Spring 2021 Edition Artwork By: Antonia Palacios - Fundación Colegio Americano Quito
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Artwork By: Antonia Palacios Spring 2021 Edition
www.fcaq.k12.ec
Contents
2019
+ Academics / Académico + Current Events / Actualidad
- Summer Programs: Experience Life and Be Yourself
- Back to School After a Global Pandemic
Model United Nations: The Club for Chiildren Who Want to
-
Change the World - Pandemic Affecting Teenagers
- The Unused Online Library Resources
- Carnival in Digital 3
- Blended Learning at Fundación Colegio Americano de Quito
- Adolescent Emotions in High School
+ Arts & Culture / Arte & Cultura + Special Features /Artículos Especiales
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- Everything You Need to Know About Art Therapy
- Harry Styles' Double Standard
- Entrevista Victoria Gangotena
- The Impact of Pets in Our Lives and During the Pandemic
- Pandemics Through History
- Law of Attraction
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ec
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4
Academics / Académico 5
School Views
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Spring 2021
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Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ec
Andrea Rodríguez
Why do you think summer programs are during the summer, when they could be during the whole school
Summer Programs: Experience Life and Be Yourself year?
Summer is getting closer and a lot of programs and workshops are going to be open online and residentially. Ray explained that there are more opportunities in the summer from university programs and many others
This is a great opportunity to learn about or do something we like, especially now because many universities because students have more time to focus on other things than just school.
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or important institutions are giving classes and workshops about different subjects we don’t usually learn
in school. Due to the pandemic situation, discounts are available and most sessions are going to be online. Do you think that there will be a big difference in some programs because they are online? Will they be enjoy-
However, let’s still hope that they can be in-person in the near future. able as well?
Not all summer programs are academic, there are many more that teach sports, art, dance, acting, garden- Ray noted that “The biggest difference is experiencing to go somewhere and live independently.” Besides, he
ing, etc. This is just an opportunity for gaining knowledge about anything that maybe doesn’t have to do with said that one of the issues for online programs is definitely screen time because it damages our eyesight and
school but personal interests. Besides, you get to discover new places such as Europe or Asia and people is easier for us to get distracted.
from all over the world that have a different story and probably are waiting to meet someone like you.
Do you think the child should choose the summer program they want to go to, or the parents?
I had the opportunity to interview Ray Marx, college counselor, about his opinion on summer programs which
will definitely motivate you to attend a summer program this year. He explained that a healthy choice would be a mutual choice between both the child and the parents. Sitting
down and discussing the decision is very important since financial responsibilities have to be considered as
What kind of effect do you think Summer Programs have on students? well as many other things too.
6 7
Ray explained that it depends on the summer program, but it is always a positive impact because it has to do What are summer programs you have seen students and Americano attend in the past, how do you think it
with things we like. Summer programs have to help you develop your interests. has benefited them?
Have you ever taught in a Summer Program? He noted that he has seen lots of students go to many different international programs. High-school has
this MAIA Learning database system that many international highschools use. It helps schools to keep track
He hasn't taught an actual summer program, still he has run college tours around campuses in the USA and of university applications and learn more detailed information about universities around the world. You can
organized the activities. learn more at: www.maialearning.com. This system helps students from grades 10-12 to start thinking about
careers, costs, college options, etc., and look for summer programs. Students have gone to academics and
What activities and subjects do you think are most interesting for a summer program? volunteering programs all over the world, in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, etc.
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“The program that’s best is the one that you are interested in”, Ray said. He indicated that it will be interesting Is there anything else you would like students or parents to know about summer programs?
to you if it is something you like and are curious about, so the perfect program will depend on your likes and
dislikes. “What is it that you really want to do?”, said Ray. Following your passion, your interest, exploring and standing
out in that is what Ray suggests for when you want to go to a summer program. It is important to have this
Why should students use part of their vacation to go to a summer camp or program? perception in mind: paying money for a summer program isn't necessarily better than staying and doing
volunteering. He explains that College admissions look for interests and values that you get by doing certain
Summer is a pretty long time, so it isn’t like attending a summer program will take your whole vacation away. activities in a summer program or event.
Ray said that summer programs can really help students find themselves by learning things you don’t learn in
school and meet new people around the world. It is a way in which you can experience life.
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Why is attending a summer program important?
It helps you learn about yourself and independence. “There are a lot of things to learn depending on the type
of person you are”, Ray commented.
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Moreover, Ivy League universities, the most prestigious ones like Harvard and Yale, are giving a majority of
summer courses online. These courses require a certain age to be able to attend; for example some courses
are for high school or college students. To attend Harvard and Yale programmes, filling an application is nec-
essary, this means that there is a chance that you won’t be accepted, but it is worth a try. Harvard offers 2-7
weeks of online classes of college-level academics taught by its faculty and affiliates that introduce you to
the college journey with workshops, social events, and a lot of activities. The dates and important information
can be found at: www.summer.harvard.edu. On the other hand, Yale provides undergraduate programs that
students from all around the world attend. Something fun about the Yale summer courses is that they do not
just teach undergraduate subjects like Law, Physics, Medicine, etc., but they also have a Yale Writers Work-
shop and a Drama Program. More information about the course fee and dates can be found at: summer.yale.
edu.
8 If you hurry up, you can enter your application before the final deadline! In addition, Immerse Education 9
is a great way to win a scholarship too! There’s an essay competition every year that gives the opportunity for
13-18 year old students to go to an Oxbridge college and study a chosen subject. Their program is well-or-
ganized and fun because they have activities around the city of London to give cultural knowledge and time
to socialize with other people. Their webpage is this one: www.immerse.education, here you can find more
information for future programs and events.
Summer programs can help us in different aspects, and the most important one is to learn about ourselves
and explore. We have to take a good opportunity when we see it, and now institutions and programs are
opening with discounts, as well as holding contests for you to try and win. Online programs will definitely
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have disadvantages, still they are going to be beneficial and fun because activities are prepared for this kind
of situation we are in. A short summer program isn’t going to do any damage to you. Instead, at the end of the
program, you probably will not want to leave.
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Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ec
EXPERIENCES IN THIMUN
THIMUN is the Model United Nations that takes place in The Hague, Netherlands. It’s an inter-
national model with students from different places around the world making it the home to
Sofía Ordóñez friendships and unforgettable experiences. This year THIMUN took place virtually, which is not
the same as the in-person conference where students are able to visit the International Court
Model United Nations: The Club for Children Who Want to Change of Justice and the landmarks of the area. Although it is not the same, it was still exciting for
those who participated. Usually, only students starting from 10th grade and above can attend,
The World but since this year it was online, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders could participate too! The organizers
of the event didn’t let the pandemic keep them from putting all their efforts into the conference;
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UN Club is an experience that has helped many students, it has pushed me to improve my public they created a website where delegates could pass notes to each other, view resolutions, and
speaking, research thoroughly, learn about world politics, and improvise a speech. One of the main even access a blog about the whole conference! This was only the beginning; once the debate
United Nations simulations, that the American school of Quito participates in is THIMUN (The Hague opened I was one of 163 delegates in the meeting.
INternational Model United Nations); I would like to talk about my experience there this year being one
of the youngest participants. The American School of Quito was representing Germany, and, since I was on the Economic
Committee, it was great to have a country with an essential and significant role in this field. The
days we had lobbying where delegates were allowed to talk in smaller groups to create resolu-
tions, participants got to know themselves better. Moving on, something pretty cool about the
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? conference was that everyone had different time zones, so while some people like me had to
wake up really early, others ended the conference at 1 AM! To my surprise, I was actually one
A MUN (Model United Nations) is a simulation of the United Nations, in which students are able to rep- of the youngest participants. Every chance I got to speak made me feel powerful, 5maybe be-
resent a country as delegates. There are different committees such as the Human Rights Council, Eco- cause of the fact that there were so many people hearing my voice. During the lobbying I was
nomic Committee, Security Council, and more. Delegates must prepare speeches for pre-determined asked many times how old I was by other delegates because they were impressed about how
10topics and debate them on the day of the model. Also, participants must create resolutions that are much I knew at my age. The chairs or moderators of the debate even told me they felt threat- 11
detailed solutions for the issues of discussion. Resolutions must include a date when it must start, how ened about how much I knew and how brave I was to speak in front of so many other people at
the resolution will be financed, where it will take place, and other details so it is as realistic as possible. only the age of 12. This made me realize how much I have learned in Model United Nations, and
Resolutions are discussed, and then delegates vote to decide if the resolution should pass or not. This how much it has helped me. Speaking in front of so many people at my current age is some-
helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to create solutions to worldwide problems. thing I thought impossible a few years ago, but now I know that it’s not.
During the club meetings, students learn to create speeches, resolutions, learn about the UN and its
functions, debate what is happening around the world. Model United Nations has pushed me to acquire new skills, as it has encouraged my curiosity
and critical thinking. Even though I have only been in the club for one year and a half, I have
learned so much in such little time, and I can only imagine my growth as a delegate and human
being with the time I have to come. Therefore I encourage all students interested in learning
HOW IT CAN HELP WITH MANY SKILLS about the world and solving issues using critical thinking.
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To participate in a Model United Nations, you must give many speeches in front of a large audience
in order to accurately represent your country’s interests, pushing you to develop skills that are useful
in and out of MUN. This helped me open up and speak in public in a much more confident way. To
create these speeches, you must research thoroughly about specific and global issues and about the
assigned country’s position on the topic. This helps students improve their research and media literacy
ATL skills. During the debates, many skills are practiced such as improvisation, one of the main things I
have learned from Model UN. Improvising means giving a small speech without reading, it is something
spontaneous that happens a lot during the simulations. This is the importance of research and cited
information in an improvised speech, it gives it credibility and facts. Last but not least, in MUN social-
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ization takes an important part in the event; delegates must talk with each other to create resolutions,
share ideas, and debate about the issues. All in all, MUN helps with public speaking, research skills,
improvisation, and social skills.
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Views
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111. Library books and catalog: Everyone knows how to check in/out a physical book from the library, but
because of online classes, the library has provided more options to help the students with this.
- There are some ways to get books from the library:
Andrey Ortega
The Unused Online Library Resources > Using Ebooks and read them in our devices from Overdrive
The Library provides resources and services to the students and teachers so they can continue traveling in the path > Taking the physical books from the Library to your home with some safety
of learning and teaching, some of them aren’t so well known. The library is a place where you can find information precautions.
about any topic, read stories and biographies, and much more. There are some unknown resources that the library
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provides and that can be useful for online classes. Due to pandemic, these resources can be used more than before 2. Databases: The databases are very helpful if you need some trustworthy information with some tools
and it can benefit both students and teachers. that makes learning easier and more interesting. Nowadays, everybody uses the famous Google search
engine, but the problem is that the internet is a place with a lot of information that can be incorrect and can
I had an interview with Patricia Goering, the Head Librarian and Secondary Teacher Librarian to get more informa- confuse students and teachers. By using databases from the Library, this information is verified and proven
tion about the online resources and the usage of them. from reliable sources.
She told me that the library have as Online resources in the Destiny Discover like: - Some databases that the Library have are:
- Ebooks provided by One Drive > Gale PowerSearch and their variants
- Databases > NGVL (National Geographic Virtual Library)
> Gale Power Research > Pebble Go!
12 13
> NGVL > Britannica School (For Students and teachers)
- Teacher’s resources - Some tools from the databases
> Turnitin - Gale PowerSearch:
> Brainpop > Articles, Books, Magazines, etc.
- Resource Guides > Provides Source
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> Guide for the MYP Personal Project > Citation (MLA, APA, and others)
> How to do “Extended Essays” > Highlights and Notes
- School Views (Yes, it can be found at the library online resources if you want to read any editions). > Definitions
> Newspaper Editions > Translation
> Podcasts > Articles read aloud
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The library has a variety of resources that help students and teachers, but they are not very known and used. I'll > Font size
explain each category of the online resources from the library and how these can help your learning. Something
important to clarify is that all these resources can be found in Destiny Discover of the FCAQ secondary library > Sending to Email or Google Drive
webpage.
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ec> Articles about any subject (Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies)
> Curriculum standards to choose (National Common Core State Standards, etc)
> Printing Educational subscriptions for teachers: These resources can be helpful for teachers to educate their stu-
dents in a very creative way.
> Downloading
Turnitin
> Full info about the articles (time, author, document type, etc)
- A platform that helps teachers with assignments and classwork
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- NGVL
> Promotes academic integrity by searching the students' work on web pages and
> Provides Magazines, information about topics, and Images. confirming if the work is original or if they made plagiarism.
> Audio Recording of the Magazine > Tools to help the teachers to organize the class assignments and their comments
over the work.
> Table of Contents
Plex
> Modifications to the Image (Zoom in/out, illumination, contrast, and
inverted colors). - It is a streaming platform where you can find movies or series for free. In the resources
webpage of the school, it is stipulated that this is only for educational purposes.
- Britannica School (Students)
14 > Articles, Students, and Biographies 15
Patricia also sent me a graph showing the Library Online usage difference between 2019 and 2010. There
> Different reading levels are some years before but it’s a clear graph of two years before and after (in the middle of) the pandemic.
> Keywords with definition
> Sending
> Printing
> Citation
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> Translation As you can see in the graph, the percentage of the usage on databases increment over the years and the
e-books, for some reason their usage has been decreasing in 2019. I predict that the quarantine can show
> Listen a difference with this statistic with an increase of ebooks and database usage.
> Font up/down
> Images and Videos The library online resources are a great source if you need true information with some tools that can help
you with online classes. I hope that you learned something more about these incredible resources and en-
- Britannica School (Teachers) courage you to use them more often. I want to give acknowledgment to Patrcia Goering to helping me by
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providing information about the resources to write this article.
> The same access that students have
> Use or Create Lessons for the students
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ecOne of my goals for my personal project was to make it feel human. Sure, every source I looked for provided
very insightful information, but the information was not from my social bubble. Then, an idea popped inside my
head. What if I somehow managed to ask people I know about this and record that information? Consequently, I
Joaquín Lalama Arcos decided to make an anonymous survey for the secondary students in order to collect information regarding their
own mental health. With the help of Laura Sarmiento, the SEL teacher, we received a total of 234 responses from
Adolescent Emotions in High School teenagers whose age ranged from 12 to 19 years old. When asked to define what emotional wellbeing meant
to them in one word, words like “peace”, “happiness”, “stability”, and “health” were amongst the most common
results. On a scale of 1-4, with 1 being “never” and 4 being “always”, 37.8% of respondents answered that they felt
like the school never understood their emotional wellbeing. When asked about how it felt to keep feelings hidden
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What makes us human beings who we are? Is it how we grow up? The manners we are taught at home? The away, responses varied from saying that the respondent felt stress and overthinking, loneliness, and sadness, to
mistakes we make at school? The lessons we learn as our life goes on? I believe that all of these, and many saying that they felt like they hated themselves and that their relationships with others were affected negatively.
more, shape a person and are vital for a person’s development. However, there tends to be some sort of taboo Nevertheless, this article is not meant to display only feelings of sadness and fear. For example, more than 95%
when it comes to talking about what I think is one of the most defining, yet complex, traits of a human being: of the respondents answered that they were willing to help if a friend talked to them about their issues. When
their emotions. When figuring out what to do for my personal project, I considered a lot of ideas; but, most of asked about strategies that made them feel better when they were feeling stressed, , a great many of them an-
those ideas felt dry and soulless. I wanted to create a project that would be unique and feel human. The first swered that they listen to music, hang out with their friends, work, and simply breathe, among others.
day I met up with my personal project tutor, I looked back at how much my life had changed since March 2020.
I looked back at how free it was and how restricted everything is now. How the pandemic has changed and
limited the way we interact with each other, and how much I miss human connection. Even though I consider
myself to be an introvert, isolation really made me long for human connections and their effect on my mental I’m quite sure that many of us have received workshops about mental health or seen posts on Instagram re-
health. Suddenly, a piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Human emotion. A topic which would challenge me, garding the topic many times before. Those workshops were probably presented by someone who was way
but one I’m passionate about. As I was planning the rest of my personal project, I ended up deciding to create older than a teenager and seemed like they really knew nothing about what it felt like to be a teenager and those
this article. Through these paragraphs, I want to talk about what emotions are and how they change during posts may have seemed really cliché and repetitive. I do not want for this article to feel the same. I really want to
adolescence, demonstrate some data from a survey I created, which contains answers regarding this topic
16 encourage whoever is reading this article to actually take my words into account. When people say that you are 17
from this school’s own students, and give out my thoughts concerning emotional wellbeing. not alone, trust me, you are not. Even though the people surrounding you may smile all the time, one has to get
to know them on the inside to truly know how they are feeling. There is no one person on this earth who always
feels fine, even though they may look like it. So, I am challenging every single person who reads this article to get
to know the people around them better. Ask about how they are feeling today, open up to them about yourself,
So, what exactly are emotions? Robert C. Solomon, author of the book True to Our Feelings: What Our Emo- comfort them if they ever need it, and work together to pull yourselves through tough times. Also, I want everyone
tions are Really Telling Us, states: “Emotion, a complex experience of consciousness, bodily sensation, and who is reading this article to look inwards and take even better care of yourselves. Hang out with your friends,
behaviour that reflects the personal significance of a thing, an event, or a state of affairs” (Solomon, par. 1). work out, or listen to that one song that no matter what, heals you and helps you become better. Cindy Lamothe
Some emotions, which concern a certain person, are very specific. There are others, like resentment or love, wrote that the definition of having a good emotional health is as follows: “...having good emotional health doesn’t
which may last for years, and may even alter a person’s personality. Emotions are so complex, that even the mean you’re always happy or free from negative emotions. It’s about having the skills and resources to manage
emotions which are considered to be “bad”, like anger, can bring about beneficial outcomes to an individual. the ups and downs of day-to-day life” (Lamothe, par. 3). I should start working on these things, and I also believe
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During the teenage years, a child is transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Therefore, the teen’s emotions that so do many of you. Instead of trying to always pretend to be fine while drowning in our pain, I believe that we
are also changing very drastically, yet many of them tend to suppress their emotions. In an interview with should just explore what we are feeling and learn to manage those feelings. I hope that this article gave some
Emotional Wellbeing expert Suzy Singh, she talks about the repercussions that follow these kinds of repres- clarity about what emotions are and how to manage them, but especially, I hope that this article becomes a ray
sions: “When emotions are not dealt with or are repressed, people become more reactive, easily frustrated, of sunshine in someone’s storm. My final piece of advice would be: don’t dwell on past feelings of pain. Instead,
brain fogged, confused, emotionally volatile and unhappy. They are easily triggered, becoming angry with breathe, and look forward with a smile of hope. Always remember to be kindhearted to the people surrounding
minimal provocation. This affects their relationships, productivity and health negatively. In sensitive situations you, your friends, family, and most of all, yourself.
that require patience, compassion and understanding, they can often feel out of depth, reacting in unkind
ways, not knowing what to say or how to manage conflict or stressful situations effectively” (Singh, par. 1).
When not handled correctly, emotions can change a teenager’s development and growth. Their relationships Works Cited
with others can become frail, and their lives going forward can become full of misery, and that is one of the
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Arcos, Lorena. Interview. By Joaquín Lalama. Nov 19 2020.
reasons why handling one’s emotions is extremely important during the teenage years. Lamothe, Cindy. “How to Build Good Emotional Health.” healthline, Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company, Jun 14 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/emotional-health. Oct 7 2020.
Solomon, Robert C. “Emotion.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Mar 08 2019, https://www.britannica.com/science/emotion. Oct 08 2020.
"Why Emotional Wellbeing Is So Important Interview With Suzy Singh." Business World, 27 July 2020, p. NA. Gale OneFile: News, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A630688382/GPS?u=fcaq_ec&sid=GPS&x-
id=a05286f2. Accessed 6 Oct. 2020.
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ecIn BL, all students are held to high expectations, but each student follows a customized path that adapts
based on the student’s individual progress and goals. “Blended learning allows students to become
Adriana Hire more responsible and autonomous for their learning in a natural manner since the scenario permits
educators to give more choices for learners according to their preferences and needs” (Lisken). Today,
Blended Learning at Fundación Colegio Americano de Quito (FCAQ) with the innovation of technology and modern models of instruction such as those in BL, differentiated
instruction is within our reach.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted and challenged the lifestyles and practices of millions. Educa-
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tors from FCAQ agree and recognize that teaching and learning have also been altered as a result of
virtual instruction. Many, however, have taken this challenge as an opportunity to break new pedagog- We started with about 20 FCAQ staff who read books, took courses and switched their practice to BL.
ical ground. “The trend was already heading in that direction, blended learning (BL) is nothing new, but These same staff members have been instrumental in training and inspiring others. Change is the only
this pandemic has forced us to look deeper into what we are doing...we must innovate and get on the constant we have in our world. We must constantly learn and adapt to new demands; our professional
train or we will be left behind” (Bustamante). practice is no different. We are in the first year of implementation but already have built capacity and
cultivated talent within our staff. “Blended learning is a wonderful tool to deepen student knowledge
It wasn't too long ago that the teacher and the textbook were the main sources of information. How- and skills. It has its biggest effect, however, on personal growth. Some students have found it uncom-
ever, within the last few decades, technology has taken a larger role in supplying updated, interactive fortable, mentioning that it is harder, that there is more work, that they feel lost, all without realizing that
information tied to the modern world. Textbooks, lecture style instruction, and the conventional model they are slowly learning autonomy skills with each lesson they take. It is quite possible that students
of education in which we place pupils in classes to teach the same thing, in the same way, to the same won’t remember the exact formula to resolve a math sample within in a year, but thanks to the autono-
group of learners, are ineffective and obsolete. my skills they learn today, they will be able to figure it out” (Padilla) .
Our students live in a world in which skills are more important than random content knowledge. “In the
18 XXI Century, schooling must go beyond content, creating opportunities for students to master skills 19
necessary for achievement in a competitive, advanced society. Our students must learn to innovate Our school’s vision and agency for transformation is not merely a few flipped classrooms, or the ad-
while adapting to a variety of learning and professional contexts” (Krause). aptation of a few lessons. Our school’s leaders are resolved to a clearly-defined, school-wide mission
of student-centered classrooms that focuses on meeting the individual needs and abilities of all of our
In the age of the Internet, 21st Century skills are essential for success. These skills are divided into three students. “The purpose of schooling in the 21st Century is to help students find their voice, their place,
categories: 1) Learning, (critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication); 2- Literacy (media, their passion and their mission in life. It is to prepare them for higher education but also to prepare
technology, information); 3- Life Skills (flexibility, leadership, initiative, productivity, social skills). When them for even higher ideals as citizens, future leaders, and wholesome people” (Darquea).
surveyed about BL, 76% of FCAQ secondary students indicated that they prefer the flexibility to chose
assignments, 80% felt that they were developing technological skills, and 70% indicated that they were
constantly required to think critically and use their creativity. Students need to learn how to learn, rather
than what to learn in order to be prepared for the future. “This model has allowed my students to gain Technology has touched every aspect of our modern world and education is no exception. Our FCAQ
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real-life skills like time management and organization. They have learned to be in control of their learn- students and staff are all at different levels of BL proficiency, which is expected and completely accept-
ing and knowing the ways that they learn and work best. I feel that as seniors using BL model, they will able. At this moment of paradigm shift, our direction is more important than our speed. We have taken
be even more prepared for university than many of their peers will be” (Gribensk). the first steps by questioning the status quo and by taking inventory of the lessons learned so that far
from meeting short-term demands the pandemic imposed on us, we have leaped out of stagnation
So what exactly is Blended Learning? BL refers to the blend of online learning and brick-and-mortar paving a new path ahead.
schooling. BL takes place when students learn at least in part online, with some element of student con-
trol over the time, place, path, and/or pace of their learning, while also enjoying the benefits that come Works Cited:
with education at a physical school (Christensen Institute). BL is different from traditional teaching “Blended Learning.” Christensen Institute, 14 July 2016, www.christenseninstitute.org/blended-learning/.
practices but it should not be confused with a trend of equipping classrooms with devices or software. Bustamante, Gabriela. FCAQ Secondary Principal. 8 April 2021. Faculty meeting.
The phrase technology rich, innovative poor refers to this misconception.
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Darquea, Soledad. FCAQ IB Business Teacher. Personal communication. 8 April 2021.
Gribensk, Maria. FCAQ IB English Teacher. Personal communication. 8 April 2021.
Krause, Thomas. FCAQ MYP English Teacher. Personal communication. 8 April 2021.
Lisken, Susana. FCAQ Academic Technology Coordinator. Personal communication. 8 April 2021.
Padilla Dickey, Jamela. FCAQ English Teacher. Personal communication. 9 April 202.
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ec20
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20192. Why is art therapy important according to you?
Art therapy is important due to its kinesthetic, sensory, perceptual and symbolic opportunity, which allows people to
express and communicate by finding a way around the limitations of language. As humans, it is easier for us to commu-
nicate with visual and symbolic expressions, and by doing so we can give a voice to different human experiences. Art
Alejandra Pacheco has an expressive quality which invites people to explore different emotions, situations, themselves and others. It is a
personal language that has universal meanings.
Everything You Need to Know About Art Therapy
3. How can it improve mental health?
ART THERAPY - Art therapy is defined by the American Association of Art as, "An integrative mental health Art Therapy is facilitated by a professional art therapist, who will effectively support individuals, couples, families and
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and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through ac- groups in diverse settings on their relational and personal treatment goals as well as their community concerns. We use
tive art-making." (American Association of Art 1) This career's versatility allows it to improve cognitive and it to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, cultivate emotional resilience, enhance social skills, reduce and
sensorimotor functions, which inspires self-awareness, enhances resilience, and reduces stress-related resolve conflicts, foster self-esteem and awareness.
problems. It is a very beneficial practice that seeks to holistically improve mental health issues that might
arise or already exist. Art-making is a very positive exercise that could improve individuals' mental health 4. What are some benefits of art therapy?
during hard times, especially in quarantine.
Art therapy helps individuals feel safe, be mindful, find calmness and inner strength, be vulnerable, and be more com-
The Importance of Art Therapy During the Pandemic passionate.
For many, this pandemic has brought a lot of emotional trauma, stress, or depression due to differ- Some benefits of art therapy include:
ent circumstances related to the lack of social interaction. However, art therapy is a useful meth- • Emotional release
od to cope with negative emotions healthily, much like meditation. For this article, I interviewed IB art • Heal emotional trauma and pain
teacher Ana Lopez, an expert with a degree on the subject, to get insight into art therapy's benefits. • No skills are required
Disclaimer:
22 If major mental health problems are involved, it is crucial to contact a health professional to discuss these issues. • It is a judgement free zone 23
• You get empathetic support and guide
Interview questions & answers: • Relieves stress and anxiety
• Boosts self-esteem and confidence
Interviewee: Ana Lopez, 11th grade IB art teacher with masters degree in art therapy.
5. What are some exercises that the readers could do at home?
Interviewer: Alejandra Pacheco, 11th grade student. Black out poetry: Blackout poetry is when a page of text — usually an article from a newspaper — is completely blacked
out (colored over with permanent marker so that it is no longer visible) except for a select few words. When only these
1. How would you describe art therapy? words are visible, a brand new story is created from the existing text.
According to the American Art therapy Association, Art Therapy can be concisely defined as: “An integrative mental
health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active Eco-art therapy:Create a place of sanctuary where you can feel protected and nurtured.
Mauris ligula sollicitudin. Maecenas netus, vivamus mollis dui.
art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic rela-
tionship.” Utilizing the natural resources at hand to create. This exercise will help you feel more connected to nature and the en-
Some components of an art therapy session include: vironment, and feel more grounded and understand what you emotionally need at this moment.After you have finished
• Art materials your art-making, let’s do some reflective writing, which can help us explore more about our creations, understand our-
• Art therapist selves, and get more out of the creative process.
• Art directive or “theme”
• Discussion and verbal processing What is this place like?
• Art process and artwork What do you like about this place?
Some settings in which art therapy can occur include: Hospitals, schools, rehabilitation facilities, senior communities In conclusion, art therapy can be a beneficial pastime for those who are looking to improve their mental health and over-
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and in private practices. all self-actualization skills. It’s an important practice that is fairly available in home environments, it's easy to understand
and do, and includes a variety of fun options to play around with. As a final thought, I would encourage all the readers
to practice the techniques mentioned in the article and research even more exercises they can do at home to feel more
hopeful and connected to their environment in these troubling times.
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ec
23Additionally, the National Honor Society is an international organization. Nevertheless, with so many chap-
ters worldwide, what makes Colegio Americano's group different? Victoria Gangotena, the group's current
president, says that the school's chapter is remarkable because it comprises particularly "ambitious stu-
Sebastián Portilla dents willing to go the extra mile." The drive within Colegio Americano's students has forged an unwavering
commitment to the community's prosperity. Just this year, with the complexities behind remote learning,
Colegio Americano's NHS has managed striking feats for the community. For instance, the organization
Entrevista: Victoria Gangotena has donated dozens of books to under-resourced schools, composed several letters to nursing homes to
uplift the spirits of the elderly during this period of social distancing, and organized a raffle to collect money
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What is the National Honor Society? for the medicines of underprivileged orphanages.
(Interview with Victoria Gangotena, the current president of the school’s chapter) The National Honor Society expects many applications the next year, with more "competitive and driven"
students. Victoria encourages all applicants to "seize every opportunity to engage in social service despite
the current situation." For this year's members, Victoria hopes to plan an in-person meeting to farewell the
seniors. Overall, Colegio Americano's National Honor Society is active and ready to welcome new inductees
Colegio Americano has a chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). Countless high-achieving America- committed to improving the world.
no students have formed part of this organization, and we celebrate grandiose functions to welcome the
new inductees and praise the current members. Thus, this organization is an intrinsic part of our school en-
vironment. However, the question begs: what is the National Honor Society? As ninth-grade students reach
the end of their academic year, they have the decision to apply to this prestigious group–alongside sopho-
mores and juniors. This article will explain what the National Honor Society is and its current projects.
Firstly,
24 the National Honor Society is a student-led organization whose purpose is to bolster scholarship, 25
leadership, service, and character in their communities. Accordingly, members of this organization must
excel in these four categories, which are most referred to as the pillars. Students wishing to enter this so-
ciety must submit an application explaining why they deserve a place in the NHS. This application consists
of a list of leadership and service activities, an essay reflecting character, and teacher recommendations. A
faculty-led council receives interested students' applications and decides whether they genuinely represent
the NHS's core values.
Mauris ligula sollicitudin. Maecenas netus, vivamus mollis dui.
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Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ecIB ART STUDENTS
IB EXHIBIT
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The American School of Quito presents the IB Visual Arts Exhibition 2021. This collection gathers artworks that
have been chosen and curated by Students, showing artistic growth and mature concepts that present art pieces
through various mediums.
This is the culmination of a two-year process of hard work and creative effort. The exhibition includes samples of
artwork created from the following students who have all explored different skills and themes, thanks to the virtual
guidance of their teachers: Ana María López, Zach Holte and Critóbal González.
Ma. Paula Andrade Adela Corral Emilia López
If you would like to look at the Virtual Exhibit you can look it up here:
https://sites.google.com/fcaq.k12.ec/ibvisualartsexhibition/home
26 27
Gabriela Andrade Verónica Missura Renata Garcés Manuela Hinojosa Camila Espinosa José Ignacio Mendizábal
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Juliana Arteta José Alberto Moscoso Isabella López
María Calderón Salomé Yépez Ma. Paz Wandemberg
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ec2018
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Samira Montalvo Julián Carrión Melissa Molina Victoria Romoleroux Aylin Puente Pédro Jácome
28 29
José Felipe Maalouf Elisa Dávalos Tomás Paz y Miño Eduardo Chávez Ma. Victoria Flores
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Ma. Laura Montalvo Doménika Proaño Francisca Arias
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ecKatherine Clavijo
Have Teenagers Been Affected By The Pandemic?
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The Covid19 pandemic was something no one was prepared for or expecting to happen. It has af-
30 fected everyone in one way or another. Some have lost their jobs, others have lost family members,31
and some have even been affected mentally, like teenagers. Due to social isolation, teenager’s mental
health has been seriously affected. “Over 50% of the teens said they struggled with anxiety, 43% dealt
with depression, and 45% had felt more stress than usual” (Dekin). Teens started to experience this
because of how unexpected things happened. For example, going from in-person school to doing it all
online. Also, modifying or canceling many special events that teens were looking forward to happening
like graduation or prom. Some people may think that is selfish that adolescents are worrying about
these events because there are more serious consequences like people dying, others getting the dis-
ease, and many others losing their jobs and their businesses. But for teens, these were very important
events in their lives that got ruined because of the pandemic.
Mauris ligula sollicitudin. Maecenas netus, vivamus mollis dui.
“One of the most telling findings from the study was that 61% of teens said the pandemic had in-
creased their feelings of loneliness” (Dekin). The feelings of loneliness teenagers have started to feel,
affects them mentally because adolescents rely on their connections with people the same age as
them, which has been limited due to the social isolation everyone had to get in.
Even when many teenagers do not show signs of anxiety, depression, stress, or loneliness, they may
have been affected, which is why parents should constantly talk with their kids, ask them how they are
doing/ feeling because this is not easy for anyone, especially teens.
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Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ecArianna portrayed solidarity, by being good to anyone no matter the circumstances. Eleventh grade’s theme
was Hercules. The 2022 class decided to make a comical adaptation of the classic Disney movie by demon-
strating 21st century characteristics in their film. Their show reminded us of the importance of taking life
Isabela Murgueytio & Victoria Gangotena lightly and laughing at the good things life offers us in addition to the importance of personal and group
character. The overall message of the movie was, what is on the inside is what matters the most.
Carnival in Digital
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Finally, Emilia demonstrates honesty, by being transparent to everyone. The theme of 12th graders was
Despite the past year having been filled with tragedy, loss and disappointment, some positive things have ‘The Great Gatsby’. A literary classic that is frequently read during senior year all around the world. The film
remained, such as the union and school spirit that Carnaval embraces. Due to COVID-19 things we are used takes us back to the roaring twenties, the iconic era of excess and fashion. This campaign shows us that
to taking for granted have become really special. Communication and friendships have been more difficult academics can be both a learning experience as well as a festive one. In their final year of FCAQ’s Carna-
to maintain, however, every student at FCAQ has been looking forward to this incredible tradition because val tradition, the seniors showed their ability to adapt to adverse circumstances and embrace their “Final
it unites the entire school community. Show”. They certainly offered a spectacular grand finale.
We had three amazing candidates for the 2021 event. Arella Jacome representing 10th grade, Arianna La The three of them made such good candidates that it was difficult to choose just one! Although this Car-
Motta representing 11th grade, and Emilia Lopez representing 12th grade. Each and every one of them naval wasn't the same as previous years, the spirit was as strong as ever. The school managed to reserve
demonstrates the values that Colegio Americano aims to instill in their students. Due to the biosecurity a drive in theater to show each grades’ movies and to present the candidates. All of these activities were
measures put in place due to the pandemic, this year’s campaigns were run digitally. created with the purpose of maintaining the traditions while also being safe and allowing the younger stu-
32 dents to live the FCAQ Carnaval experience! Ultimately, the winner was 11th grades’ candidate Arianna La33
Motta. Many commented that their film was impressive and very well produced, the campaign that stood
out slightly more than the others.
Arella represents responsibility by dividing her time between being a professional soccer player and her
studies. The theme of 10th grade was ‘Walt Disney Pictures’. The campaign was the class of 2023’s first
opportunity to participate in the Carnaval tradition. They selected the theme of Walt Disney Pictures be-
cause of the nostalgia and comfort of childhood it represents that we all cherish. Their film featured the
stories of Christopher Robin, all the Disney princesses and many favorite fairy tales.
Mauris ligula sollicitudin. Maecenas netus, vivamus mollis dui.
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Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ecThat being said, a few countries have managed to successfully go back to school with different hy-
brids, which hopefully can be applied to our school. For example, countries such as Germany and
Norway have successfully gone back to in-person schooling by using the cohort model. With this
Isabella Ferro model, the school is divided into different groups or cohorts that go to in-person school at different
times and don’t mix, but students can interact with each other within their own cohort applying the
necessary safety precautions. The cohort model is designed specifically so that if a positive case of
Back to School After a Global Pandemic COVID-19 were to occur, the whole school wouldn’t need to go back to quarantine, just the students
and staff belonging to the infected cohort. Yes, this does have a few disadvantages, but it could be
applicable. Continuing with Norway, for the example, there they base the cohorts on the traffic light
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As we reach a year of being in quarantine, it is safe to say that we are all desperate to go back to our model, a model Ecuador also uses, to determine how long students and staff are going to school in
normal lives, especially, go back to in-person school. But, is this actually viable? Throughout this year, order to prevent a big outbreak. This particular model is applicable to our situation with necessary
we’ve seen plenty of countries go back to regular school, whether it be fully in-person or some sort of alterations. It is also important to note that countries who are going back to school, such as Scot-
hybrid, but could any of these strategies be applied to our school based on Ecuador’s current situation? land, are altering the learning environments in order for it to be safer for students and staff. Scottish
classrooms have been modified to allow social distancing and increase ventilation, making it safer for
To begin, there are a few options for school during the pandemic, all with their respective spread risk students to attend in-person school.
levels. According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are five alternatives for
schools at the moment, varying in a scale from lowest to the highest risk of spreading the virus. For Now, all things considered, it is definitely possible for us to go back to in-person schooling, but it
starters, the lowest risk of spread lays in a fully online learning environment, which is what our school is would be necessary for the school to plan and prepare to implement the required safety measures as
doing now. Yes, with this form of schooling, there is the lowest risk of spread. However, students benefit well as draft a procedure in case a member of the school were to contract the virus. Before reopening
more from in-person learning, and the benefits may even outweigh the risks. According to the World the school, it is necessary to consider factors such as the epidemiology of COVID-19 at a local level,
Health Organization (WHO), “School closures have clear negative impacts on child health, education and evaluate the benefits and risks, plan the detection and response if there were to be a case, evaluate
development, family income and the overall economy,” as in-person learning provides benefits for the the capacity of the school to operate safely, secure the collaboration and cooperation from everyone
34child’s social and psychological well-being, and it also allows parents to work without any distractions in the community, and take into account the public health measures being applied outside of school.35
from their children, (World Health Organization). As for the different options to go back to in-person
learning, there are a few. At the moment, the hybrid options for learning are the best to contain the virus All these measures would be applicable to the school’s current situation; however, it is important to
as well as allow children and teenagers to develop normally with the benefits of in-person learning. In a mention some of the risks that come with adopting a hybrid model of part-time in-person school. For
hybrid model where most students and teachers participate in online learning, whilst some engage in one, as mentioned above, depending on the hybrid adopted, there is a low to medium risk of spread-
in-person schooling, there is a low risk of spreading the virus. Of course, in this model, the groups of peo- ing the virus, which means that a few cases within the student body and staff are inevitable. Adding
ple attending in-person school would be very small, there would be no mixing of people amongst these on to that, the World Health Organization and the United States Center for Disease Control explain
groups, no sharing of objects, and there would be mandatory social distancing and use of face masks at that the incubation period for COVID-19 is 5-6 days, and that, “Most children and adolescents with the
all times. This means that we would all have our designated space and things, from which we could not virus that causes COVID-19 have mild symptoms and some have no symptoms at all... Children, like
leave throughout the course of the day, in order to assure minimal contact between students. Moreover, adults, who are infected but have no symptoms can still spread the virus to others.” (CDC). With these
there is another hybrid model with a medium risk of spread, in which most students and teachers engage considerations, the virus could be spread if we were to go back. Students and staff with pre-existing
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in in-person learning. In this model, there are bigger classes and events, some mixing between groups, conditions, as well as staff over 60 years old, have a higher chance of serious consequences if they
minimal sharing of objects, everyone following all safety protocols at all times, and regular cleaning were to contract the virus, so it wouldn’t be advised for them to go back to school. Additionally, de-
of frequently touched areas. Nevertheless, for any of these hybrid models to work successfully, huge spite the mortality rate for children and teenagers being relatively low, they would still risk exposing
responsibility from both students and staff is required, as, without it, the risk of spreading the virus can themselves to the long-term effects of contracting COVID-19, and they would also risk infecting any
rise, forcing us to go back to online learning. And whilst both these options provide a way to go back to people with whom they have close contact. Because of these and other reasons, if a hybrid model
in-person school part-time, it wouldn’t be nearly the same as it was before COVID-19 struck; sadly, both was to be adopted, it would need to be planned meticulously to assure the safety of everyone.
options for fully in-person learning have a high risk of spreading the virus, which is why 100% in-person
schooling is not plausible at the moment for our school. The only thing that can be agreed upon is that our lives will probably not be able to go back to normal
until everyone is vaccinated, something that probably won’t happen soon due to minors not being
included in Ecuador’s current vaccination plan. That being said, if we consider the risks and benefits
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of going back to in-person learning, there is a possibility that a hybrid model could be adopted. Yet,
would this new style of in-person learning be worth the risks?
Spring 2021 | School Views fcaq.k12.ecYou can also read
