Escuela Internacional Sampedrana

Infobox Secondary school
name = Escuela Internacional Sampedrana

mission statement = Our mission is to holistically form bilingual leaders with the academic/social/ emotional skills and universal values to succeed in the universities of their choice for conducting their lives in support of family, community, the nation and the world.
established = 1953
type = Private Coeducational
Rector = Ronald Vair
faculty = approx 100
students = approx 1,300
schoolcolors = yellow and blue
mascot = Bulldog
city = San Pedro Sula
province = Cortés
country = Honduras
website = [http://www.seishn.com]
grades = Pre K-12
address = PO Box 565

Escuela Internacional Sampedrana, EIS is located in San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras. Founded in 1953, its mascot is the Bulldog. It has traditionally been a school aimed at educating children of the economic elite in Honduras. The majority of the students come from San Pedro Sula, which is the city where the school is located.

The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). [http://oracle.advanc-ed.org/reporting/Reports/LocatorReport.aspx?AssociationID=2&TaxonomyID=21&DistrictID=&SchoolName=escuela+internacional+sampedrana&City=&GovernanceID=&SchoolTypeID=&State=&CharterTypeID=] It has two campuses located in San Pedro Sula and La Lima.

The mission statement states that EIS is to holistically form bilingual leaders with the academic, social and emotional skills and universal values to succeed in the universities of their choice and for conducting their lives in support of family, community, the nation and the world.

EIS is also a member of ABSH (Association of Bilingual Schools of Honduras) and AASCA (American Association of Schools in Central America).

History

EIS was created by a group of parents and started at a small house in the center of San Pedro Sula in 1953. The school has no owner and is managed by a board known as the Sociedad Educacional Internacional Sampedrana (International Sampedrana Educational Society or SEIS). SEIS is comprised of all the parents of the school and is the highest authority of EIS. In 1957 an edict was made to allow children whose parents were members of the SEIS to be the only ones allowed to study at EIS. As the school grew in size, EIS was transferred to its new facilities in the Colonia Primavera near the Merendon Mountains. The school functioned in the Primavera campus for 25 years. As the school continued to grow, it moved again to its current site at the base of the Merendon Mountain with a campus of 50.4 acres.

EIS also bought La Lima American School which later became the Escuela Internacional La Lima (EILL) campus. SEIS parent's decided to buy La Lima American School's campus and building from the Tela Railroad Co. At that time the school was only for the children of Tela Railroad Co. employees. When SEIS bought La Lima American School, it became EILL and the school was opened for La Lima and El Progreso students whose parents wished to enroll them at EIS.

EIS has also been a member of SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). This means graduates from the EIS High school program graduate with both a High School diploma and a Honduran Bachillerato.

EIS classes from pre-school through High School.

Legal issue

In January 2007 the school was temporarily closed by the Honduran Government due to a divergence in opinion between the school and a parent. The Government claimed that the parent's two children were prohibited from attending the school as a result of discrimination. School officials, however, claimed that the reason was simply because of non-payment of certain school fees. The school was reopened and is currently under observation until the conclusion of a pending legal case. [http://www.conadeh.hn/noticias/Escuela%20internacional.htm]

The official school director along with two members of the board of directors were temporarily imprisoned for failing to comply with orders by the Fiscalía de la Niñez (District Attorney for Children's Affairs) and a judge to reinstate the two children. Lawyers for the school have appealed the order. [http://www.tiempo.hn/mostrar_noticia.php?id=20349&seccion=1] On February 17 2007 a judge again ordered the school to reinstate the children until the legal issues are resolved. [http://www.tiempo.hn/mostrar_noticia.php?id=21006&seccion=1]

Admission and Fees

The only way for a parent to have his/her child in EIS is to be part of the SEIS. To become part of SEIS, the parent of family has to pay a fee. The current fee for the admission to SEIS $5,000 for the first child. Once the family or parent has paid this fee, each additional child pays a lower fee. Still the child has to undergo a placement exam if the child is a transfer student. If not, then a regular application is filed to accept the child.

Each year there is an Enrollment fee paid. This fee is around $200.00 USD and covers technology use, textbook use, library, nursing and emergency services and an optional insurance.

The monthly fees depends on the grade level the child is. All pre-school children pay around $325.00 USD per month. (This is to cover for materials, textbook, art kits and any other expenses). Elementary fees vary from $270.00 to $280.00 USD per month (It goes down as a result of lower expenses). Middle school was recently incorporated to EIS and has the same fees as Elementary does. High School fees range from $280.00 to $420.00 USD.

Faculty

The faculty for EIS is composed by 40% Honduran teachers, 25% Canadian and 35% US teachers. All other staff that is not related to teaching is 95% Honduran and 5% International.

Departments

High school Departments:English,Social Studies,Mathematics,Science,Arts and Music,Spanish,Honduran Social Studies,Physical Education (PE)

The Mascot

During World War II one of the allies' mascot was the bulldog. This symbolized valor, courage, determination, discipline, tenacity and perseverance, qualities which are expected from the school's students. Recently the Student Council (STUCO) organized fundraiser activities and bought the mascot. It is now used in every sporting or school event.

Clubs and Organizations

The school has many club and organizations such as:
* Student Council (STUCO)
* National Honor Society (NHS)
* Model United Nations (MUN)
* HACIA Democracy
* Literary Magazine
* Presidential Classroom (Future World Leaders' Summit)
* Drama Club
* Chess Club
* Charity Club
* Movie Appreciation Club
* Knowledge Bowl
* Mathletes
* Recycling Club
* Student Health Organization

Honors

With the Bulldog as a mascot they have won 101 ABSH (Association of Bilingual Schools of Honduras) Competitions, 11 AASCA Tournaments, 1 Latin American CISSA, 5 Runner-ups of soccer in the America's Tournament, 1 CODICADER Nacionals, and 3 Central American tournaments.

Most of these tournaments are organized by similar bilingual schools and associations throughout Honduras and Latin America. Participation is mostly limited to private bilingual schools.

Prominent Alumni

Some of E.I.S. notable alumni include:

* "Porfirio Betancourt"- Professional Soccer Player
* "Yani Rosenthal"- Businessman and Politician
* "Alejandra Bendana"-Prominent International-Bioenergy Lawyer
* "William Hall"-Civil Engineer/Politician founder of one of the biggest national construction Companies.

External links

* [http://www.seishn.org/ Official Website]
* [http://eisschool.pbwiki.com/ High School Wiki]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/eistv Student YouTube media channel]