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F E A T U R E S T O R Y

FRIDA

RUBÍNDE CELISMARTÍNEZADVISOR TO

THE PRESIDENT

ESTEFANÍA

Miss Mirtha

C O V E R S T O R Yc l a s s ‘ o 5

JOHN F. KENNEDY · THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF QUERÉTAROJOHN F. KENNEDY · THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF QUERÉTARO

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vision To facilitate the balanced development

of our students; with commitment and respect for the local community

and a multicultural world.

Mirtha Stappung M.Ed., MA General Director

Debra Cortney MA Pre–school PrinciPal

Mark Dunn M.Ed., MA elementary school PrinciPal

Robert Callahan M.Ed., MA miDDle school PrinciPal

Adrian Leece MA, BSc, FRMtS hiGh school PrinciPal

Arturo Bustamante athletic DePartment Director

Dra. Josefina Morgan Financial Director

Jeffrey Lewis oPerations anD services Director

Ing. Ángel De Lope Friedeberg , C.P. Benito Adolfo Tagle Jiménez, Arq. Matthew Schmidt

Covo, Dr. Raúl Gerardo Paredes Guerrero, Lic. Luz Ma. Aguirre Schoelman, Arq. Martha

Naranjo Romero, Dra. María Isabel Miranda Sauce.

BoarD oF Directors

Lic. Mónica Duarte BalcárceleDitor in chieF anD

chair oF the eDitorial BoarD

Virginia Watkins, Mónica Duarte, Mirtha Stappung, Ángel de Lope Friedeberg,

Cristina Durango, Christian Yáñez, Clara Núñez Regueiro.

Writers

Leonor Cortina · Karime Dorantes Gtz. ProoFreaDinG anD translation

sextosentido DesiGn & cover Photo

Víctor Ortega, Asbed Levi. PhotoGraPhy

alumni contact Virginia Watkins

vwatkins@jfk .edu.mx

aDvertisinG sales Karime Dorantes Gtz.

Ph. (442) 218 0075 ext. 1010 cdorantes@jfk.edu.mx

Spring 2014vol. 1 no. 13 · may 2014

Editor’s Note

We owe our school’s success to the participation of all our communityA step into

the future

The JFK Fundraising Committee, a new assignment for the school

Betty Borrego

Aracely Pantoja

COVER STORYClass of '05

Miss Mirtha

F E AT U R E S T O R Y

SPORTS

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101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

ClassNotes

50 Years of JFK History… and You Are a Special Part of It!

3

Available

In this new edition, we want to share with you the

interview we did with Miss Mirtha Stappung, who is

retiring after 30 years of working for the school,

11 of which were as a General Director. In this

edition, we honor her career and thank her for

the great legacy she leaves to the JFK community.

We are going to miss you very much Miss Mirtha!

Class of 2005 alum, Estefanía Rubín de Celis, is

featured on our cover. In her article, she shares

her vision of Mexico and the successful career

that she has achieved due to her determination,

commitment, discipline and passion for her work.

In the sports section, our girls’ volleyball team

shares their insights on the ASOMEX Tournament,

that Kennedy hosted.On this occasion we have decided to add a “touch

of youth” by having one of our Middle School

students write an article. We’ve also included

“words of wisdom” by our President of the Board,

Mr. Ángel de Lope Friedeberg, who talks about the

importance of the community’s participation,

stating that, member involvement not only has

helped our school rise to its current level of

success, but also maintains it.

I invite our readers to participate in our maga-

zine by becoming a part of our JFK TIMES editorial

team or by writing an article.

We hope you enjoy this JFK TIMES edition just

as much as we enjoyed making it!

Mónica Duarte Balcárcel

Editor in Chiefmduarte@jfk.edu.mx

Editor’s Note

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OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS BY OUR FACULTY OR STUDENTS

5

Throughout their school years at JFK, the students have taken standarized exams, such as the

Stanford Exam, PSAT or the TOEFL PBT. While these exams can help mea-sure a student’s proficiency in English and/or in various subjects, they can also serve as practice for when the offi-cial college admission exam is taken.

Fast forward to junior year in high school (11th grade)… You are probably thinking you may want to apply to college in the United States, and you have just realized that you have the

option of taking either one (or both) of the college admission exams that will fulfill the standardized test require-ment for most college and universities. You might wonder: “Should I take the SAT or ACT?” “What’s the difference between both exams?” After reading this article, you should have a better idea of which test is best for you. So grab your No. 2 pencil and be ready to take notes.

According to The Princeton Review, there are several key differences between both standardized tests. It is

SAT ACTVS.Choosing the “Right” Test for College Admissions

common for people to make the mistake of reading too much into a problem, or a question and as a result, they second-guess themselves. If this sounds familiar to you, the SAT may present a bigger challenge. It may take you several times to read a question before figuring out what an SAT question is ask-ing, while an ACT question is more straightforward. The Princeton Review provides the following two sample questions: SAT: What is your view of the claim that some-thing unsuccessful can still have some value?

ACT: In your view, should high schools become more tolerant of cheating? Remember, these exams are timed, so time is of the essence.

Another major difference is the vocabulary section of the examinations. One of the biggest critiques of the SAT is that it includes vocabulary that is not very common in everyday life. Therefore, it makes it very difficult to do well when working with words you’ve probably

never heard of. This may be even more challenging as a non-native English speaker. The ACT isn’t very keen on big words, so for many this difference is important. For-tunately, the College Board (creators of the SAT), have recently announced that they will revise the SAT and make significant changes to this part of the exam. Stay tuned!

Science and Mathematics are two strong areas for many students in Mexico. The ACT has a science section, while the SAT does not. As for the mathematics section, the ACT deals with more advance concepts such as trigonometry. Students at JFK see these concepts in addition to calculus; there-fore students may find the ACT questions more to their advantage.

What about the duration and sections included? Both exams last roughly about three and a half hours. How-ever, the SAT is broken up into 10 sub-sections like: the Critical Reading, Math and a required Writing. While the ACT has four sections,

English, Math, Reading and Science. There is a Writing part on the ACT considered “optional”, however some schools may require it. One crucial point is the scoring of the exams. The ACT does not penalize for wrong answers, however the SAT subtracts ¼ of a point off of the raw score. Hence, it is best to leave a question un-answered on the SAT if you are not sure of the answer. This is just one tip that one can learn with proper prepa-ration for these exams.

As a college counselor and from people I know, I’ve heard some who prefer one test to the other. My job is to provide students with the necessary guidance to make an informed decision. Perhaps, you may be in-clined for a particular test, but the college or university you’d like to apply to, only accepts the other one. This is where I come in, to equip students with the necessary tools to do research about the school, its requirements and ultimately, to tackle the standardized exam.

It may take you several times to read a question before figuring out what an SAT question is asking, while an ACT question is more straightfor-ward.

One of the biggest critiques of the SAT is that it includes vocab-ulary that is not very common in everyday life.

Science and Mathematics are two strong areas for many stu-dents in Mexico. The ACT has a science section, while the SAT does not.

One crucial point is the scoring of the exams. The ACT does not penalize for wrong answers

“Should I take the SAT or ACT?” “What’s the difference between both exams?” After reading this article, you should have a better idea

Perhaps, you may be inclined for a particular test, but the college or university you’d like to apply to, only accepts the other one.

By Christian Yañez

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THE JFK SPIRIT

Our children’s education is the main objectiveIn John F. Kennedy School’s development and growth, the creation and participation of committees in support of the Board and/or the Director of the School, is certainly an important element.

In traditional schools, decisions are driven by the interests of an owner or a group of owners, whatever they may be. This leads to most of the decisions being made largely in light of their own benefit and not neces-sarily in that of the school's community as a whole.

The JFK is a nonprofit or-ganization, without owners, which has as its main goal our children’s education. We reach out to the whole

We owe our school’s success to the participation of all our community

community in order to maximize the benefits provided by the school with their help. Parents’ involve-ment in the Assembly, in the committees, as Class and Grade Level Representatives and in school events, allows us to get great results with-out disrupting our school’s daily operation.

Parents are in charge of our schoolThe JFK’s highest govern-ing body is the Assembly; it is here where academic programs, tuition fees, investment decisions and all projects driving the future of our school are discussed. It is currently composed of 42 parents from different sec-tions of the school who, in

By Ángel de Lope Friedeberg President of the Board of Directors

Board of Directors

PS Parents’ Association

ES Parents’ Association

MS Parents’ Association

We reach out to the whole community in order to maximize with their help the benefits provided by the school.

Close to celebrating its 50th Anniversary, our school has managed to involve the entire community in its successful development.

order to join this assembly, they have to strictly comply with the laws established by the school for this purpose. Every two years the Board of Directors is selected from this group which is responsi-ble to follow up on the deci-sions taken by the Assembly. The Board of Directors is also responsible for the recruitment of the General Director of the School, and for providing him the need-ed support to carry out the goals and objectives defined by the Assembly.

JFK’s daily operation lies on the General Director and on the Principals of each area; the Assembly and Board Members are not in-volved in the daily activities of the school. When children of Assembly members leave the school, they in turn must leave the Assembly, and it

will fall upon the remain-ing members to invite new parents who can assist in the development of the school to join the assembly. In addition to this, a sig-nificant number of parents support the school as Class and Section Representatives that bring their effort and support to the process of everyday communication.

Committees: A way of fostering collaborative workAs we have seen, the essence of the school's administration depends on the involvement of parents in the Assembly, but the success is due to the participation of all. One way to increase this participation is through the formation of committees in which many members of the community, students, parents, teachers and administrative staff, are considered for the diligence of specific issues. This is why we have – among others- scholarship, infrastructure,

health and safety, fundrais-ing, behavioral, and special events committees. Their main function is to generate ideas, policies and recom-mendations that are given to the Board for review, and if approved, they would be implemented by the Board or seek the approval of the Assembly depending on the topic in question.

These mechanisms allow the involvement of many parents in the school's de- velopment. Also, when necessary, new committees are created like the latest one formed to analyze after school sports activities. This allows all participants to be informed of the challeng-es and constraints faced by every project, and the committee to propose and recommend changes or adjustments based on the concerns and opportunities identified and expressed in one way or another.

This is how the school, about to celebrate its 50th Anniversary, has managed to involve the entire community in its successful development.

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A step into the future

THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

D elegate can be de-fined as, “a person sent or authorized

to represent others, in par-ticular an elected represen-tative sent to a conference”. This definition focus mainly on authority, right? Now, how about the authority and responsibility of solving a world controversy such as Syria and its chemical weap-ons, or the death penalty? The responsibility of solving a major issue is heavy, but effective. Model U.N. is a club where not only do we tackle world issues, but we also learn valuable life skills such as public speaking or forming alliances, and amazing things like writing resolutions for global issues, and passing them. Here we debate, interact, learn rules of procedure, and many oth-er things that the pros do!

Parties are one of the best parts of the MUN experi-ence. As you get out of the stifled committee room, you

By Clara Núñez-Regueiro MS 7th A

JFK Middle MUM Union & Peace 2013

hear the sound of the music blasting and see lights flash-ing. People dance, mingle, laugh, eat, and build rela-tionships, all of that at one of those parties! Here you can see a picture of our very own Union and Peace party.

i interviewed miss camille casses, the middle model united nations advisor to learn a little more about it.

What do you do in MUN?I’m like a facilitator or a guide. Initially, I have to teach students about the procedure, but most of MUN skills come from doing events and participating, so that part is really up to the student. I’m kind of a guide for the rest of the year, and students can come to me to talk about a problem.

What is it like being a MUN advisor?Personally, I’m pretty orga-nized and I try to do every-thing on my own, so it’s good

parties. I think that’s fine though, since we get to inter-act with other people. It’s a great way to meet kids from all over the country.

What impresses you most about MUN?First of all, the size. We have so many delegates. At this point we have 43 members. I also think that Kennedy kids have really good command of the English language. That really reflects when we go to events. It’s like an army of amazing kids, a bunch of suits just walk in the room. There’s a silence and you can hear, “Are those the Ken-nedy kids?”

What’s the best part of MUN?I feel we’re doing something important. I have no doubt that someone in MUN is going to work for the UN.

after interviewing her, i went to a good friend of mine, aline Perera to get her input on the subject.

practice for me too. Letting the club officers delegate the responsibilities that I used to do myself, has given me more time to let go and let things happen. The feeling I get most, is pride. I know they’re not my kids, but it feels really good when we go to other schools and we represent out school so well. I think it is all about trial and error, about letting people make mistakes, allowing students to explore and try new things.

What is the best part of being an advisor?Watching students debate. The energy is so intense, and students say the most amazing things. It’s better than any TV show. It’d the same as when you’re teach-ing a class and there’s just a moment and it’s just so perfect and fun.

Describe our parties.I honestly think that some students do MUN for the

What do you do in MUN?I prepare myself by writing position papers and doing research. In the first session I observe the enemy and then in the second session I try to make allies and then attack more.

You’re also the group’s histo-rian, describe what you do.

I record everything and then I make the brochures of the internal events and the graphic parts of the placards.

What’s it like?At the beginning, it’s a lot of pressure, and you have a lot of nerves, but as time goes by, you get used to it and you start speaking more and having more confidence in yourself.

Describe the parties.At JFK, ours was the best, many people tell me that it was amazing! The food is very good; the music is better than everywhere else too. If the event isn’t going well, then the party will lift your spirits.

What’s the best part of MUN?The way you can express yourself and how you can interact with people from other schools and places in Mexico. You initially fight against each other, but then we all come together to fix a big problem, and that’s really cool.

How has this changed you?At the beginning I didn’t speak. I never participated in any moderated/underrated events. Now I participate in making the resolution papers and I speak up to people that I don’t agree with.

Model UN is a fascinating learning experience that allows you to meet new people, go to fun parties, and basically learn and grow. I’m going next year too. I hope to see you there, if you’re a current or future middle school student.

This is me, signing off for now. I’ll see you soon.

Model U.N. is a club where not only do we tackle world issues, but we also learn valuable life skills such as public speaking or forming alliances.

The feeling I get most, is pride. I know they’re not my kids, but it feels really good when we go to other schools and we represent out school so well.

MODEL

UNITED NATIONS

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My name is Beatriz Ecamilla Berrones but everyone

knows me as Betty Borrego because that’s my husband’s last name. I have worked in this school for 20 years. I started out as a teacher for the typewriting workshop of 6th graders; I was there for one year. After that, I was a substitute teacher for whenever any teacher would be absent and then I became an assistant to the Academic Board and to the General Director. It was from there where they "grabbed" me to go and work in High School where I happily worked for

I ’ve been a teacher of Pre- First grade for 23 years now… which is longer than

a master’s degree and a doc-torate altogether. People often ask me “aren’t you bored?” and my response is, that my job has been an experience all in itself. Every day is always different, because each group is different.

The school has given me so much. The Kennedy school has shaped me and helped me discover skills that I didn’t know I had. It has helped me grow as a person. I leave this school taking with me so many experiences and so much love. I take with me the little kids

10 years. When I was asked to be assistant to the General Director, I was very pleased to hear a student say “the best thing of High School is leaving”.

The Kennedy school has given me so much; beautiful friendships, the satisfaction of having worked for so many people and to have helped them in everything I could at the time, and having acquired profession-al knowledge. The school has an amazing charm and I’ve always been a loyal member of it. I’ve always felt very proud of its academic standards and its prestige.

that hug me every day and that tell me that they love me or just want to thank me. To see them grow it’s amazing. They begin here at 5 or 6 years old, knowing the sounds of some letters or some words, and at the end of the school year they are able to write and read short texts. This is the children’s first official encounter with reading and writing, and to see their progress is very gratifying. I would like to tell to the person that takes my place, to make the most of it, to love the chil-dren, to not tell them what to do but to guide them and show them how to get there.

A FOCUS ON OUR STAFF

The Kennedy school has given me so much; beautiful friendships, the satisfaction of having worked for so many people and to have helped them in everything I could at the time and of having acquired professional knowledge.

People often ask me “aren’t you bored?” and my response is, that my job has been an experience all in itself.

I take with me the little kids that hug me every day and that tell me that they love me or want to thank me. To see them grow it’s amazing.

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I’ve loved having been able to be in such close contact with the school. You grow fond of it. You get to see when students do great and when they graduate. When one of the students would have to take a make-up test, I would feel really bad and I would reach out to them and asked them what happened. I’ve been working for the General Direction for seven years now and I feel very flattered to be taken into account for everything. Now that I’m leaving, people ask me “How will we be able to find anything now?”

We say goodbye to Beatriz Escamilla Berrones (a.k.a.) Betty Borrego

After 23 years, Araceli Pantoja retires from the school

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SPORTS

ASOMEX, the Association of American Schools in Mexico is best known within our communi-ty, for the sports tournaments it holds every year. These tournaments are defined by their high level of competition and for being extremely well organized.

This year, the John F. Kennedy School of Querétaro had the privilege of hosting the Women's Volleyball Tournament. We worked very hard preparing ourselves for this event to be able to present great teams as well as to be first class hosts.

Here we share the insights of the Coach and some of the team members whose team has enjoyed a spectacular winning streak this year.

This team has been amazing. In addition to winning asomex, they won the lideip league tournament, they were runners-up here in the State Tournament held in Querétaro and won

The Sportsmanship Award, and they are currently on first place in the league tourna-ment. What can I say? They are unstoppable!

Mónica Duarte

PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR OUR MODEL OF EDUCATION

Volleyball After trying basketball

and soccer I liked volley-

ball the most ... volley is

about team work.

To have the whole school

cheering on for us felt great

and to honor our school´s

name felt even better.

ASOMEX is our biggest

event of the year. It’s

really fun to meet girls

from other schools.

After all these years, it is

a great satisfaction for me

to see, that we finally have

a large group of followers.

I t was really fun to watch how other teams from other schools play, but most of all,

to receive the support of our school. I’ve been playing volley for five years now. After trying basketball and soccer I liked volleyball the most because, unlike other sports where one player can score and win the game on its own, volley is about team work. It might seem easy, but it requires great mental and physical effort. I recommend everyone to try it!

Briana Lewis 8º A

T o have the whole school cheering on for us felt great and to honor our school's name

felt even better. I have been playing for nine years but this was my first asomex tournament. I liked it very much. Girls from other schools were great; you could really feel the bond.

Valeria Isla Arboleya 9th grade

I ’ve been playing volley for the school’s team for a long time and asomex is our biggest

event of the year. It’s really fun to meet girls from other schools. This time we had a lot of support and I felt the interest in the sport growing. We are getting better and it’s nice to see that we are building a better team.

Sofía Ruiz Castillo 9th grade

I ’ve been working as a volley ball coach for the school for eighteen years. We are very

fortunate to have a group of very committed students who set a goal and work very hard to achieve it. After all these years, it is a great satis-faction for me to see, that we finally have a large group of followers who want to join us.

Carlos Javier López Mata 98-99 Category’s Coach

WHAT A GREAT SPORT!

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The JFK Fundraising Committee, a new assignment for the school

WHAT ARE WE UP TO?

Our Capital Campaign: A multifaceted program that requires both strategic planning and commitment from the leaders of the school t o reach a fundraising target

Philanthropy is still not a common tradition in our culture

This great project revealed the school’s necessity for di-versifying its income sour-ces. In that regard, a Fund-raising Committee has been created in order to develop strategies for obtaining re-sources for future projects. This group consists of par-ents who are members of the school’s General Assembly as well as key staff. Frist, the Fundraising Committee an-alyzed the rate at which the school generates its savings to be used for physical infra-structure, and the conclusion was that it would take sev-eral years before the school would be able to save for an-other project of the same magnitude. This is why the

By Cristina Durango Capital Campaign Coordinator

committee is planning new ways to obtain resources at a faster rate.

After sharing ideas with the Board of Directors, it was decided that in order to im-prove the performance of the fundraising plans, a dedi-cated member of the school staff was required to coor-dinate these efforts. There-fore, the JFK School created the Fundraising Area. This is the school’s first step for cre-ating a Capital Campaign. But what is a Capital Cam-paign? It is a multifaceted program that requires both strategic planning and com-mitment from the leaders of the school to reach a fund-raising target. Reaching this

target will allow the school to achieve medium and long term goals, such as the Elementary School Building. The JFK School is now plan-ning to diversify its income sources to favor new infra-structure projects.

Philanthropy, the most feasible form to diversify the school's incomeThe JFK Fundraising Com-mittee studied how other educational institutions diversify their incomes and analyzed the most effective approach for our school. The committee also consult-ed with professionals and considered factors, such as: institutional capabilities, institutional philosophy, past school events, student and staff population, parents’ participation and communi-ty traditions and behaviors, among others. This exercise revealed philanthropy as the most feasible form to diversi-fy the school's income. How-ever, philanthropy is a tradi-tion that is still not common in our culture. Some statis-tics from the Johns Hopkins Comparative Non-profit Sector Project 2006 re-veal that the US designated 1.85% GDP (gross domes-tic product) to philanthrop-ic causes, while in Mexico, it was only 0.04%. There is a long way to go, but we are en-couraged because we know that other American schools

in Mexico and local universi-ties have accomplished their capital campaigns by devel-oping philanthropic oriented strategies.

As stated before, the JFK School is at the very first stage for developing a Capi-tal Campaign. Philanthropic income will begin to impact after a couple of years of fol-lowing a well-defined stra- tegy. There is no specific lit-erature for a “well-defined strategy”, however, the com-mittee consults constant-ly with professionals who provide inputs that could work well for the school. The Fundraising Committee con-siders some elements for this process that include but are not limited to: defining a case for support, what the JFK School wants to achieve, the resources, identification of fundraising prospects, fundraising methodology, targets definition, and cal-endar of activities. A good strategy will help the school to prioritize projects and concentrate actions in order to reach the outlined goals.

Fundraising, the creation of an experience that benefits both the donor and the recipientFinally, it is very important that the entire JFK commu-nity believe in “fundraising” as an opportunity to increase financial resources for our institution and communi-

cate externally how the JFK School contributes to help-ing the community around us and is forming the lead-ers of the future. Fundraising is not merely the act of ask-ing for money or resources, but rather the creation of an experience that has benefits for both the donor and the recipient. It helps the recip-ient to accomplish its insti-tutional goals and allows the donor to support a cause mo-tivated by personal or insti-tutional purposes. There is a natural connection between philanthropy, fundraising and education institutions such as ours and the goal of the Fundraising Committee is to take advantage of this connection and apply the ex-periences of similar institu-tions in order to improve and enhance our school.

The construction of the new Elementary School Building is an institutional milestone for the JFK School. As you may know, the cost of the building exceeds 80 million pesos.

José María Lozano, Raquel Voorduin, Benito Tagle, Jeff Lewis and Cristina Durango. Capital Campaign Committee

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An interview withMirtha Stappung

16

As I walked around our campus a few days ago I felt so proud of our school and proud of everyone that has helped make our school the outstanding educational institution it is today. For 50 years, JFK has been constantly improving its facilities, its programs and services and the quality of education it offers to students from Preschool to High School. I am so proud to have been a part of the school's history and development for 29 years. I have seen our school grow and build a great reputation. I have seen many generations graduate and many alumni come back later as parents. I will miss the campus, the students and parents, my colleagues and this incredible JFK family.

I feel so lucky to be have been a part of this community and I will hold it close to my heart forever.

By Mirtha Stappung

I will miss JFK and all of you.

F E AT U R E S T O R Y

I Remember

saying how nice and

convenient it would be for

my daughter to attend JFK

and I even commented…

”Maybe I could even

work there one day!”

The children’s favorite thing to do was to catch frogs and insects and cut wild flowers.

18 19

hen and how did you arrive at the Kennedy?

I studied education in Chile and got a scholarship to study Literature in the US; got married there and moved to Mexico City. Five years later, we opened a business in Querétaro and stayed here. I began working at JFK in 1985. I had been living in Queretaro for a year when I met Aleyda MacKernan who was acting as interim General Director of the school after her husband’s passing. We sat next to each other at a dinner party and during our conversation she learned that I was an En-glish teacher and asked me to sub in a first grade class the next day. Well, after that

substitution came an offer to teach that class perma-nently and I loved it. We were building our house just two blocks from the school. When we bought that piece of land I remember saying how nice and convenient it would be for my daughter to attend JFK and I even commented…”Maybe I could even work there one day!” Imagine… I came here to teach for a week and stayed for 29 years! JFK grew on me very quickly and I could not imagine my life without this wonderful place and without the friends I have made; Miss Carmen, Miss Flor, Miss Maricruz, Miss Pily, Miss Felicia and many more who joined the school a few years later. Most of us had sons

and daughters in the same class, we even taught them in K-1 and Pre-First, what a fantastic experience that was! My daughter called me Miss Mamy one day so, we had a conversation at home and decided just Miss Mirtha would do while in class.

How was the school back then?The school was an open space and all of the buildings were painted in green. No fences, not a lot of resourc-es, very few rules, just a few rustic buildings and most of the furniture was made in the school carpentry shop by “Don Juanito”. Some pieces of that original furniture are still around, just painted in a different color, above layers

and layers of old green paint. There were only 480 students and two groups in each grade level, and most families lived in Jurica. We were all neighbors and knew each other well. Our children played together after school, went to the same club and wherever you went in Jurica you saw JFK kids. No High School yet. There was no Auditorium or multipurpose room, all events took place under the blaring sun or under an improvised tent. Students of all ages would carry their chairs from the classrooms so that every-one could sit and watch the presentations. There was a school bus going to San Miguel de Allende to pick up students and many

American teachers as well. The playgrounds did not have many trees nor grass, just dirt or mud, depending on the season. The children’s favorite thing to do was to catch frogs and insects and cut wild flowers. Parents and visitors used to go right into our classrooms without any previous appointment, at any time of the day, all spaces were open and you could see everything from the street. I had two big dogs at home that used to follow me to school and sometimes stayed outside my room until recess… that would be impossible nowadays and highly inappropriate.

Discipline was handled in a very different way, students went home every Friday with

I remember I felt so honored when Mr. Jaime López, who was the Board President at that time, asked me if I would consider being in charge of JFK.

We had so much fun sitting under a tree with my little boys and girls while reading Anthony Brown’s books. They are still my favorite stories

W

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a Green, or Yellow or Red Card depending on their behavior during the week. I remember giving quite a few red cards during the years. There was a very small cafeteria with a long line because there was only one person passing sandwiches through a small window; everyone had a good time while we waited in line.

What were your initial tasks at the school?I taught First Grade for two years and Pre School for another two years. Miss Pily and I worked together

co-teaching Kinder 1 and be-came very good friends until this day. Then I was asked to create the Pre –First program …my favorite grade of all. So I moved back to Elementary school. I loved teaching how to read and write and watch children while they discov-ered the fascinating world of literature. I used to find story books for every topic we learned in class and acted out some of these stories for the parents. We had so much fun sitting under a tree with my little boys and girls while reading Anthony Brown’s books. They are still

my favorite stories. I taught and coordinated Pre-First teachers a couple of years and then became the English Coordinator for all grade levels, I did that for several years until I was appointed as the Elementary Principal. You can see that I had differ-ent jobs and I loved them all.

When were you appointed General Director?After being the Elementary School Principal for 10 years, I was offered the position of General Director. After much thought, I decided to accept

I also feel very grate-ful for having a job in which I felt so happy for so many years

and I never regretted my decision. That was in 2003. I remember I felt so honored when Mr. Jaime López, who was the Board President at that time, asked me if I would consider being in charge of JFK. A lot of plan-ning and strategic thinking were involved and I begun to develop a vision for the future of JFK. I invited Mr. Chuck Weiss to join me in this venture and together we implemented new programs and services and worked on creating a united school that offered an inviting environ-ment for students, parents

I am grateful for the confidence placed in me. It is a great responsibili-ty to feel that others expect your decisions to be the right ones.

and staff alike. I am very proud of what we accom-plished as a team.

How has your family supported you in this journey?My family has always been proud of my accomplish-ments as an educator. When my children were little, we managed to plan and orga-nize our daily activities in a comfortable routine which allowed me to teach and be a Mom at the same time. Years later, I obtained a Master of Arts in International Education and a Master in

School Administration from Framingham College. It took many long evenings away from home, group studies, projects and some research, but it was all worth it. My family was there to lighten up the load and I believe it was a good example for my daughter and son. Learning is good at any age. Staying current in your profession is a good thing.

What are your great-est accomplishments?Finding a balance between discipline and love. As a leader of the school you

care about each individual student but you also have a big responsibility before the whole JFK community. Creating and maintaining a healthy, safe and welcoming environment for all some-times means having to make tough decisions. You cannot make everyone happy and you need to do what is right, ethical and conducive to the best possible school climate. After all, you are the one that needs to live with your own decisions and maintain your integrity as a leader. During these 10 years as the General Director, I had many difficult conversations but we always ended it with mutual understanding and support, looking for what was best for all involved. Many people have trusted me for years and years and I cannot let them down. Parents were always sup-portive of my interventions and I treated everyone with respect.

What memories will stay with you forever? The little ones’ company, their laughter, their curi-osity and innocence, the comments they make. I will remember the young ones’ wit, their ability to create and achieve goals and seeing them grow at the school from their arrival to kinder-garten until I gave them their diploma on graduation day. It is a very special and

That children maintain a sense of wonder, delight

and imagination while they are growing up

*That curiosity and creativity permeate all

human activity

*That students remain life-long learners and continue

to enjoy discovery

*That machines and technology never replace

teachers and their personal connection to

students

*That real time, face-to-face

communication, is never replaced by virtual

interaction

*That our school remains a safe haven and strong

community

*That our young people grow in the company of

caring adults and in the presence of lasting

friendships

MY WISH FOR THE FUT URE

OF EDUC ATION AT JFK

I wish to see a school that seeks continuous improvement and that stays at the vanguard of education.

memorable day for me and for the institution. There are so many families that have been in our school for many years and now I see their grandchildren wear the JFK uniform. What excites me and I enjoy the most is seeing alumni that I taught how to read, bringing their little children by the hand, wanting them to also have a nice experience at school. It brings me great satisfac-tion when they greet me anywhere and I see the fond memories they have of me as a teacher or as Principal. I look forward to my own grandchildren coming to JFK; it will be very soon.

What are you planning to do in this new stage of your life?First, I need to complete-ly recover my health and strength. Then I plan on spending more time with my family, here in Mexico –my children, my grandson and the one that is on the way– and also spend some time in Chile with my family, with whom I have not spent much time with for many years. In this stage, surely my husband and I will find many things in common to occupy ourselves, since we are always lacking the time to enjoy our company and that of our friends and fam-ily. I also enjoy reading and writing and hope to resume some personal projects I have put off for a long time.

What are you grateful for?I am grateful for the confi-dence placed in me. It is a great responsibility to feel that others expect your de-cisions to be the right ones, to be fair, to be consistent and to bring clear expecta-tions. Above all things, that your words coincide with your actions and to take responsibility for what you say and do. I also feel very grateful for having a job in which I felt so happy for so many years; I felt profession-ally fulfilled and very loved and appreciated. I had the opportunity to grow and study two masters; I learned very much in these 29 years and was also able to teach the knowledge I gained. In a school, everyone teach-es and learns; it is a very stimulating environment for all ages.

I am grateful for the unique opportunity to work with so many dedicated people with a vocation as educa-tors, interested in education and children. It is a great honor for me to have been able to represent the John F. Kennedy School within our community and abroad.

Gratitude and pride; two words that sum up my stay at JFK. I always felt proud to be the Director of our school, to see the accomplishments of our students, to be part of so many wonderful things happening in the classroom, in sports, gardening, theater,

What excites me and I enjoy the most is seeing alumni that I taught how read, bringing their little children by the hand...

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24 25

music, academic excellence and a real integral education.

Who are you thankful with?With the whole JFK commu-nity. Each of the members of the Board of Directors I worked with believed in me and supported me 100% at all times. My colleagues accept-ed me, reaffirmed my man-agement and gave me their friendship and unconditional support, even in the most difficult times. I consider myself very lucky and full of blessings and most of them happened here at school.

I had so many opportuni-ties to try new things, to im-

plement programs, to grow along with my management team and along each section and departmental teams. I've been a lucky person and a professional who has enjoyed very much what she does.

What do you wish for the Kennedy?I wish to see a school that seeks continuous improve-ment and that stays at the vanguard of education. Parents that get involved in their children’s education. JFK attracting families and teachers that identify them-selves with the school values and Model of Education.

Sin importar lo que pase... nosotros nos encargamos de que tus hijos terminen sus estudios.

josé ramón velacalle del rio 107 · residencial calesa 2nda sección · Querétarotel oficina 2233418 · 2134381 · celular 442 1 81 71 45

17 años asegurando al JFK... dice mucho de nosotros.

Adquiere un Seguro de Educación

Students and alumni that are proud of their school .

What are the challenges and opportunities that you foresee for our school in the future?We are constantly talking about the skills needed to function in the 21st Century. What does that mean for our students? Some of the challenges are: preparing students for a fast moving world that demands new skills and educating young minds that can devise solu-tions for emerging needs in an unpredictable world. Another challenge for the

future involves learning new ways to interact and collab-orate with others through the use of technology in an ethical manner. Schools are about PEOPLE, that is what makes them challenging and interesting. JFK is always educating minds and hearts, it is not an easy task but it is a beautiful journey. JFK will continue offering a well rounded education through innovative programs, good planning and committed professionals. I would like to see each of our students become a self motivated life-long learner.

What are your

recommendations to continue the work that you started?First of all, the school is a solid institution with a strong history of tradition and innovation and a clear mission and vision. The school community needs to appreciate the efforts made to maintain academic rigor, biculturalism, high level of English and support a safe and a respectful environ-ment. That is what our mis-sion states and it is not only words. The general Director, the Board of Directors, ad-ministrators, teachers, staff, students and their families

have the responsibility to maintain the long standing reputation as the best school in the area. It has taken many years to build it but it can be a fragile victory. I hope JFK is a better place after these ten years in my position… ten exciting years of great experiences, hard work and collaboration from all of us who have worked here. I dedicate these ten years to my leadership team, teachers and staff. I am so proud of you!

I wish to see a school

that seeks continuous

improvement and that

stays at the vanguard of

education.

I dedicate these ten

years to my leadership

team, teachers

and staff. I am so proud

of you!

27

FRIDA ESTEFANÍA

RUBÍN DE CELIS MARTÍNEZ

ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT

COVER STORYClass of '05

fter a very successful academic and professional journey you find yourself, at a very young age, in

a position of great transcendence and responsibility.

Did you ever imagine that you would become an advisor to the President? Was this your dream?

No, I never thought I would work for this administration because I was working for former President Calderon at the International Media Analysis Bureau and the last day of his Presi-dency I resigned. One month later they offered me this position in the Presi-dent's Council of Advisors.

Actually, I never imagined working for the Presidency at all. When I came to Mexico City, three years ago, I had

this idea of working at an Embassy or a Ministry but I never thought the Presidency was a possibility.

My dream is not working for a Pres-ident, my dream is to be able to help others, to create a better Mexico, create better opportunities and better con-ditions for the people in this country. And I know this is just the beginning and that there is an infinite amount of things that could be done…

My dream is

not working

for a

President, my

dream is to be able

to help others, to

create a better

Mexico

In general I work an average of 14 hours a day.All of my work is related to the President’s agenda so it varies every day...

26

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What were the main steps of the journey that led you there?First, I think the IB Diploma, then completing my Bache-lor’s Degree in International Relations at the Universidad de las Américas in Puebla. Af-terwards, two Internships, the first one in the UK Trade & In-vestment in the British Em-bassy in Mexico and the sec-ond in the Ministry of Foreign Relations. I think the languag-es I have learned have been big assets. English at JFK of course, I also studied French in Paris and enrolled for a se-mester at the Université de Montréal, which strength-ened my multicultural under-standing, comprehension and fluency. I studied Italian and Portuguese while at the Uni-versity. And the final step to where I am now, was my first job as a media analyst which I mentioned in the previous question.

What challenges were you faced with? At first, leaving my family and my friends; then, in my previous job position,

waking up at 4 o’clock in the morning because I had to be at my office at 5 am. Work-ing on weekends was hard because I felt I could not enjoy my family or friends. Other challenges have been working under pressure all the time and managing tight deadlines. Finally, due to the responsibilities I have, I need to avoid making mistakes because they could have major consequences.

What is your day to day like?In general I work an average of 14 hours a day. All of my work is related to the Presi-dent’s agenda so it varies ev-ery day depending if there is a State visit, a speech on any subject, an event, a conven-tion he will attend, a forum, the filming of a TV spot, or something else. My main ac-tivities are: provide informa-tion and data that is required for his activities, decision making and construction of messages. Likewise, detect possible problematic issues and future problems in order to make recommendations,

A demanding situation that tests our abilities or resources, it is an opportunity to prove yourself and to learn, understand, and if necessary to change. A challenge most likely will bring you closer to your goals regardless if they are personal or professional.

Love and support. My parents are my role models, my main sup-porters to always dream big and aim for the stars. They taught me never to give up and always set your mind on what you wish to accomplish. My brother has always motivated me to be better.

To me it means home, wonderful beautiful country, diversity, cultural and social richness, happiness.

Accomplishing your professional and personal goals which I be-lieve should be in tune with your dreams. To me, success is defined by the courage and the effort with which you face the challenges you encounter, not necessarily the result.

Reconcile your personal life and your professional life because both are of the utmost importance. Balance in everything is the key to happiness.

The IB Diploma was a great preparation

in every way, especially the

workload!

I have the greatest memories from JFK, all of them are good... It was definitively the best school ever!

To girls and boys I would

say follow your dreams and do what you

love the most and never let anyone

discourage you

proposing innovative ideas for social projects, drafting reports and briefings on im-portant news, among other things.

You were also an accomplished professional dancer. Is classic ballet still a part of your life? How did art help you become who you are now?Unfortunately, not any more. I was a member of Queretaro’s Classical Ballet Company and along with my bachelor’s degree, I finished a Dance Certificate at the UDLA Puebla. Now, I have not been able to find a suitable advanced class for adults near my house or my office that accommodates my schedule, but I am still searching [laughs].

How did your Kennedy experience prepare you for how you are living now?The Kennedy experience gave me important tools; a bilingual education has opened many doors. It also taught me to have my own opinions and to be able to stand by them, to

question what I hear and read, to investigate, and to analyze. I think all of these tools are the foundations of everything I have done and accomplished later on. More-over, the IB Diploma was a great preparation in every way, especially the workload! [laughing].

What do you miss most about the school?I miss everything! I have the greatest memories from JFK, all of them are good. I miss having fun with my classmates, laughing about silly stuff all the time. I miss my friends and my teachers, who were awesome, and I miss the molletes which were so good [laughing out loud]. It was definitively the best school ever! And I am going to sound so old but not having the responsibility of a job.

What would you say to little girls who are just starting their journey at the school and to those who are preparing to graduate?To girls and boys, I would say follow your dreams

and do what you love the most and never let anyone discourage you from what you like or who you want to become. Because if you love what you do and you are happy with the life you have chosen, building it will be much easier.

To the little ones, just to be happy all the time. If you do not like something, you can change it and if you fail, you can start again. Try as many times as possible.

To those who are going to graduate, I would tell them to enjoy every day of the next years at the university because they are fantastic. What comes after high school is not going to be easy but it is definitely worth it. Keep in mind that you alone are responsible for the quality of your life and that money is not the only thing that matters. As John Whittier said: “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'it might have been’.”

WHAT DO THESE

WORDS MEAN TO YOU?

CHALLENGE

FAMILY

MEXICO

BALANCE

SUCCESS

The languages I have learned have been big

assets. English at the JFK of course, I also

studied French in Paris... I

studied Italian and Portuguese

while at the University.

30 31

50 Years of JFK History… and You Are a Special Part of It!

Sept 20

Mar 21

May 22

June 14

Nov 27

Dec 1

March

ClassNotesWHAT ARE WE DOING NOW?

K ennedy is proud to be nearing our 50th Anniversary, some-

thing we will be celebrating all school year long. Why limit ourselves to a one-time party that´s done in the blink of an eye? It´s taken 50 years to get to where we are today, and we plan on making a big deal of it! So, beginning in September, our 50th year includes a celebration cam-paign that spans across the 2014-2015 school year.

And by no means are we just celebrating where we are today. As our slogan states, “Honoring our past, taking pride in our present, building our future,” we want to honor the great people and mo-ments of our past as well.

That´s where you come in…As JFK alumni, you are a

very treasured part of our community. And we want to make sure you come and celebrate your Alma mater´s anniversary too. So, here´s a list of great opportunities for you to do just that.

We hope you will join us in as many of these fun celebra-tory events as possible. And please stay tuned to the JFK Alumni Facebook page (Ex-alumnos Kennedy) for more info as we get closer to date.

And lastly, if you find great photos or relics of your years as a Kennedy kid, please share them with the rest of us. Please contact Cristina at mdurango@jfk.edu.mx for historical content.

Commemorative Opening Celebration: Exclusive Alumni Cocktails Social A special event held only for alumni, while located in and providing a tour of our brand new facilities!

Kermess 2015 The Kermess will provide an anniversary “golden touch” with an art silent auction!

50th Commemorative Closing Celebration: Golden Gala

Family Fun Run 2015 A communitywide event that promotes fit-ness and an active lifestyle, even for your dog!

High School Battle of the Bands Concert and Food Drive

High School´s Red & Blue Day A few spaces are left for the exclusive oppor-tunity for alumni to compete alongside the students in one of your favorite Kennedy past times! (E-mail vwatkins@jfk.edu.mx ASAP to reserve one of those last spots.)

ASOMEX sports competitions Come cheer on your Jaguars as we host games against rival American schools!

virginia Grace Watkins50th Anniversary Leadership TeamHead of Annual Campaign & Alumni Relationsvwatkins@jfk.edu.mx

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