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La Paz School has new building

12 June, 2011 04:02:00 Tamarindo News Staff

Photo By La Paz School

- The new building will cost about $ 1,650,000.oo. - For the academic year starting on September 2011, the student enrollment will be of 185. La Paz educational community located in Flamingo will have new facilities in the Mar Vista Project in Brasilito, as announced by its director Abel McClennen to THE Tamarindo News. This new campus will occupy two hectares (5 acres). Its construction has already begun on a piece of land donated by businessman Alexander Berkowitz. The total investment is estimated at about $ 1,650,000.oo. Currently, La Paz has just over $1 million; amount raised from private donations from local people and foreigners. This amount includes money, services, land and materials. "While La Paz has been provided with private financing for the project at a very competitive interest rate, the school development committee continues to aggressively pursuing grants to offset the costs of the project. The school is looking for individuals, foundations and corporations interested in helping to finance the remaining $680,000.oo," according to the school’s statement. The first phase is of about 1500 square meters, which will include: six classrooms, two fully equipped laboratories, two covered areas for outdoor learning, and office space. According to the Board of Directors, this will help them meet its goal of becoming the first Guanacaste accredited school that offers the prestigious IB Program (International Baccalaureate). The school’s design will integrate the historical architecture of Guanacaste with modern materials and building systems, maximize an efficient use of energy, and will use passive ventilation techniques to ensure the comfort of the students. During the construction process, various proposals have been discussed for joint work with domestic manufacturers who develop environmentally-friendly practices, so avoiding wastage and achieving to amalgamate the principles of environmental responsibility, smart design and modern construction methods. According to La Paz, 50 new students have been admitted in the school community from pre-kindergarten to eleven grades, bringing the total enrollment to 185 students for the new academic year starting on September 2011. "In addition to increasing enrollment, expanding the school’s scholarship program will remain a priority in order to fulfill the mission of the school,” they continued. "This project is truly a community effort," they added.