A new educational program slated to open for the upcoming school year in Playa del Carmen.

September 4th, 2006 is the signaled day for the opening of Ak Lu'um (Mayan for “our earth”) Preschool offering a new program for children aged 2 to 6. A synthesis of Waldorf education and the Learning Through the Arts method of education, the school will also address the growing need in our community for an integrated program. Integration of special needs children into mainstream education as well as social integration of underprivileged children on scholarships. Ak Lu'um, is a non-profit educational community and plans to offer workshops for children after school, and will also be offering courses for parents and teenagers regarding; community, health and educational issues.

The focus is towards artistic expression, development of physical skills and nurturing of reverence for the world around us. Fairy tales, creative movement, modeling, bread-baking, gardening, music, nature walks, seasonal celebrations and exploring materials will al be integrated into the curriculum. The program will be truly bilingual with half of the school day being taught in English and half of the day being taught in Spanish.

This year the school will be housed in Playa del Carmen at Fraccionamiento Campestre, across the highway from Playacar, in a bright, roomy house with a large garden, next to the jungle. For the 2007/2008 school year, Ak Lu'um plans to open its doors to students from 2 to 10 in their own site in the jungle, where self-sustainability in terms of electricity, water, sewage treatment and waste recycling is the aim as well as learning in a non-invasive, natural environment.

As a non-profit venture, Ak Lu'um is constantly seeking donations for development and sponsors for underprivileged children. We believe integration is the solution to many problems the world is experiencing; racism, lack of tolerance, ignorance and religious conflict. The humanistic essence of Waldorf schooling is our inspiration while the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmed guides our methodology. We aim to lead by example and encourage our students to be open-minded, highly skilled, decision-makers who act with compassion and enthusiasm in the world around them and are not afraid to change their future for the better.

For more detailed information about the program please read the educational prospectus here.

Want to come and visit their new facility? Click here to visit their website.

In charge of this ambitious, but entirely possible, project are:
Siobhan Bowers
Academic Head, Class Teacher
Siobhan was trained as a Primary/Elementary teacher after graduating from the University of London (Drama & Hispanic Studies). Non-teaching experience includes 10 years in theatre, film production and advertising, where she was part owner and ran an advertising production company in Mexico City until 2002. She has taught at international schools in Brazil, The USA and Mexico where she worked with special needs children and is a qualified LAHC reviewer. At Lancaster school, in Mexico City she was Primary Art co-coordinator and worked closely with the Special Needs Inclusion programmed. She spent a year at Papalote School in Playa del Carmen as the English co-coordinator and Grade 1 and 2 teacher.
Gabriela Nuñez
Technical Director, Class Teacher
Gaby finished her degree in pedagogy at UNAM (the National Autonomous University of Mexico) where she specialized in teaching through the arts. She participated actively in several graphic and performance arts workshops. Her studies included working with socially disadvantaged children. She has worked in Mexico City and Playa del Carmen as a pre-school and primary teacher and has experience in supporting students with learning difficulties.

Other staff also includes therapists, specialist music and physical education teachers, a classroom assistant and a resident educational psychologist.

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