65th Anniversary – Magical Moments

65 Years!  With 30 out-of-town guests and hundreds of local alumni, parents and teachers (see familiar faces in the photos below), we celebrated non-stop for 4 days.  Just some of the highlights included:

Saturday celebration. In the middle of our annual Sports Day, about 200 people enjoyed traditional dancing; reflections from Jean Stuckey (former director, parent, grandparent, school committee…), Francisco Vargas (mayor and parent), Daniel Vargas (graduate) and Cristina Herera (graduating student); and a moving moment of silence led by Sonia Montiel to remember the students and parents who have passed while at our school.

Raucous all-class reunion.  Alumni and old teachers gathered for a few hours of swapping anti-war stories.  Alberto Guindon talked about Tree Tag: “One time I was it and wanted to tag the person on the branch below me, so I decided to let go, tag him on my drop down, then grab onto the branch below him.”  Did he succeed?  “Well, the ground is a limit.”

Sunset at the Belmar.  Need we say more?  Okay, also there were hikes to the waterfall, visit to the Butterfly Garden, small dinner parties in Quaker homes, and sunrise nature hikes.

Coffee House and Square Dance.  A homecoming would not be complete without a night of (sometimes questionable) talent, and a second night of dancing with Benito.

Wolf Talks.  Two afternoons of local experts talking and leading discussion about changes over the past (and next) 65 years in Monteverde’s:

• Environment – Katy VanDusen, Lindsay Stallcup, Victorino Molino
• Economy & Tourism – Pedro Belmar, Ran Smith, Guillermo Vargas
• Youth Opportunities and Education – Sonia Montiel, Sierra Amighetti & Josue Picado
• Quakers in the Community – Lucky Guindon & Marvin Rockwell
• Arts Community – Kay Chinook, Gloria Waissbluth, Marco Tulio Brenes

Fundraising Dinner.  Catering by Greg Casillas & Kay Chornook, music by Francis Guindon, service by colegio students, and testimonials from Josue Picado and Gabriela McAdam inspired 80 guests to pledge over $66,000, including:

• $6,744 in cash donations to address our technology needs
• 5-year pledges of $11,875 per year (ie, $59,375 total) from our newest “Integrity Donors” – friends who make monthly/annual pledges to help form the bedrock of our school, providing steady support for our financial aid fund.  Please contact us to explore monthly/annual giving.