water bills (most recent was for $850US), medical bills, eye glasses and the list goes on and on. And, most of you know I have a thousand and one ways to ask for your financial contributions. Now I have one thousand and TWO ways…my birthday, the BIG 60, will be on November 18th, 2009. (I can hear you gasping in shock since I don’t look a day over 59 – smile.) Anyway, a few folks have asked what I want for my birthday. That’s an easy question to answer!

If the Spirit should move you to make a donation to Holy Cross Anglican School in honor of my big event then God Bless You! Of course I want your birthday prayers too! As always, checks should be made payable to: Holy Cross Anglican School and sent to:

Holy Cross Anglican School
San Pedro Town
Ambergris Caye, Belize

Many thanks and blessings, Francis, The Birthday Girl!!

Please take a moment to read Volunteering in Belize part 2. a great blog done by one of our volunteers Julie.

Happy Friday the 13th

November 13, 2009

Dear Friends,

Happy Friday the 13th! We’re having a wonderful day here at Holy Cross Anglican School. The sun is shining after many days of rain, the sounds of learning are quietly (or not so quietly!) echoing around the school and construction has begun on our incredible state of the art composting toilet system. Thanks to a generous grant from the Episcopal Church Women, by September 2010 we will have two girls’ bathrooms and two boys’ bathrooms, 24 toilets, 10 urinals, 4 staff bathrooms and the ‘greenest’ sewer waste disposal system available!!!! I never thought I could get so excited about toilets but providing bathroom breaks for 500+ students and 29 staff with only 6 toilets and 3 urinals is more complicated than rocket science.

I know you each rejoice with us as the school blooms and grows. And I know most of you could recite the critical needs we have here at Holy Cross from memory….feeding program, land fill, school supplies, shoes, uniforms, first aid, electricity for the computer lab, water bills (most recent was for $850US), medical bills, eye glasses and the list goes on and on. And, most of you know I have a thousand and one ways to ask for your financial contributions. Now I have one thousand and TWO ways…my birthday, the BIG 60, will be on November 18th, 2009. (I can hear you gasping in shock since I don’t look a day over 59 – smile.) Anyway, a few folks have asked what I want for my birthday. That’s an easy question to answer!

If the Spirit should move you to make a donation to Holy Cross Anglican School in honor of my big event then God Bless You! Of course I want your birthday prayers too! As always, checks should be made payable to: Holy Cross Anglican School and sent to:

Holy Cross Anglican School
San Pedro Town
Ambergris Caye, Belize

Many thanks and blessings, Francis, The Birthday Girl!!

Holy Cross Staff at Work

Hard working staff at the Halloween Fair.....Mr. Freddy and Mr. Jason preparing the delicious bar-b-que, Vernon trying to maintain order at the Haunted House and me decorating trick or treat bags and handing out candy! You can see more Halloween on Julie's Volunteering in Belize part 2 blog.









Good News - Miss Francis

Dear Friends of Holy Cross, I love sharing good news and we've been blessed with lots of wonderful happenings recently. No, we haven't been adopted by Oprah or Bill Gates so we still need your financial contributions! But, even in the midst of financial need, God continues to shower us with blessings - smile.

Harvest Sunday - Yesterday was our third Harvest Celebration and it was amazing! Over six hundred students and their families gathered at the San Pedro High School Nunez auditorium to worship and thank God for His many gifts. Harvest here in Belize is similar to Thanksgiving in the States - a time of giving thanks and sharing. We asked all our students to bring an item(s) for the school Feeding Program - the pictures tell the story. What an incredible outpouring of little bags of rice, flour and sugar; cans of evaporated milk; spaghetti noodles; salt; milk powder; tomato paste; boxes of macaroni, etc - wow! Each class presented a Harvest item....."Bringing in the Sheaves", "We Plow the Field and Scatter", "They Will Know We Are Christians", more songs and poems and tears in my eyes. The teachers did a beautiful job with decorations, Fr. Perez was able to come from Belize City to conduct the service (thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Leslie, General Manager of Anglican Schools), one mother donated a cake which raised $125US in a silent auction and God was mightily thanked!

Electric Bill was paid! Many thanks to the members of the Belize Mission Project for their wonderful financial donations which enabled the School to pay that hideous electric bill (over $2,000US). The lights will stay on - yea! For seventeen years, Dr. Frank Whipps has brought a group of dentists and support personnel to Belize. They staff free clinics all over the country, including here in San Pedro. Several years ago some of their members visited Holy Cross and informally 'adopted' the school as part of their outreach program. I was able to share dinner with these lovely folks from all across the US and gratefully received their contributions. Thank you Belize Mission Project!!! (If you are interested in additional information, please check out their web site at Belize Mission Project.

New Shoes! Thanks to FootLocker, the efforts of Aylson Kanning and the connections made by Belize Mission Project, Holy Cross received almost fifty pairs of beautiful new shoes! There will be lots of 'happy feet' in the school just as soon as we can distribute the shoes to those in need - four pairs have already found new homes - smile. The donation came at a perfect time as the weather has turned cool and rainy. Before school started we gave out over three hundred pairs of shoes so our supply was really low. Thank you FootLocker, Aylson and BMP!!!

Holy Cross Foundation Wed Page! Last year almost twenty volunteers who worked at Holy Cross from seven different States got together and formed a Foundation. The goal of the Foundation is to benefit Holy Cross Anglican School through increasing awareness, raising funds and seeking grants on behalf of the school. Several of these folks have been hard at work getting a web site going and it is now up!!! Check out this link which is open for tax deductible donations via credit card right now: Multiply Communications.


And, please check out the web page: Holy Cross Education Foundation. Many thanks to Brian, Tim, John and Pat!!

Cursillo! Many of you may be familiar with Cursillo (also known as Walk to Emmaus, Tres Dias, similar to Chiros and Happening) which is a Christ-centered, three day retreat. Here in Belize, the Anglican Diocese holds a Cursillo Weekend every other year. Just a few weeks ago twelve members of the school staff attended the Weekend. Vernon and I served on Team along with the Minister of Education, Patrick Faber. It was a glorious three days which nourished everyone's faith and brought us all closer to God and each other. I can see the wonderful effects of the Weekend already!

New Education Officer! San Pedro/Caye Caulker finally received our very own Education Officer, Ms. Candy Armstrong. She will be the liaison between all the local schools and the Ministry of Education and also serve as a valuable resource . With several public schools to choose from, where do you think she enrolled her three children?!? Holy Cross Anglican School is pleased (and very proud!) that she entrusted the education of her children to us!

Holy Cross placed 29th in the Nation! At a meeting on Friday with the District Education Officer, we learned that Holy Cross Anglican School placed 29th in the nation in overall scores on the mandatory Primary School Exams. This examination is given to all students at the end of Standard VI (eighth grade). There are 292 primary school in Belize so 29th is pretty good - especially when we take into account that we only had most of our students for one or two years. Yea, Holy Cross!

I do love sharing good news and you are the very folks who make the good news happen!! Please continue to uphold us in your prayers and send your much needed contribution to:

Holy Cross Anglican School
San Pedro Town
Ambergris Caye, Belize

Many thanks and blessings, Francis

Industrial Stove Donation

Today Holy Cross Celebrated the donation of a new industrial stove with a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by lunch prepared by Chef Victor Nal of Sunset Grill.

Preparing and serving breakfast a fruit snack and lunch daily for 500 kids is no small feat - even the busiest restaurant in town does not serve that many daily let alone 5 days a week. Holy Cross School and kitchen staff headed by Miss Rosalia is very grateful for Chef Victor's training help in the kitchen.

Chef Victor is a frequent volunteer with the Feeding Program at the School and was recently selected Belize Chef of the year for 2009.

The stove is a gift from Tony and Ginger Rogers of Texas who volunteered at Holy Cross this past summer. Ginger was helping with literacy and remedial reading and Tony with building. They asked the school what was needed most and they went back home and raised the money for an industrial stove.

Ginger and Tony got the stove got to Amarillo Texas to the Word at Work Ministry to Pastor Tim Tam. Transportation from Texas to San Pedro was generously provided by Belize Natural Energy Trust headquartered in Belmopan. Sterling Vorus of Island Ferry stepped up and voluntered to get the stove from Belize City to San Pedro.

Among the people who came out to celebrate were officials Sylvia Baumgart Laasner and Deborah Sewell from BNET were.

Miss Roselia and Chef Victor - Stove donated by Ginger and Tony Rogers

Stove donated by Ginger and Tony Rogers

Touring the school

Lunch time

Checking out the library

Ribbon cutting ceremony

Speeches and thank yous

Watching the ribbon cutting ceremony

Speeches and thank yous

Ribbon cutting

3 cheers for a great new stove and all who helped get it here and install it.

Cafeteria annex

Lunch time

Lunch prepared by Chef Victor

Good words for kids to read daily

The writing is on the wall

I agree with that 100%

Official ribbon cutting ceremony

Please join the staff and students of Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro on Tuesday, October 13th at 11am for the official ribbon cutting ceremony and installation of the school's new restaurant-quality stove. The stove is a gift from Tony and Ginger Rogers of Texas who volunteered at Holy Cross this past summer. Transportation from Texas to San Pedro was generously provided by Belize Natural Energy Trust headquartered in Belmopan. Officials from BNET will be present at the ceremony.

A sumptuous lunch will follow the ceremony prepared by Chef Victor Nal of the Sunset Grill. Chef Victor is a frequent volunteer with the Feeding Program at the School and was recently selected Belize Chef of the year for 2009.

501c3 = Tax Deductable Contributions

Dear Friends of Holy Cross, The Holy Cross Education Foundation has been established as a 501c3!!!!!!! Now you can make your TAX DEDUCTIBLE contributions to that organization.

Please send your check made payable to:
Holy Cross Education Foundation and mail to:
Holy Cross Educational Foundation7550 Corporate Way, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Your donation is tax deductible. The federal tax ID is 27-0626278.

Many, many thanks to Brian Ostenso and the folks at Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina, MN who labored long and hard to make this happen. Of course you can continue to send donations straight to Holy Cross Anglican School, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize. The only difference is that contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible.

Blessings, Francis

Great News

Dear Friends of Holy Cross, The Holy Cross Education Foundation has been established as a 501c3!!!!!!! Now you can make your TAX DEDUCTIBLE contributions to that organization. Please send your check made payable to:

Holy Cross Education Foundation and mail to:

Holy Cross Educational Foundation
7550 Corporate Way,
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Your donation is tax deductible. The federal tax ID is 27-0626278.

Many, many thanks to Brian Ostenso and the folks at Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina, MN who labored long and hard to make this happen. Of course you can continue to send donations straight to Holy Cross Anglican School, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize. The only difference is that contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible. Blessings, francis



September 2009 - Miss Francis

Wow! School has started and 527 children are learning, playing, laughing and enjoying a nutritious feeding program here at Holy Cross. Only a few so far have been sent to the Office and we pray this trend will last throughout the year! As always we are counting on you, our friends and supporters, to make sure we can continue to offer the highest quality education program in the safest environment possible to the children of San Pedro.

Thanks be to God, hundreds of wonderful folks volunteered their time and talents here this summer. They painted (just about everything that didn’t move), installed insulation, built storm shutters, constructed a marvelous deck around the Upper Division, enlarged the Standard VI class to accommodate 39 (!) students, roofed an area adjacent to the cafeteria (thanks Tony!), repaired school furniture and organized lots of school supplies. In addition they held glorious, fun-filled, Christ-centered Vacation Bible Schools, conducted Literacy Programs (yea Ginger!) and offered swimming classes at the Tides. It was a very busy, enriching summer for our children. Thank you Volunteer Mission Teams. You helped keep our children safe and sound while preparing the school for this new year !!

We were also able, over the summer, to find sponsors for thirty-five of our graduates to attend high school. As always I was amazed at the kindness and generosity of the larger Holy Cross community. All twenty-one of our 2009 graduates who applied for scholarships received them, as did our 12 graduates from 2008 plus two graduates who wanted to go to night school. Thanks be to God these young folks are walking toward a brighter future everyday. In June 2010 we hope to graduate thirty-nine students from Standard VI. If you're interested in helping with a high school scholarship, please let me know. Cost per scholarship is $500US per student.

We have two exciting projects planned for the fall. The first is building and equipping our soon-to-be Holy Cross Preschool. We have been asked by the Ministry of Education to have the classrooms up and running as soon as possible – we’re praying by December. We plan to have morning and afternoon sessions that will serve approximately 50 children ages three and four from the San Mateo community. The need is great and we hope the resources will be available to get started. Our biggest concern is acquiring the necessary landfill, which is so expensive. Our ‘friendly’ developer to the north has consistently failed to honor his promises to assist in this effort, so we really need your prayers and financial support!

Our second project is the construction of a state-of-the art composting toilet system capable of meeting the needs of our students AND protecting the environment. Thanks be to God and the Episcopal Church Women, the school received a $41,000US United Thank Offering grant!!! Construction should start within the next few weeks – not a moment too soon. We have long lines at the bathrooms everyday and our holding tank has to be pumped out monthly - another $500US expense. It’s hard to imagine how excited we are about toilets - smile.

Holy Cross is blessed again this year that Principal Grace Williams returned. Mrs. Williams actually retired several years ago after thirty-nine years in education. Thank goodness she is delaying 'rocking on the porch' in favor of strengthening Holy Cross and mentoring staff and students. We also welcomed Ms. Olivia Tasher as Vice-Principal. Ms. Tasher has over twenty years experience in primary education and is already making wonderful contributions in the Infant Division. In addition ten of our returning teachers spent their summer vacations taking education classes offered by the University of Belize (in the Holy Cross Computer Center - yea!), and are so much better prepared and equipped to be in the classroom. Holy Cross Anglican School is definitely coming together - smile!!

Yes, we are definitely off to a great start, but we need your help to stay the course. I know September isn't the best time to be asking for financial support, but......

*we need to feed our children in September! At a cost of one dollar per day per student for breakfast with milk, mid-morning fruit snack, full lunch and purified water in every classroom that is $527US per day or $2,635 per week!!! Many of our children don't receive breakfast at home, rarely have fresh fruit or milk or a nutritious, well-balanced lunch. The parents who can afford to contribute to the Feeding Program do so with financial contributions, food or volunteering at the school. Hungry children cannot learn regardless of the quality of the teachers or the availability of school supplies. We need YOUR help to maintain the Feeding Program!

*we need to purchase textbooks in September! Although the Government of Belize provided most of our textbooks, we still need supplementary materials. Just last week the school spent almost $3,000US on Social Studies materials. And we continue to need basic reading resources. We need YOUR help to acquire essential books and materials!

*we need to pay our energy bills in September! In order to protect the integrity of the 40 computers were generously given, we must air condition the computer center. In order to safe guard the thousands of books volunteers loving brought down in their suitcases, we need to air condition the Library. Unfortunately, air conditioning is very expensive in San Pedro. Last month we paid $2,017US for the electric bill. We need YOUR help to maintain the Computer Center and Library!

*we need to pay our water bills in September! We've had an exceptionally dry summer with almost no rain. Usually we spend the summer praying we aren't hit by a hurricane or torrential rains; this summer we've been praying for rain. Our cistern (which supplies the school) ran empty in August and we had to fill up with town water. The school uses approximately 7,000 gallons of water a week as the kitchen staff washes tons of dishes. At a cost of $113.27 a week that's over $450 a month when we rely on Town water. We need YOUR help to make sure the kitchen runs smoothly and our little ones eat clean and healthy food off of clean and healthy dishes!

Simply put, the children of Holy Cross need your continuing support and assistance! Each of you has been an integral part of the miracle of Holy Cross. Through you, God has richly blessed this 'not so little any more' school. A firm foundation has been built which was no easy job in the middle of a swamp. Now I pray you will stand with us as we try to break the chains of poverty, abuse and ignorance. We need YOUR financial support and your prayers in September and October and November and.....

Please send checks made payable to 'Holy Cross Anglican School' to:

Holy Cross Anglican School
San Pedro Town
Ambergris Caye Belize

In closing we'd like to once again thank our Volunteer Mission Teams who were so incredible this summer. They include:
All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, TX
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina, MN
Christ Episcopal Church in Raleigh, NC
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Kingwood, TX
Christ and Grace Episcopal Church in Petersburg, VA
Anglican Diocese from Newfoundland, CAN
St. Simon's Anglican Church in Oakville, CAN
St. Paul's Episcopal School in Baltimore, MD
Eastern Shore Chapel in Virginia Beach, VA
Church of the Good Shepherd, Norfolk, VA
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, TX
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades, CA
Church of the Transfiguration in Aurora, CA
Kiwanis Club Young Professional Division in Newport News, VA

May God richly bless your willingness to share your time, talents and treasure with His less fortunate children in Belize. In Christ, Francis

Swimming Classes and playground pics

Holy Cross Volunteers Offer Swimming Classes

Volunteers to Holy Cross Anglican School from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades, California taught swimming classes the week of July 20 - 24.  Almost 50 Island children participated in this program and learned vital water survival skills.  The group stayed at the Tides and the management there graciously offered their pool and dock for swimming lessons. Classes were held each morning from 9am until 11:30 with a mid-morning snack served by the volunteers.

Saturday morning was the culmination of a week of fun and learning as the First Annual Swim Meet was held.  Prizes were awarded and all participants received new bathing suits and delicious ice cream cones from Manelly’s.

In the afternoons the team came to Holy Cross and helped ready the school for reopening (August 31).  Major projects included constructing a deck around the upper division classrooms, erecting a playground slide and lots of painting. 

Sandra bringing soccer-balls from kids in Canada

Belize University teacher training course at Holy Cross - 6 week course

Why the new playground is such a good thing

San Mateo house

Kids enjoying the playground

Fun in the sun

Playground thanks to Dita and Ed and many other wonderful people

Happy girl

Playground

Kids playing

Nice place close to home to play

Climbing high

Having fun

Good news - Miss Francis

Good news......Great JOY.........

Yesterday I went to Belize City with our teacher who has had problems with her ex, (the San Pedro policeman).  Our attorney was there (a minor miracle in itself) and the case was heard in Family Court.  The Magistrate gave the teacher a one year protection order (YEA!) against her ex and gave him a good talking to.  At one point he asked what would happen if he violated the order...would it go to the police department? (of course that's where all his buddies are!).  The magistrate said "NO, it will immediately come back to this court!"

Our teacher also got the visitation with their child set up the way she wanted it.  She will take the boy to the ex's mother and he can only visit with him with his mother present.  Thanks be to God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We were jumping up and down with joy especially after the magistrate here in San Pedro was so rude to Vernon and me on Monday.  That magistrate told us that he didn't grant our teacher a temporary protection order because the 'conditions didn't warrant it and I am the absolute judicial authority in San Pedro!!'.   As I mentioned in my last email he was shrieking at us.  Made me really happy when the Family Court judge found enough evidence to extend the temporary protection order for ONE YEAR - YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, our teacher was beaming ear to ear and so were we. Please keep a-praying as Vernon and I still have to deal with the screaming magistrate in San Pedro on July 20!!!!  Love and hugs, francis

Graduation 2009 - Miss Francis


Holy Cross Anglican School proudly graduated twenty five Standard VI students on Sunday, June 21st.  The Nunez Auditorium at San Pedro High School was beautifully decorated and hundreds of parents, family members, students, staff members, volunteers and friends joined together to honor the graduating class of 2009.

Mistress of Ceremonies and Standard II teacher, Ms. Zulma Vasquez called on Ms. Nancy Schorr, Team Leader for the volunteer group from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Kingwood, Texas to offer the Opening Prayer.  Following the National Anthem, Gaspar Villamil, School Salutatorian gave the Welcoming Address.  Principal, Mrs. Grace Williams then addressed the crowd encouraging the graduates to continue their education and to remember that hard work is required to accomplish worthy goals.

The Infant Division serenaded the class of 2009 with a most appropriate item, "You've Done Your Job" followed by the  Valedictory Address given by Jonathan Martinez. The graduates then preformed their class song, "The Climb" which spoke to their class theme, "The struggles I'm facing sometimes knock me down but I'm not breaking...".

Guest Speaker Mr. Jahmor Lopez, Belize District Education Officer, challenged the graduates to overcome setbacks and failures and to continue climbing their personal mountains.  He set the example of Jesus before them and reminded all present that even Jesus stumbled three times on His way to the cross.  Jesus got up and continued onward and so should you, Mr. Lopez asserted.

Mrs. Francis Wilson gave the Local Manager's Address reminding all present that only three short years ago, Holy Cross didn't exist.  Today it is a vibrant primary school with 500 students.  Mrs. Wilson also announced the scholarship recipients from the class of 2009.  A total of $15,000 in scholarships was awarded to the class of 2009.  These scholarships were provided by friends of Holy Cross Anglican School in the US, Canada and England.  The following students each received a $1,000 scholarship for First Form:  Desmond Bailey, Damaris Caliz, Maite Livingston, Jose Luis Marroquin, Jonathan Martinez, Miriam Palacio, Nolbin Perez, Alvaro Puc, Christian Ramos, Kimberly Reyes, Miriam Rodriguez, Briceydi Vanegas, Gaspar Villamil, Ishtar Williams.

In addition to the scholarships given to the graduating students, ten students who graduated from Holy Cross in 2008  received a $1,000 scholarship to continue onto Second Form.  They are Irvin Chacon, Julio Chacon, Kimberly Carrillo, Shaunne Elliott, Victor Hernandez, Michael Howe, Rudy Puc, Estrella Trochez, Samantha Welch and Estrellita Williams.

Mrs. Wilson concluded her remarks by sharing how proud the management and staff of Holy Cross was to be able to assist twenty five of their graduates with scholarships totaling $25,000.

The Middle Division next sang "We Are The World" followed by a very moving 'Passing of the Torch of Knowledge' Ceremony.

Finally the long awaited moment was at hand as the twenty five Standard VI students stood to receive their diplomas.  The certificates were distributed by Mrs. Grace Williams and Mr. Jahmor Lopez.  The three outstanding students from each class then received gifts distributed by parent volunteers Mrs. Maricruz Martinez and Mrs. Brenda Martinez. 

The Graduation Ceremony concluded with a poem, "Be the Best of Whatever You Are", recited by the upper division students, The Vote of Thanks by graduate, Christian Ramos and the final benediction by Mrs. Nancy Schorr.

Twenty five joyful primary school graduates exited the auditorium amid applause and rejoicing. They took their first steps into the next chapter of their lives!






More Donations


Changes in Latitudes hosted Blog Fiesta breakfast today and raised  $115 in donations for Holy Cross School.

In addition to that the Direct Abundance girls handed over $250 from the selling green beads with Alexis at lobsterfest block party. They also picked up a donation of 7 build a bears that made it to the Sunbreeze Hotel thanks to Mary Mooney who donated them and sent to TQ who got them to Jennifer in Houston to bring to us. Thanks also goes out to KC Jayhawks for their donation of a a digital camera - the Kinnon family for 6 big bottles of gummy bear vitamins as well as everyone who came out to enjoy french toast and hot buttered rum syrup for a good cause.






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