Thursday, January 31, 2008

THE HISTORY OF COROZAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ACE


Before we get into the history of this beloved institution I first of all want to thank all the students, parents, sponsors and friends who have helped in any way to make education at CCC ACE and CJC ACE possible. I accept that without you all we would not have an institiution. What are principals, deans, directors, secretaries and all the faculty and staff of educational institutions if we have no students? WE ARE NOTHING!!!!

The Adult and Continuing Education Division (ACE) of CCC and CJC came into being some short years ago. The Corozal Junior College ACE was first to come on line and it began in 1993.

Up until the 1980's if you did not have family in Belize City or the money to pay for lodging in Belize City, there was no way you could get a tertiary level education. When the Day Division was underway in Corozal Town it became obvious that many people in the working force had not had the opportunity of attaining an Associate Degree. Thus, the evening programme was discussed and the pioneers were Mr. Carlos Castillo, the then Principal of CCC and a few educators including Mr. Phillip Edwards (deseased), Miguel Montero, and Jose Mai. Thanks to these people and a few others, CJC ACE opened in 1993 and its success since has been tremendous.

Today CJC ACE has programmes for Associated Degrees in Business and Primary Education. It is hoped that next year the Computer Programme will be included to its programmes.

Presently the Director and the Secretary of the ACE Division are past graduated of CJC ACE and both have been Valedictorians in their time.


WHERE IS OUR SCHOOL?
In the Corozal District in the area of San Andres, is the buildings that house Corozal Comunity College and Corozal Junior College. In the evenings the ACE programmes use the buildings for the classes we offer.

WHERE IS THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE?
The Corozal Community College's Administration Building which faces the Papaya Industrial complex houses the office of the Director of the ACE programme and the office of the Secretary in lower part of the two storey building on the left side of the building when you are facing the front from the street. Just ask our friendly security guard for the direction.

WHAT IS THE OFFICE HOURS FOR THE ACE OFFICE?
While the office is opened at 1pm Monday to Thursday and from 8am to 12 noon and 1pm to 3pm on Friday's and the Secretary is available then, the Director's hours for seeing people is from 6pm to 10pm Monday to Thursdays and between 11am and 3pm on Fridays. You can call 422 -3806 to schedule an appointment or just walk in. All are welcome.


OUR MOTTO:
IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

OUR VISION:
To help all who seek an education while they contiuning working to support themselves and their families.


COME VISIT US.

Yours sincerely,
Brenda Ysaguirre, Director ACE

Sunday, January 27, 2008

LA VIDA DE LA DIRECTORA - THE LIFE OF YOUR DIRECTOR Part I

Monday is fast approaching and with it the dawn of a new week at CCC ACE and CJC ACE.
These days it is hard for me to figure out what the next post should be about. There is so much that I want to write about and so much that I fear will be misunderstood. One thing for sure is I love this institution and I will give my arms and legs for it. It already has my heart but that is not a problem to me. I believe if you love something then it must be worth your time and energy. That is the way I feel about teaching and my life at CCC ACE and CJC ACE.

I guess the best thing to go on this blog will be to write about the life of this woman (well some of it) some people have gotten to know as Ms. B, the Director of CCC and CJC ACE.

Brenda Aurora Verna Ysaguirre was born on May 13, 1958 in Mexico City, DF to Frans Raymond Ysaguirre and Carolyn (Caroline to some) Ulrica Gill. Both parents were Belizeans and Mr. Ysaguirre had family ties in Mexico so they had already known Mexico, DF before and had decided to have their child born there. So, they arrived in DF and on May 13 were blessed with the birth of a daughter they would bring over the border into Belize at the age of 17 days.

The early years Brenda lived at 2 Guadalupe Street, Cinderella Town, Belize City just across the street from St. Joseph Church. First she attended school at St. Joseph Primary School but for Infant I, Infant II ( called Sub I and Sub II) she was trasferred to St. Catherine's Academy in Belize City. By the time she was in Std I tragedy struck and at the age of seven, Brenda was transferred to Corozal Town and her life took a complete change.

At the tender age of 7, I was motherless and my father had shipped me off to go live with my grandmother and aunt. I was familiar with the school because I had stopped in often while my mother would be off working at the Home Econmics Centres in the north. But now this was different. She was not going to be there for me when I got home. I had been sent to Corozal Town with everything my mom and dad owned and the cat and dog I loved but my mom was nolonger there. (As I write this page it comes to me with tears in my eyes and a pain in my heart that I have missed my mom and growing up the way many of my students have - with a mother and father. Not that I don't feel anything but love and gratitude to my aunt and grandmother who did a great job in bringing me up but maybe a normal family life would have been great too).
So I gave a bit of trouble that year at school and it was put down to the fact that I had lost my mom. I guess it was! I bit a nun and the poor dear took that scar with her to her grave!! I spilt milk on the floor because she would not let me mix it for the class. Then I refused to mop it up. She came for me and I bit her!!! Don't get me wrong, I don't feel proud to have done that but it was a cry of a child in a world without her mother and now I know why my students sometimes do the things they do. (Warning: please don't try to bite the teacher - she is your friend, your confidante, your other mother!) Of course after that escapade my aunt was called into school that afternoon but by then I was my cheerful self again and Sister Caritas was all loving and understanding as she spoke to my aunt.
The next year I ran for class queen and got only 5 votes. I never ran for anything in primary school again. Time passed and soon I was graduating primary school. Next stop in education would be Xavier College - my High School.

I got there and had four great years. I was captain of the Jaguars female volleyball team for four years. We won every game and I played every one, too! On graduation day I received the Frank Curtis shield for the team and was really proud to have enjoyed four great years. My grades were good and I was the pride and joy of my grandmother, aunt and father.

Next came a job at a store in town for the summer. Then a part time job at Belize Electricity Board and then I got a permanent job at Belize Cane Farmers Association. I was 16 years old that summer. I began with a salary of $25.00 a week and by October was making $125 a month. That was a lot of money back then. It was 1975. Life was good.

I worked at the Corozal Cane Farmers Asssociation for 15 years and was the second to the Administrator from the time I got the job until I left. I then worked for 3 years as the accountant at Noguera's Office in Calcutta and then opened my own business at my home. I did bookkeeping and typing for clients and had a passport service, too. Then I got my break to teach for a few months at CCC.

I began working in January, 1994 and by the end of that school year I had an offer for a full time job with the Corozal Community College as an English teacher. I was attending CJCACE at night then and in May, 1995 was Valedictorian of the first graduating class of CJC Evening Division.
After that I attained my Bachelor's Degree in Integrated English and in 2004 I was offered the post of Director of CCC ACE and here I am.

I thank God for my intelligence and my strenght. I thank my grandmother and aunt for guiding me through life. They taught me that life was not about what others have but about what you enjoy doing. Money was not and will never be everything for me. My friend, Margaret Noguera once said, "Money is not everything but it does bring an occasional smile to one's face". I have lived by that thought and I am happy that material things play no part in my life. The occasional smile is there but not having material things never overshadows my happiness.

My advice to others: As long as you can enjoy life as it is for you, no one or nothing can make you unhappy. Smile everyday and find pleasure in things around you because life is short and your smile will make others feel the energy in life and love.

Friday, January 25, 2008

ALLELUIA - EXAMINATIONS ARE OVER - OH DARN NOW THE GRADES!!!

Congratulations to all the students and lecturers who survived examination week BUT IT IS NOT OVER YET!!! Now we have to sit back if w are students and wait for the grades. Oh, dear. The stress and apprehension that w feel now will be topped with the anxiety of our colleagues as we go around asking eachother about the examinations and what each of our friends did with this or that problem or question or essay.

So now we move into HELL WEEK II!!! Will it ever be over. If it is not one thing it is another and we are faced with the reality that there is only so much we can really take. Fear not, it is a natural event and your parents and grandparents went through it all too!!!

Over the next week lecturers and students will be going over the examinations papers.

Note to Students: Please make sure if there was something you did not understand that you ask the lecturer to go over it. There is still time to learn that which you didn't. It is never too late.

Note to Lecturers: Please be available, courteous and understanding to all the students. Yours is the task of guiding young minds and as such, it is you and you alone that will be able to take the students into the next level of learning. It is not an easy tak but one that you unknowingly signed up for when you decided to become lecturers.

So now we sit back and wait! But don't do so idly. Read some books, take a look at your text books and attempt the new topics that you know will come up.

As you take a break over the weekend reflect on what it is that you want for your future.
Remember you are your worst enemy. Start telling yourself you will do all those things that are positive and that can help you to excel in life.

So here comes Second Semester. It will be short and sweet. Please make sure you spend more time in the classroom and not away from it.

Yours in Pursuit of Excellence,
Ms. Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Director, CCC ACE and CJC ACE

Thursday, January 24, 2008

COROZAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ACE DIVISION

Like every other tertiary level institution in Belize, Corozal Junior College Adult and Continuing Education (Evening Division) reopened on January 7th., 2008 and the students settle down to their Second Semester.
CJC ACE offers classes in Business Management and Primary Education. Both these courses culminate with the deliverance of an Associate Degree diploma.
Classes begin at 6pm and go on to 10:30pm on some nights. On others it ends at 9:40pm.

This page will be dedicated to the students who make an effort to come to school each night in their "Pursuit of Excellence" ( our school's motto). We salute these young men and women for their desire and hunger for knowledge and their dedication to learning. We wish them all the best in their endeavours.

We will also highlight the lecturers for without their dedication this institution would not exist.

Thank you all for being a part of this noble institution of learning.

Yours sincerely,
Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Director