The Scheel Center (El Centro Scheel) has been fully accredited by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education for the following academic levels: Primary School, Accelerated Primary, and Middle School. The Scheel Center is a certified accelerated learning program. This means that our students attend class for 3-4 more hours per day than the typical Guatemalan public school student. This accelerated status allows 2 academic school years to be completed during one calendar year. This is extremely valuable for students who are both highly motivated and tremendously behind their academic age-level.
Students have “rotating” teachers. Each teacher at the Scheel Center specializes in a particular subject, and rotates between grade levels to offer the highest level of expertise to each student.
Primero Primaria
Primero Primaria (1st grade) at the Scheel Center begins by teaching students to exist and thrive in a school setting: speaking in turn, listening to your teacher, forming lines in the hall, and respecting your fellow students. This class is filled with students who have not yet completed an academic school year (ages 9-14). While mastering the basics of school life, students take part in standard academic courses learning to recognize, read and pronounce letters and numbers. Basic addition and subtraction are taught along with courses such as social studies, science and English. Primero Primaria is a “life changing” year. For many students, they will be the first member of their family to learn to read or even write their own name!
Homeroom Teacher: Claudia Maritza Alvarez García
Specialty: Music, Choir, Dance, Theatre
Home town: Antigua
Interesting Fact: Wants to complete her PhD in Law. Has a heart for helping the youth of Guatemala. Wants to one day be a professional music teacher. Unlike most people who grew up in Latino culture Claudia has never been late to anything, ever.
Studying: Currently enrolled part-time in law school
Segundo-Tercero Primaria
Information coming soon!
Cuarto-Quinto Basico
Students in this class complete all 4th grade material during the first 6 months of class and then are given the year end test to pass on the 5th grade for the second half of the year. Student in this class are ages 12-17. Core curriculum includes: Math, Language Arts (Spanish), Social Studies, Science and English.
Homeroom Teacher: Alexis Margarett Luna Morales
Specialty: Language Arts
Hometown: Antigua
Interesting Fact: One day would like to run her own psychology clinic. Alexis graduated with honors and competed in the 2009 Miss Jocotenango pagent.
Studying: Clinical Psychology
Sexto Primaria
Sexto Primaria (6th grade) is the final year of “Primaria,” which would roughly equate to elementary school. In Sexto, basic academic skills are fine-tuned in preparation for the more advanced courses offered in “Basico” (middle school). Sixth grade students are ages 14-20. Focus placed on responsibility, vocabulary, logical thought, and group work.
Homeroom Teacher: Claudia Marcela Gálvez García
Specialty: Mathematics
Home Town: Antigua
Interesting Fact: Currently plays for a professional soccer team Santiago Los Caballeros for 4 afternoons per week. Wants to get her doctorate in Law and then wants to open a kids sports camp for at risk kids. One day hopes to be a member of Guatemalan Congress.
Studying: Currently enrolled part time in Law School
Primero Basico
Primero Basico (7th grade) is a transition year into the Basico curriculum. Students in this level really begin to learn what it is to be an academic; homework becomes much more important. Group work also becomes important. During this year, students are encouraged to become more self-aware, recognizing that they come from a difficult background but that they have the strength and tools to change their position.
Homeroom Teacher: Sonia Patricia Paredes Arana
Specialty: Social Studies
Home Town: Parramos Chimaltenango
Interesting Fact: Sonia grew up in the GOD’S CHILD program from age 14 and then worked as the director of the social work department before becoming a teacher.
Studying: Clinical Psychology
Segundo Basico
The academic bar is raised once again in Segundo Basico (8th grade), with a focus placed on logical reasoning and expression of ideas in front of peers. Increased importance is also placed on preparation for life in the work place.
Homeroom Teacher: Jorge Leonel Armira Aragón
Specialty: Science
Home Town: Antigua
Interesting Fact: Jorge is also the school’s part time counselor, soccer coach and organizes “kids club” a community activity offered every Thursday afternoon.
Studying: English, Masters in Education