ADLN Newsletter - January 3, 2003

Amigos De Los Ninos School Update

OVERVIEW:
The Amigos De Los Niños (ADLN) School in Frontera, Coahuila, Mexico has 75 students enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program.

The classes help prepare the students for elementary school and are required for enrollment for the public school system. The ADLN School is preparing these young students for a successful elementary school education. Another component of an ADLN School education is the provision of school uniforms, educational supplies, two daily meals, a yearly physical and vitamins, and a God-centered education.

SCHOOL BUILDING:
ADLN is housed in a two-year-old building that has two classrooms, school administrator’s office, kitchen/dining hall, and bathrooms downstairs. Upstairs, the school building has a pharmacy/clinic room, two rooms used for housing for visiting guests, and two rooms ready for expansion. A new colorful playground and courtyard was completed in 2002. The courtyard area also includes a wading pool for those days when the temperature requires a short break in the cool water. The courtyard walls have been painted in colorful Mexican art work by local artists and teachers.

SCHOOL STAFF:
The ADLN School is staffed by well-trained men and women who love the Lord and are faithful in a local church. A board of Mexican oversees the school locally Christians that direct the affairs of the school and maintain a strong connection to the local churches and families. A school administrator, Señor Jose Maria, oversees the daily affairs of the school.

Jose had a long history in the public school system before taking an early retirement to serve as administrator of ADLN. Jose’s experience in working with the Mexican ministry of education has been invaluable in forming the new school. Three teachers serve the school. The teachers are well trained and are currently seeking higher certification by the education ministry of Mexico. One of the teachers works with teaching the school children English lessons each day. There is one teacher’s aide that serves in the largest classroom. A janitor/grounds keeper that is a faithful servant also serves the school. There are also weekly Bible lessons required for all parents that are taught by a local evangelist.

ADLN AMERICAN BOARD:
As you probably know, Amigos De Los Niños (ADLN) is a non-profit, tax-exempt charity that is lead by a board of dedicated Christians. At the last board meeting held in February 2003 in Little Rock, AR. The ADLN board now has 15 members and they are Carl and Una Carpenter, Mark and Kathy Meeker, Gerald and Angela Driskill, Jon and Brenna Camp, Lynn Cook, Keith and Lynn Morrison, Mike and Carol Lybarger, and Trey and Bonnie Chandler.