The House of Representatives met today in regular session and one of the main highlights of the proceedings was the presentation of a Disabilities Bill. The bill seeks to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal privileges, rights, interests, benefits and treatment of persons with disabilities. It calls for the establishment a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and a Disabilities and Equal Opportunities Rights Tribunal. Minister of Human Development, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia presented the proposed piece of legislation.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“Madam Speaker I will try to be brief because we did give some information at the first reading of this bill. And I do sit here, humbly, this afternoon, to continue to urge that we pass this Disabilities Bill today. It will establish the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and it will have In addition to government representation, it will have representatives from the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Social Security Board, the National Trade Union Congress, civil society organizations, and also the ex officio member of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and our C.E.O. of Human Development will chair the commission. We also want to mention at this second reading, Madam Speaker, that the functions of the commission will various. Please allow me, once more, to read it into the record. It will oversee the implementation of the policy to give special attention to persons with disabilities. It will make recommendations to the government. It will coordinate and monitor the implementation of the said policy. It will monitor our compliance with the United Nations Convention and do monitoring and evaluation on the impact of our policy. It will recommend changes to existing laws, support the development of relevant programs, collect and record important data. promote and foster capacity development, promote and coordinate the employment of persons living with disabilities, produce annual reports. Address grievances. And maintain, importantly, maintain a register of persons living with disabilities.”
The bill received the support of Prime Minister John Briceno, as well as from the ministers of Education, Francis Fonseca and Labour, Oscar Requena. All these officials made references to either their own relatives or an associate who had a disability and believe the bill will be beneficial to people like their loved ones. The bill’s popularity came when Opposition Leader, Moses “Shyne” Barrow
also supported the bill and paid compliments to Marshall Nunez, who is the Disability Desk Coordinator in the Ministry of Human Development. Even as Barrow acknowledged Nunez, however, he wished the Opposition was included more in the decision-making process.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I must applaud Marshall Nunez who is the champion behind the Disabilities Bill. I know that he worked exhaustively on this. He has been one of the premier advocates for people with disabilities. It is a very ambitious bill. But I am never one to shy away from having revolutionary ambitions, but I do applaud Marshall Nunez, who is the champion behind this. And so this is one thing that we can support. And we do hope that the government will do everything to assist in meeting these very ambitious targets. But one of the criticisms we have is the lack of representation of the Opposition on these commissions, on these boards. It makes no sense for continuity, for democracy, for diversity. to exclude the Opposition. And remember, this is a government that said they would be different. They said they would be able transparency on good governance, so why is it that you can’t have the Opposition on these very important boards for continuity, so it is when we become government because governments change in a democracy, we can be seized of all that is happening in these different places.”
She was known for her exceptional musical skills, her transformative wisdom and her captivating personality. Jennifer Lovell or “Jenny Love it Lovell”, as she was affectionately known, has passed away. Reports are that Lovell experienced a bad fall on Thursday while home alone. Lovell was found and transported to the hospital by a couple of her colleagues who grew concerned after she stopped responding to their calls and messages. After being released from the hospital, Lovell spent the night at the home of one of her friends who also works as a nurse. She passed away early this morning in the care of that friend. Lovell was a true Belizean icon. News Five’s Paul Lopez filed the following report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Belize has lost a beloved icon. Jenniffer “Jenny Love It” Lovell passed away in the company of a friend today in Belmopan. Throughout her lifetime, Lovell impacted the lives of many with her effervescent personality, musical talent, and wisdom as a mental health herapist. Lovell received the nickname “Jenny Love It” as a judge on Channel Five’s Tuesday night entertainment shows, such as KTV, KTV the Remix, and Duets. Live Show Host, William Neal, reflected on his memories of her, with tears in his eyes.
William Neal
William Neal, TV Host
“What you saw on television was definitely not a facade. She had the incredible talent, not just of singing in terms of talent, she also had the talent to make you listen and to make you feel seen. When she said love it, love it, love it, that was what she was all about. She was a person who believed that love would conquer all and you had to love people through everything. A year ago when my mom passed and stuff she insisted that I come see her. First she gave me some money and I said Jenny it is ok. She said, no I want you to have this money. Secondly, she took me through grieve counselling for more than two hours. I really don’t know what Tuesday night will be like when I am on the stage and look down and there is no Jenny there. I know in a world where people can be really mean, she was perhaps meme more than anybody else. That didn’t deter her. She showed up. I don’t know what Tuesday nights will be without her but Jenny showed us that in a cruel world that sometimes kindness is what you remember and need.”
For more than a decade, Lovell led a segment on Open Your Eyes Morning Show called “Bruck It Down with Jenny”. As a trained psychologist, she imparted invaluable knowledge to viewers on numerous mental health topics. Former Open Your Eyes Host and now Chief Executive Officer at Channel Five, Marleni Cuellar spoke about Lovell’s irreplaceable character.
Marleni Cuellar
Marleni Cuellar, C.E.O. Channel Five
“She partnered with us willingly, came and answered questions from viewers, mental health questions, coping with life, building self esteem kind of that mental care that people needed. She did so because she was an advocate for people to have better mental health.”
Paul Lopez
“Why was it important to have Jenny remain a staple on KTV the Remix?”
Marleni Cuellar
“Because you can’t replace a Jenny. She was an icon, rightly earned. She is passionate about helping to develop talent in the country, especially musical talent. What a lot of people don’t know is that behind the scenes she mentored some of the singers. She worked with us at Summer Fest to get some of them ready for the stage. If she saw someone with talent, she wanted to help them make it better and help to make them shine.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you think when you think about the future of KTV without Jenny there?”
Marleni Cuellar
“You know, all players in KTV is essential, from the people brave enough to go on stage, to the judges who are brave enough to face the public and audience. I suppose, as they say, the show must go on, but it will never be the same.”
Inside Price Barracks, where all the buildings are designed and painted to reflect discipline and dullness, Jenny Lovell’s office inside the BDF’s Wellness Center was a stark contrast. It emanated peace, wellness and her vibrant personality. She had been volunteering as a mental health therapist for the Belize Defense Force for the last decade. She was scheduled to be at Price Barracks this morning to conclude a self-care training she led for more than a dozen soldiers. Major Megan Aspinal is the Head of the BDF Wellness Center.
Megan Aspinal
Major Megan Aspinal, Head of BDF Wellness Center
“Today was the culmination of the training where the participants would have been given their certificates and have a little social with Ms. Jenny and her team that came with four students who are currently pursuing their master’s degree in counseling at U.W.I. She had asked me if they can do their practicum and internship here. Most of us are still in shock because the last we saw Ms. Jenny Tuesday when she said to us she was not feeling well but the young ladies from U.W.I. can continue the training. Then we hear today she passed. We are still in disbelief. This office is all Ms. Jenny. This office was not pink. It was cream as the other office. And, one day she is like I need this office to have life. The soldiers need to understand that coming to counselling you can’t see colors that are depressing as well, you need to be vibrant. So, she is like, I want cotton candy pink. She told the young men that work with us, so she made it happen and she brought all her décor, her pink flowers, everything to match with and one of the soldiers who paint painted the picture on the wall in pink supporting what she wanted.”
Lovell was employed as Director of the Department of Human Service when she returned to Belize as a retired U.S Navy Lieutenant in the late nineties. She was then appointed as the first director of the Community Rehabilitation Department within the ministry. Chief Executive Officer within the Ministry of Human Development, Adele Catzim, was the CEO in the ministry at the time. Catzim and Lovell developed a bond that led to them becoming best friends.
Adele Catzim
Adele Catzim, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development
“Jenny was an icon. She has such a wonderful personality. She is such a public persona, but Jenny was also a very private person. She had a small circle of friends that she was very close to and so we are the ones that would know what was really on her mind about a lot of things. She was a very spiritual person, so we clicked and talked about spirituality and personal development all the time. Her life was about Belize and development. She was a super volunteer at the Belize Defense Force, a super volunteer at one of the rehabilitation centers called Hedges. She volunteered; she was working with our ministry because she was a master trainer, currently for our community and parent empowerment program. Of course she was a lover of the arts. She contributed so much to the arts through KTV and through her beautiful voice and singing and all of that.”
Jenny Lovell’s musical career was just as illustrious as her contributions to mental health wellness. In the early seventies Lovell was a member of The Mission Singers, a musical group that was created by music extraordinaire Francis Reneau. Karen Vernon worked alongside Lovell in the arts.
Karen Vernon
Karen Vernon, Colleague
“I knew her through my work with the Francis Reneau project over the years. I worked with her as a judge here at KTV. A lot of people know her through KTV and not beyond that. But Lovell was a singer for Mass in Blues. That was in the late 1960’s, early seventies. They toured the U.S in 1971 and produced the Mass in Blues album of which Jenny was a soloist on many of the songs in that album.”
One of the timeless solos on that album by Jenny Lovell is entitled Help Me Accept. We also heard from Francis Reneau who revealed that he has begun writing a song dedicated to Lovell.
Francis Reneau
Francis Reneau, Musician
“What I was attracted to was the quality of her voice. There was a purity of sound and her understanding of music even though she may not have studied music in the way I studied music was quite natural and it was actually astounding that she could turn music into something that was communicative and expressive and I think that was what all musicians looked for in a great singer. I didn’t believe it at first, I saw these things coming and my phone started ringing and ringing and I said what is going on and I thought I better just checked and I said this cant be true. I thought I would wait a little while to see if it was real or not. I texted her sister and she confirmed that it was true. I am writing something for her memory as well and I hope it gets performed at some point.”
Prime Minister John Briceño also extended his condolences to the family of Jennifer Lovell on behalf of the Government of Belize. P.M. Briceno reflected on the many contributions Lovell made to Belize. He thanked her family for sharing her life with the nation. Here is what he said today inside the National Assembly.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“This morning the nation woke up to the sad news that we lost Jenny Lovel, the incomparable Jenny Lovell who we all have seen on Channel Five KTV. I think just this week she was also on live TV. That voice, you remember Mass in Blue, I guess probably the best album Belize has ever produced with Franky Reneau. All of them were just little kids when they took our Mass in Blues. I wish that more and more Belizeans should be aware of that music. She was a national treasure and I joined others, our colleagues on this side of the house and the entire country in extending condolences to our family and our friends and everybody who loved Jenny because of her appearance on Channel Five. She loved singing and she loved Belize and for this we are a grateful nation, and we thank her family for sharing Jenny with us and may her soul rest in peace.”
The Belize Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the body of a man that was found earlier today. This morning, at around five fifteen a.m., a man of Hispanic descent was pulled from the harbor near North Front Street in Belize City and has since been listed as a John Doe. The individual has several tattoos, including one of a cross surrounded by flames on his left arm. For those with information that can assist police with the investigation, contact crime stoppers, or make a report to the nearest police station.
One of two suspects accused of a triple murder walked free today after being acquitted due to a lack of evidence. He is twenty-three-year-old Shawn Flores, who stood trial for the murder of Alarice Andrewin, Vidal Yuman and Maria Juarez. All three individuals were bound and shot during a home invasion at mile ten on the George Price Highway in June 2019. Subsequently, then nineteen-year-old Kyle Zetina was charged for the crime after video footage placed him at the scene and, then eighteen-year-old Shawn Flores was jointly charged. However, in the case of Flores, there was no evidence linking him to the crime other than his caution statement, which his defense claims was beaten out of him by police. With no other evidence to link him to the murder, Flores was acquitted this morning. Unlike his co-accused, the crown has presented substantial evidence to be admissible in the trial against Zetina. His trial will continue July fifteenth, 2024.
Lobster season opens on July first, which means that tourist destinations are gearing up for lobster festivities. Placencia will be hosting the first of three lobster fests scheduled for this year. The small, slow paced, coastal community has been putting on its lobster fest for almost three decades. This year’s event promises to be the biggest and most entertaining yet. News Five’s Paul Lopez travelled down to the peninsula on Thursday. He filed the following report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Placencia Lobster Fest is a once-a-year event that draws thousands of visitors to the village without fail.
Doyle Gardner
Doyle Gardner, Owner, Doyle’s Smoke Yard
“Party and great energy, foodie a foodie paradise, people love it.”
The start of the lobster season is such a big deal for residents that it is worthy of having its own song.
Doyle Gardner
“Ih name spinny spinny…..it is the best.”
Placencia Loster Fest was launched in 1998 by the then village council and members of the Belize Tourism Industry Association Placencia Chapter. Elysia Dial, now the general manager at Barefoot Bar, joined the organizing team in 2001. The festival was established to help businesses in the tourist destination earn much needed income during the low tourist season.
Elysia Dial
Elysia Dial, General Manager, Barefoot Bar
“At first it was more like a rice and beans fest to be honest. We actually had to put out a rule for vendors to have some lobster dish on their menu because it is lobster fest. Originally, you know the parking lot, that is where lobster fest started out. It was just towards that cement pavement which was shell gas station. And that is where lobster fest was. One year we had a big wind storm come through right after Bowen and Bowen set up the tents and they crashed up into the house and there was no electricity. It was a lot of thing but we still got lobster fest going.”
Marcelo Sierra, the founder and former owner of Omar’s Little Kitchen, was among the first to participate in Placencia’s lobster fest. He has since handed over the restaurant to his children, but their presence at the weekend festivities continues.
Marcelo Sierra
Marcelo Sierra, Former Business Owner
“It was not as big and bombastic like now. Now dah some wild event the take place and different era, different people the different kind of businesses and so it grow a lot. So kudos to who the out deh the bun up deh eyes, I get enough of that.”
Reporter
“And I understand your restaurant had some sort of unique lobster dish in the days.”
Marcelo Sierra
“Yeah we started with a kind of a cultural way of doing our lobster. We started with fire heart. We never use no gas range. All we had to do dah get some mango, craboo and grapes and people want to see it done culturally. A lot of business stray from that which is not good. Omar’s still have a fire heart outside, my daughter still dash thing pan that. I try mek deh keep it culturally. If you the do it culinary wise and culturally people wah love that because deh wah the pass and get that smell.”
In 2023, Doyle Gardner won the prize for best lobster dish at the event. He is returning to defend his title and he hopes that the number of chefs participating in the competition this year will increase from the handful that participated in the 2023.
Doyle Gardner
“I did a big lobster. I did it open cooked, charred first and then roasted garlic butter. My plating I think was what really won it. I used a big calabash. I still have that calabash upstairs. I should have brought that, but on the bottom of the young coconut leaf, half the coconut and the rice on top of that. I didn’t have any horns so I took some branches from the miniature bamboo shoots and stuck them in their and that was a part of the design pretty much. I already made my menu and everything. I just came off of vacation. I was in Barbados and San Pedro I am working on that title to keep that title. I already have my idea but I am not going to give it away right now.”
Fisherfolks are the backbone of Placencia Lobster Fest. They make it possible for hungry visitors to have that sea-to grill-to table experience. Kurt Godfrey Senior is a second generation fisherman. Long before Placencia Lobster Fest was established, Godfrey would go free diving for lobsters with his father off the coast of the peninsula. His children are doing lobster catching these days.
Kurt Godfrey Sr.
Kurt Godfrey Sr., Fisherman
“First we were free divers as my late father was the founder of free diving. It became a sport. Time change and we learn that you put shade which is a hidden under and then fast-forward the government sent us to Mexico and w learnt about casitas. Casitas is one I want to invent in Belize because it is a healthy way of catching lobster.”
Paul Lopez
“So for you being environmentally conscious is important.”
Kurt Godfrey Sr.
“That dah how I become a pro, because I environmental happy ever since I learn scuba and free dive. I throw back my young lobster, my females I throw them back, especially when they have eggs and people could tell you, my workers can tell you that I did that.”
Paul Lopez
“For lobster fest on average how much lobster can a fisherman sell for lobster fest celebration.”
Kurt Godfrey
“Talking for myself, from the casitas I could probably sell about two hundred pounds of whole live lobster.”
The festival begins on July fifth and ends on July seventh. A variety of entertainment and competitions have been organized for each of the three days. Warren Garbutt, the chairman of the village, says there will be no shortage of fun and food.
Warren Garbutt
Warren Garbutt, Chairman, Placencia Village
“The event start very early on Friday around midday and then it goes to about two o’clock, two a.m. and then it starts again Sunday morning at ten and then it goes to about two a.m. and then Sunday again from ten until midnight. There is plenty of entertainment at the lobster fest grounds. It has grown tremendously over the years. We have a total of ninety booths this year. Of course mixed with food vendors, arts and craft, NGOs present sharing some the sustainable efforts. So it is a mix of different organizations and vendors.”
STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics to engage students in dialogues of critical thinking and creativity. This summer, codirectors Orlando Medina and Joseph Stamp-Romero are inviting students to sign up for the Steam Summer Academy in Belize city. This four-week program intends to provide participants with a diverse learning experience. We spoke with Orlando Medina of Educational Scientific Solutions for more information.
Orlando Medina
Orlando Medina, Codirector
“We’re running a summer camp this summer for kids between the ages of eight to thirteen, we’re going to be focusing on various areas. It’s going to be involved arts, science, a little bit of technology in terms of robotics, and we even have sports and karate. So it’s a diverse experience. We’re trying to create a diverse experience for students for the summer. It’s going to be for four weeks. We’re hosting it at Edward P. York High School. And it’s going to be running from Monday to Friday, starting next week, Monday, July the first to the twenty-sixth. We’re planning to do this for four weeks. Try to immerse the kids, allow them to discover the different areas of different talents and interests. We’re still taking registration. So if you’re interested in something that is and it’s a camp that is designed to, it’s something that we’re educators. So it is something that we are putting together a little curriculum for it. We’re putting together all the activities on. We plan to provide snacks for these kids on. We want to do so much. You want to really make it a full experience. The last Friday they will get a to showcase what they learned throughout the camp, but really the structure for the camp that we have is that every week, for example, they will be asked to present what they have been working on for the week, like the little challenges that they have, they would get a chance to look at it and see where is it that they can improve? And then as we go along, we have this grand finale at the end where they’re going to showcase what they have learned in a different areas. And so children will get to showcase and they could choose if they could choose more than one area. So if they want to demonstrate what they have done in science and math and what they want to do, a little bit of art or dance or whatever, they could showcase that as well.”
Nearly one month into hurricane season, the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, NEMO, and the National Meteorological Service are evaluating Belize’s plan for the ongoing season. Day two of the twelfth National Climate Outlook Forum got underway in Belize city this morning, where several organizations discussed the strategies that will be implemented moving forward. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended today’s event to learn how prepared Belize is for the 2024 hurricane season. Here’s more on that.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
In 2023, Belize was spared from all the seven hurricanes that tore through the Atlantic during the fourth most active hurricane season since 1993. Nonetheless, Hurricane Lisa, a category one storm that made landfall in 2022, devastated Belize, leaving in its wake hundreds of millions of dollars in structural damage and economic losses. So, is Belize prepared for another Hurricane? That is the question that key stakeholders are seeking to answer at the twelfth National Climate Outlook Forum. Daniel Mendez, coordinator of NEMO, explains.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, Coordinator, NEMO
“We are in the middle of the hurricane season. So by now, everyone should have had a plan already. You should know where to go, what you’re going to do if there’s ever a storm developing in our area. So what we’re doing with the MET service today is really to understand the outlook for this season for us at NEMO. We need that for planning purposes. So we can know where to go, what to do, and how we’re better guided in our work. But like I said, in the hurricane season we at government, have a plan, and we also want to ensure that every sector, every organization, every home, every person has also a plan on knowing what to do if there’s ever that in our area.”
The intensification of dry and wet season is a direct result of climate change. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon says that extended dry seasons are becoming a more common occurrence.
Ronald Gordon
Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, National Meteorological Service
“What we’re seeing is that gradually our dry season is becoming more intense as we saw recently with wildfires and the extreme dry temperatures that we had. We also noticed that sometimes at the start of rainy season, we get rains, but then eventually we get an extended what we typically used to call the maaga season. That’s between around July to August. Sometimes we get an intense dry spell as well. So we noticed that there are changes occurring. And of course, we know that our temperatures are increasing. As we look at our data every year, we monitor our temperatures, they are going up. So It is quite clear that we are in the area of climate change and temperatures are increasing.”
The Ministry of Disaster Risk Management’s preparation includes engaging all partners in information sharing, planning, response and recovery strategies.
Kennedy Carillo
Kennedy Carillo, C.E.O., Disaster Risk Management
“Many times we feel that NEMO is just one organization responsible. But in reality, NEMO is a system, it’s a national system that includes governmental, non-governmental and we have a lot of partners in the private sector community. Everybody, even you, at your home. You are part of Nemo.”
Carillo further explains that the Met Service plays a key role in ensuring that Belizeans are informed and prepared. Stakeholder engagement in this conversation is vital.
Kennedy Carillo
“The Met Service engages a group of technical experts who on a regular basis are being trained. They’re identifying areas, new areas for to be trained. They’re also improving in terms of their technology. And so I think that our country can really feel proud. That we have a met one of the best met service in the region so much so that countries in the Caribbean and even in the US depend on us for information, and I think this is what we’re getting from these forums. The opportunity to recognize where there are areas for improvement.”
The outcome of Belize’s 2024 Hurricane season is yet to be determined, however, Mendez assures the public that NEMO and its partners are doing their part to ensure that Belize is as prepared for the season as possible.
Daniel Mendez
“We are doing our best to strengthen our systems. We have been doing a lot of revision of our plans. We know that we have to strengthen our plans, and we also have to be better understanding the increased hazards, the increased capacity of these hazards to cause damage. So we are in the middle of a review of all our plans and strengthening those, not only within NEMO, but also within all our partner committees. Also with the different villages and municipalities in the country.”
This week’s Look on the Bright Side is another highlight of exemplary work being done in Belize’s education system. An example of doing more through inclusion is acknowledged in Horizon Academy’s approach to incorporate paraprofessionals in their school system since its inception. Who are paraprofessionals? That’s what Sabreena sought to find out. Here’s that story.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
Pedro Magana has been enrolled at Horizon Academy since kindergarten and is also diagnosed with autism. He is a success story and an example of what support to children with special needs can accomplish. His mother, Azalia Magana, shares that this is achieved because he attends a school that not only embraces students with special needs, but has a system in place for continuous learning of special needs.
Azalia Magana
Azalia Magana, Mother
“These teachers are continuously getting education on how to deal with special needs kids and it gave me assurance knowing that my child won’t be the first child that comes with a disability. He won’t be the first child that has autism. The teachers would have had previous experience and we learn from it. Even though maybe they don’t have a master’s degree in special ed, they have that experience and they have people that do have that education background that will pass on that knowledge to them. So that was one of the reasons why I chose Horizon.”
Ensuring that everyone can learn, regardless of their ability or disability, is essential for fostering an inclusive society. In Belize, the Ministry of Education is actively working towards this goal. Leading the way in this effort is Horizon Academy, arguably the only school that has independently championed this inclusive approach. Elvia Avilez is the school’s principal.
Elia Avilez
Elia Avilez, Principal, Horizon Academy
“Since Horizon Academy’s inception in 2009, inclusion was at the heart of its beginning and it just lends itself to the guiding principles that we refer to as CHIP, which is Child centered, Holistic, Inclusive, and Progressive. And so all of these principles link together in making Horizon Academy one of the very few schools in the nation who has embraced inclusion fully. This is intentional and it again it it’s just because we fully embrace the philosophy of inclusion and a part of that philosophy is indeed for all of our children to be in the classroom and we have created a special education division that intentionally has a plan in ensuring that all our students’ learning needs are met and they are included in the regular classroom where we have our children who are neurotypical and our children who are neurodiverse as well.”
Horizon Academy’s growing student population includes twenty-five students with special needs. To support these students, the Special Education Department employs dedicated individuals who provide essential assistance and guidance, also known as paraprofessionals.
Elia Avilez
“These services are provided in collaboration with the teacher, the parent, and our support teachers, and that term is now being recognized as the paraprofessionals. Where we only had one, and then two, over the years that number has increased. This year we have eight paraprofessionals with our special education coordinator who also acts as a paraprofessional, making it nine persons who are a part of the special ed division.”
Inga Sandoval
Inga Sandoval, Special Education Coordinator, Horizon Academy
“Firstly, we provide support in the classroom with the paraprofessionals. The paraprofessionals serve as a bridge between the special ed department and the classroom. So they work with the students inside the classroom and they work with them based on the curriculum that is being given. We work with them on a slower pace you’d say or we do adoption and we also do modification on the work so that these kids can learn and understand and get the work done.”
Paraprofessionals have been formally integrated into Horizon Academy’s staff since its inception. In contrast, many other schools require parents to independently provide a paraprofessional. Pedro met his paraprofessional, Gilda Broaster, three years ago. Now supporting him in Infant 2, Broaster has become an integral part of his academic journey at Horizon. She shares with us what their interaction has been like.
Gilda Broaster
Gilda Broaster, Paraprofessional, Horizon Academy
“When I met him it took a lot of structuring, social learning and even the relationship that I have with his mom, keeping communication on what we’re working on, what works, what doesn’t work, as well as tips from them on what works at home. Also he’s very smart and a good listener. His level of learning is, to me, very high. So, it’s just figuring out what works for him and trying to stick to that.”
Azalia Magana
“When we came he did preschool, infant one and now infant two and I was blessed enough to have Ms. Gilda Broaster. She’s the paraprofessional that’s with him. Pedrito immediately fell in love with her. She is a teacher, she’s a mother, she’s a friend all in one.”
At Horizon Academy, the level of aid provided to students with special needs, like Pedro, is tailored to their individual requirements. The Special Education Coordinator says that they support a wide range of special needs, from physical disabilities to severe learning challenges, while emphasizing the importance of classroom inclusion.
Inga Sandoval
“This is beneficial, you see, for both the child who is a special learner and also the normal students because it’s kind of like a sensitization then where they learn and understand that, hey, there’s other children who learn differently, you know. So when they do leave Horizon and they’re out there in society, they already know, okay, there’s other kinds of disabilities, not just normal, you see, normal people within the community.”
Gilda Broaster, Paraprofessional, Horizon Academy
“What we do is we observe their behavior. We observe how they interact, the academic level that they’re at. We do something called benchmark where we test to see where they’re at academically. And then we go from there based on the child, the things that they like, the things that they gravitate to, when it comes to learning, because we try to incorporate everything into learning.”
The goal is to provide the necessary support to these students until they no longer need it. Azalia Magana says it’s a reality she did not think would come this soon. Pedro has not only advanced in his level of learning, but shows promise of parting ways with his parapro, Miss Broaster.
Azalia Magana
“The principal, Ms. Elia, told me our goal is to help him until he doesn’t need us anymore. And I thought, no, he’s going to need a paraprofessional throughout the years. I thought that he would always need it. But the support was greater when he was in preschool and infant one, but he’s gotten more independent. And so this year in infant two, we got to the point that Miss Gilda would tell me, Pedro doesn’t need me that much. It’s such a blessing that we’re living here in Belize City and we had the opportunity to have him in a school like this. My heart goes out to all those parents that don’t have the opportunity to have their kids with a paraprofessional in the class when they need it because, I don’t know, had this not been possible, I don’t know if I would have moved to a different country, or quit working to be able to be that paraprofessional. I know that he needed it, and I think it’s essential.”
