Interview with Gina Fonseca, Assistant Local Manager
New computer lab at St. Martin de Porres School
A full computer lab wasn’t even a dream ten years ago for St. Martin de Porres School, especially as the historically underfunded school had yet to build a gym.
But, rapid growth from the generosity of donations and grants — especially from Belize 2020 members —have transformed St. Martin de Porres over the past decade, with the school adding literacy initiatives, counseling resources, and yes, even the construction of a new gym.
Starting this academic year, though, the school looks to even more growth with the addition of a computer lab with enough devices for a full class of students. Now, every student across Grades 4-8 will have access to a computer for a technology class that St. Martin’s recently introduced. Lower grades will be added next year.
“To get them into computer classes was something we needed to try and do for them quickly, because we've had cases where these students [who have never used a computer] finish and go to high school where you're expected to do a lot of online work,” said Assistant Local Manager Gina Fonseca.
The new computer lab is one of the many new initiatives that St. Martin de Porres School has launched this year as it hopes to prepare its students for high school, including admission to more elite institutions where St. Martin’s students have historically struggled to be accepted.
The school, one of two Jesuit elementary and middle schools in the country, predominately serves students from low-income households in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city and country. Challenges associated with these social factors have meant that many St. Martin’s students, according to Fonseca, struggle to compete with students from more affluent schools and have “slipped through the cracks.”
That has all changed over the past decade with support from Belize 2020, who has helped the school be more effective at serving its over 600 students. Yet, a whole new administrative team believes the school can further increase the success of its student body. The new team at the school includes Roxy Encalada, the new principal, along with Michelle Gordon and Sherdia Benguche, the two vice principals — all who started in their roles this summer, just a couple months ago.
A full computer lab wasn’t even a dream ten years ago for St. Martin de Porres School, especially as the historically underfunded school had yet to build a gym.
But, rapid growth from the generosity of donations and grants — especially from Belize 2020 members —have transformed St. Martin de Porres over the past decade, with the school adding literacy initiatives, counseling resources, and yes, even the construction of a new gym.
Starting this academic year, though, the school looks to even more growth with the addition of a computer lab with enough devices for a full class of students. Now, every student across Grades 4-8 will have access to a computer for a technology class that St. Martin’s recently introduced. Lower grades will be added next year.
“To get them into computer classes was something we needed to try and do for them
Encalada and Benguche have been students in SLU’s education program.
“One of [Encalada’s] dreams is to see a very tight-knit team, with teachers, admin, and even parents that are invested and committed to St Martin's, that we're working like a well-oiled machine,” said Fonesca.
So far this year, Encalada and her team have been prioritizing communication and goal setting as a means of holding the school accountable to its ambitions of supporting students. Encalada has sent out more information to parents and has had more full division meetings with teachers at the school than ever before. She has also worked with each teacher to create individual benchmarks and goals.
Additionally, the school expands its assessments this school year as a way of holding each class accountable. The school, which has previously had two reading assessments for the students in grades 1-4, has now been expanded to include students in grades 1-7. There are also plans to include assessments of math literacy, which has become an even larger concern at the school.
SLU students visit St. Martin’s for a summer service experience.
“We've always had problems with our students getting into the more elite high schools because they're always told their grades aren't good enough, they don't have the right academic background,” said Fonseca. “And while that might be true, we can't accept that. We have to find a way to make them good enough, to make their academic background stronger. These assessments are one way that helps catch [learning gaps] before students get to grade eight and move on to high school.”
Reading assessments at St. Martin’s with the help of SLU students finished in record time.
Ultimately, the success and the new initiatives have made Fonseca and her fellow administrators particularly grateful and optimistic about the future of the school.
“I would like them to think about St Martin's as a safe, loving space for any child that enters our gates, that when they get there, they're at home, they're safe, they're loved,” said Fonesca. “I want them to think of it as a safe space for all our children, and that we are their family.”