2003-04 Challenges

The 2003-04 school year presented  many losses which in turn created significant challenges.

Loss of Funds: Prior to the first day of school all sponsors were called to a special meeting by the principal. At the meeting, the sponsors were notified that the school activity account was without funds. This presented a loss of over $17,000 to the Dance Program.

Loss of trust. When I explained what had happened to the students they did not believe that the school district would follow through with the  promises they made in the newspapers and on the evening news. "Ms. Gallego, they make promises they never intend to keep-- the same way elected officials make promises in Mexico.  President Fox promised to help the Mexican people, he has done nothing. " Rafael Moreno, Honor Society President

Loss of Time: The change from the eight period block schedule with four  90 minute classes meeting every other day to a seven period day with 45 minute classes allowed little time for dressing out, dancing, and developing the interdisciplinary portion of the "¿Qué es Hispanic? " project.

Loss of students: In addition to the loss of time, all students lost their eighth class. The effect on the dance program was a reduction in enrollment from  nearly 300 students to 156.

Loss of student leaders:  Without the eighth class period many honor students were unable to take the dance class as an elective. The program lost not only dancers, but also student leaders that play a key leadership role and future potential company. As a result, several classes were left without effective student leadership.

Loss of Elective Selection Process: In the shuffle of the transition from eight periods to seven periods, many students who had not selected dance as an elective found themselves in a dance class. In the transition there were many errors in the students' schedules. Only a few students were able to have their elective classes changed.

Loss of School Leadership: In addition to all the changes confronted during the 2003-04 school year, the school principal was demoted and an interim principal was assigned during the first six weeks of the school year.

Loss of Lockers: When the portable buildings were added outside additional lockers were not installed inside the school. I was given 30 lockers enough for half of my first period class.

Loss of Participation: The cumulative effect of all the challenges faced during the 2003-04 school year was reflected in the drop in student participation in the major projects. In 2002-03 96 to 98% of the students participated in two major projects. With the loss of time the decision was made to cancel Tambores, the African Heritage program and to focus on "¿Qué es Hispanic?". Only 36% of the students participated in the project. If the company class that accounted for 24% is excluded from the calculation, the other five classes contributed only 12% of the participating dance students. Loss of quality: Only the company class was able to perform at the previously established standards. See Jaguara History.

Loss of community.  Only the Jaguara company were able to maintain a spirit of community.

Adjustments

Company Class: after the parents came to the school a second time, a company class was created during fourth period, the longest period of the day (90 minutes). By the time the company class was formed, it was too late to organize our annual garage sale and candy sale. 

Lockers:  With the help of one of the secretaries, I was able to scavenge lockers outside the studio and down stairs in the cafeteria. Two and three students were assigned to each locker. This  was in violation of the school locker policy. Every time hall monitors or administrators shifted duty posts, it resulted in students being put on a discipline referrals.

Without any funds, "¿Qué es Hispanic? " had to be modified. Gone were the funds we had saved for music, for the corrido costumes and the zoot suit rentals, also gone was the $5,000 Washington Mutual Grant that had been earmarked for an Afro-Latino and Samba workshop with Urban 15 of San Antonio, Texas. Gone were the $5,000 we would have raised from our annual garage and candy sales.