Safe Passage (SP)

See Schedule OSchool reopened full-time in 2023, following a nearly three-year government-mandated closure or severely limited in-person schedule. A return to the classroom full-time made 2023 an important year for our educational community, allowing Safe Passage to reimplement the high-quality, interactive, and emotionally supportive learning environment that has such a strong impact on student growth and wellness. Safe Passage integrated health teams were able to assess and evaluate academic learning loss and psychosocial deficits sustained through distance learning during the three years, and the education and health teams implemented many strategic steps to close the learning gaps and address socio-emotional impact of nearly 3 years out of the classroom and the caring learning environment that Safe Passage offers to students. Safe Passage implemented two age 3 classrooms in 2023, offering high-quality early childhood education for 24 new young students. These young students are engaged in the immersive preschool learning environment, with nutritious meals, and integrated health services, as well as the family nurturing program which engages all parents in parenting classes, and are measurably more likely to experience academic success in later years. Age 3 students' developmental scales demonstrated remarkable growth within the first six months of entering the program, preparing them for preschool (age 4+). RESPONSE TO THE COVID CRISIS AND DISTANT LEARNING: Beginning March 16, 2020, after the Guatemalan government declared that no in-person classes would be permitted across all institutions in the country, Safe Passage immediately began working to convert our existing expeditionary learning curriculum to a distance learning model. Given our particular challenges and population, including the absence of virtual capacity, technology, or in some cases even electricity in the homes of our students, educational leadership created a new series of take-home packets and in-home projects to ensure learning continued pace. As the year continued, teacher ambassadors were appointed to serve students, and eventually, staff created instructional videos to augment instruction. By the end of the 2020 school year, Safe Passage still achieved a 96% graduation and advancement rate among all students and satisfied all Ministry of Education requirements for student progress and meeting of standards. A partial hybrid return to in-person learning was permitted in 2022 and a return to full-time in-person learning was finally restarted in 2023. Students' evaluations in late 2022 and early 2023 guided our intensive learning recovery plans, including adding an extra hour of instruction, greatly increasing the technology capacity on campus to access needed learning resources, preparing to implement an individualized/highly regarded online tutoring program called Progrentis, training all student-facing staff in mindfulness and socio-emotional and ethical learning skills to implement in the classroom, and increasing resources for mental and socio-emotional health with students and families. Our education and integrated health services teams were fully prepared and have implemented a whole school learning loss and psychosocial health recovery program to help students catch up academically and in health and wellness. INCREASED ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY: Safe Passage has continued to prioritize improving access to computers, technological curriculum, and international web-based educational programs. In 2023, 60 more laptops were added to our existing catalog of 60 laptops and 40 tablets for students to use at school. These allow for an individualized learning program allowing each student to focus on their areas of specific need. Technology has been an invaluable resource for learning, implementing the English literacy program, as well as supporting accelerated learning programs as part of the learning loss and recovery program.MINDFULNESS AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND ETHICAL LEARNING: In 2023, Safe Passage began a new partnership with Mindful Guatemala to train teachers, psychologists, and social workers in mindfulness and socio-emotional and ethical learning (SEE) skills. The curriculum was developed through Emory University and in 2023 staff began receiving 8 intensive trainings, to then implement SEE inside and outside of the classroom. The implementation of socio-emotional and ethical learning in the classroom will serve as a foundation for nurturing empathetic, resilient, compassionate, and engaged individuals who are not only academically proficient but also well-prepared for the demands of an interconnected and diverse global community.NUTRITION, MEDICINE, AND COUNSELING: Safe Passage continues to respond to deficits in health and learning that students sustained due to a three-year government-mandated school closure during COVID and existing systemic barriers and inequities that negatively impact health, nutrition, and wellness. In collaboration with our medical/health partner Shared Beat, we provide holistic, preventative, and acute health services to our students. In 2023, over 415,000 healthy meals and snacks were served, 3054 clinic visits were made, and all students were evaluated for nutritional deficiencies, health and dental issues (and treated as needed). Prevention is a big part of the health program. Every one of our students is treated for parasites twice a year, has an eye evaluation and is provided prescription glasses when needed, and has their full vaccination scheme, including the HPV vaccine for all our female students from 10 years old and up. ENGLISH-LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AT ALL LEVELS: Recognizing the advantages that English-language speakers have in the job market in Guatemala, Safe Passage provides English language instruction from age 3 through high school, using interactive methods consistent with Safe Passage's educational pedagogy. In 2021, Safe Passage reformed its entire English instruction curriculum and program to embed English language learning across all disciplines and levels, while aligning best practices and desired learning outcomes. With the new curriculum and program design completed, and under the continued guidance of the director of education, this vital program continues to build strong English proficiency for students through 2023.USE OF NEW FACILITIES AND PLAYGROUND: Returning to campus full-time in 2023 meant that primary and secondary students were able to make great use of our new playground and outdoor learning garden. Students used the outdoor space for physical education classes, daily Crew meetings (small group, mixed-aged, continuous cohorts of students facilitated by a teacher, addressing socio-emotional issues, conflicts at home or school, self-esteem, etc), expeditions such as weather, bee habitats, growing corn and medical herbs, and simply for playing outdoors together in a safe, loving, beautiful space (an anomaly in this neighborhood). The early childhood and preschool site "El Jardin" has ample, beautiful outdoor spaces for children to explore their world, but until 2022 getting students ages 7 up to a safe outdoor space for recreation required leaving campus. NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING AND COMPLEX (BASICO): With the addition of grades 7 through 9, students are utilizing existing space in our primary facility. Given issues of space and instructional effectiveness, Safe Passage raised the requisite funds in 2021 for a new middle school campus and community complex, the construction of which will commence in 2024, with completion and opening to students in 2025.Safe Passage is an international organization, and the IRS 990 only reflects financing for U.S.-based activity. To get a true understanding of our complete financial picture, please refer to our combined financial report, available on our website (www.safepassage.org/financials) and upon request.