IN just under two years, Fundaciones has evolved from an after-school Spanish education programme into a dynamic entity offering a range of learning options to Jamaican children and others from across the Caribbean.

“The vibe here is different, so too is our methodology. We’re kinda crazy and kinda cool, but there’s method in our madness. Learning happens,” director Rachel McDonald, who holds a first degree in Spanish from Allegheny College, told Career & Education. “In 2008, I decided that I wanted to offer solutions to parents in terms of offerings. So, today we choose to offer one-of-a-kind programmes, activities and events for children 18 months to 18 years.”

From the bilingual preschool programme Al Mundo to Geo-Trackers, a social studies-based programme that provides children with the opportunity to visit different countries and examine their cultures, and Lab Rats, a practical science class that brings the subject alive through experiments, there appears to be something for every youth.

Also on offer is the programme dubbed Book Worms, which seeks to promote critical thinking and discussion among students, as well as Niños de Hoy: Kiddi-español, which teaches children Spanish through music, movement, rhymes, chants and art & craft. There is, too, Jouons en Français — Let’s play in French, which adopts the use of play to make the learning of that language more fun for children.

They are all programmes of which the director and her team of 20 staff members, including teachers, tutors, play facilitators, and reading coaches are most proud.

“We began (the) bilingual preschool last September that is intimate, stimulating and super-dooper fun. Last January, we launched Lab Rats… and all I can say about that is ‘big, big success’. Dr Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot, a parent and teacher/scientist, continues to revolutionise the way children engage science,” McDonald told Career & Education.

“Our kids have learnt so much it is unreal. Just in the last two weeks, kids were learning about DNA. They made and then ate their DNA using candy and applied what they learnt to solve a pretend crime. They knew that each person’s DNA is unique and together were able to solve the crime,” added the woman, who also holds a master’s in education, specialising in pre-kindergarten and primary education from Nova South-eastern University.

“It gets better. After they were through, they held court and brought the culprit to justice. Needless to say, we’re going to have so many scientists in about 10 to 15 years,” she said further.

In two weeks, Fundaciones will host a science expo that will show off the work of those ‘lab rats’.

And according to McDonald, 30, there is yet more.

“We started using the ipad over a year ago and that has become a norm in our classrooms. We like to incorporate technology to support the delivery of content,” she said.

“In a few weeks, we will officially launch the music, drama and dance programmes of Fundaciones @ El Centro. I’m very excited about those and I honestly cannot wait for these to be underway,” McDonald added, noting that they currently also offer homework and/or tutoring help.

Fundaciones had its beginnings on McDonald’s verandah when she tutored children in Spanish. This after having served five years as a Spanish teacher with a local private institution.

She recalls with fondness finding the property at 8 Hillcrest Avenue in Kingston and how the school came to be called “Fundaciones @ El Centro”.

“Fundaciones @ El Centro opened its doors in July 2009 with our first ever Spanish Summer Camp called Sí, Me Gusta Aprender El Español (Yes, I like to learn Spanish). That was a lot of fun. We were very lucky to have had a smooth and exciting transition to our new location,” she said.

“The word ‘Fundaciones’ is Spanish for foundations. The business started with the emphasis on teaching prep schoolers and high schoolers the fundamentals that were needed at the various levels in the target language in a fun way. The name El Centro, on the other hand, was the name given by the children for 8 Hillcrest Avenue. They thought of it, and they began calling it that. We’ve utilised the name since,” McDonald added.

As yet the school has won no awards, however, the director is satisfied with their progress to date.

“We pride ourselves on being very results oriented. We work with kids and watch them excel. We are new to a lot of programmes so by the end of this year we will be able to speak more on numbers, but we have excellent passes in areas, such as (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) math, Spanish and English. We had 100 per cent distinctions in CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination) Spanish last year. Ask our parents and the kids, they can attest to success,” McDonald noted.

Still, she is the first to admit that there is scope for more growth — an opportunity they intend to take.

“We’re not ‘developed’ yet. We have a long way to go but we have grown in terms of numbers, changed in terms of our infrastructure, and in terms of what we do and how we do it,” McDonald said of the school, which also hosts play sessions and kiddie events.

And she has little doubt they can make it happen. Already they are laying the foundations.

“We teach fundamentals using music, movement, rhythm, art and craft. We also sensitise children to the differences that exist in today’s global village, making them more socially receptive and tolerant citizens. This is especially fun when kids are exposed to a second language,” noted McDonald, who counts among her students, children with special needs such as autism.