First Day of School & a Time Sensitive Need
On Tuesday, January 20, we officially opened the doors for a new school year at Casa Bernabé Christian School. Although the start date was pushed back due to unrest in the country, the joy and excitement of the first day could not be contained. Because it was our first week, we held half days, giving students and teachers time to ease into the new routines.
That first morning was a beautiful sight. Children arrived wearing their new jeans donated by Cornerstone, with hair neatly done and smiles full of anticipation. We attempted the challenge of organizing nearly 350 students into grade-level groups—something our returning students handled with confidence, while our brand-new preschoolers learned very quickly what “school” is all about!
Once everyone was (mostly) in the right place with their new teachers, we began the year the best way we know how: with prayer and worship. Miss Wendy, our school Director, opened our time in prayer, Edgar shared a few words, one of our house dads, Danny, led us in worship, and our new pastor, Christian, encouraged us with a message that helped set our hearts on what truly matters. It was a powerful reminder of what a blessing it is to learn in a place where Jesus is honored.
Each student then received a brand-new backpack thanks to a generous gift from Connection Point Church. The rest of the morning was filled with team-building games, a bounce house, soccer, and time for each class to connect with their new teacher and classmates. Everyone enjoyed a snack from the school kitchen—shucos (a Guatemalan-style hot dog) and cheeseballs—before heading home tired, happy, and excited for the year ahead.
Many of our off-campus students were unable to complete last school year in person due to mudslides that closed the highway near Casa Bernabé, so being back together on campus this year has been especially meaningful.
This year we are grateful for several new teachers joining our staff, along with many new students. The first day gave everyone the chance to begin forming friendships and building the strong community that defines our school.
A few snapshots of Casa Bernabé Christian School this year:
We are serving 362 students total
72 are children who live in our eight homes inside of Casa Bernabé
290 come from the surrounding community
Our school staff currently includes 25 dedicated team members who serve our students daily.
We currently have a significant waiting list of local families who want to send their kids to our school, but are at maximum capacity, so expansion is something we are praying about for the future.
All community students receive a subsidized education, paying about 40% of the monthly cost, with Casa Bernabé covering the rest.
After an economic evaluation, 36 of the community students are receiving full scholarships covering enrollment, tuition, books, and uniforms. The area around CB has a very high cost of living, and the communities that have always been there before the development struggle to make ends meet, so this school is a lifeline for the kids we can accommodate.
The true cost per student is about $70 per month. Most community families pay around $27 per month, while Casa Bernabé faithfully covers the remainder.
As we begin this school year, we have an urgent and practical need we’d love to invite you to prayerfully consider. This year we must replace elementary textbooks and workbooks for our Casa Bernabé students and community scholarship students. When we don’t have enough textbooks, the kids have to spend the whole class time copying the lessons from the existing books, and they miss out on instruction time from the teacher. Having their own books allows them to focus on learning during class. Casa Bernabé covers the full cost of books for all children in our care and for those receiving full scholarships. The total cost for these textbooks is $3,800.
In addition, our high school students attend classes online and rely on Zoom for instruction. Many share devices or lack consistent access, making it difficult to attend class and complete assignments. We urgently need 10 laptops, the total cost of which is $5,600.
Altogether, we are trusting God to provide $9,400 as soon as possible to meet these critical academic needs. If you feel led to give toward textbooks and laptops, you will be directly equipping children and teens to learn, grow, and pursue the future God has for them. Most of all, please continue to pray with us, thanking the Lord for this new school year and asking Him to provide for every need.
Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us to help equip our students this year? Any amount helps move us closer to the full $9,400 goal. Your generosity ensures that no child at Casa Bernabé is left behind simply because they lack the tools to learn.
Thank you for walking with us, praying for us, and investing in these precious children. We are grateful for each of you and for the way God continues to use Friends of Casa Bernabé to bring light, education, and the love of Jesus to Guatemala.