By: Kristin Hahn

Waldorf Education is available in Playa Del Carmen

Claudia Pozo and her husband Ludolph Schmidt arrived in Playa Del Carmen in 1990. Originally from Mexico City Claudia brought an amazing background of psychology, education in learning disabilities, and bilingual education to the fledgling community of Playa Del Carmen.

She worked in local area schools until 1993 when her first son Patricio was born. Her focus shifted somewhat after the arrival of her first child. She wanted to ensure his educational stability and future, but was not convinced there was a viable option available in the Riviera Maya. That is how Papalote came to exist...

Officially opening its doors as a daycare in 1994 with 13 children it became quite clear that parents were seeking an alternative way of educating their children. By 1998 they had already outgrown 2 houses on Juarez, and decided to make the jump and design and build a “real” school. After careful planning and preparation they moved into their current facility at the beginning of the 1999-2000 school year.

In this time Claudia attended a lecture series in Cancun taught by a visiting Waldorf educator from Cuernevaca. Finally Claudia felt like there was a name and philosophy of education that had been coming to her naturally for many years, Waldorf Education.

The heart of the Waldorf philosophy is the belief that education is an artistic process. Their primary goal is "to produce individuals who are able, in and of themselves, to impart meaning to their lives”, and they seek to educate the whole child, "head, heart and hands".

Claudia felt so passionately about the beliefs and philosophies of the Waldorf system that she enrolled in a Masters program based out of New York. Completing her studies in 2002 she now has over 200 students being taught under the Waldorf pedagogy. There is now a Waldorf training facility in Cuernevaca that all of her teachers are required to attend as part of her growing and creative curriculum.

Papalote now has a thriving bilingual program with 24 native Spanish and English teachers. They offer accredited programs for children 1 to 11 years old (5^th grade). They plan to add on one grade each year, but never to exceed one classroom per group.

They offer SEP sponsored scholarships, a healthy lunch program, after school soccer program, and they even have a Parent’s Association which encourages and supports parent involvement.

For more information on the Waldorf theory of learning or Papalote’s overall program visit their website at: http://www.elpapalote.org/ or visit their office at: Avenida 25, Esquina 30, Playa Del Carmen or call: 984-879-3052

Mommy and Me classes: 9:30 AM- 11:30 AM are Tuesdays and Thursdays at Papalote.

Comments (0)

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment