Escuela Internacional Sampedrana
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Escuela Internacional Sampedrana, EIS (Sampedran International School) 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). 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 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).
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[edit] 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 runned by a board subjected to the Sociedad Educacional Internacional Sampedrana (SEIS). 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. The board is comprised of parent members of the SEIS. The school later grew in size. To solve this problem EIS was transfered to its new facilities in the Colonia Primavera near the Merendon Mountains. The new facilities offered more classroom space and a bigger campus. The school functioned in the Primavera campus for some 25 years. In the mid 1980s EIS was again to big for its actual campus. As a result, EIS was moved to the base of Merendon Mountain with a campus of 22 acres. This new campus has been in use to this date.
EIS also bought EILL's campus. EILL is short for Escuela Internacional La Lima. SEIS parent's decided to buy the current campus and building from the Tela Railroad Co. The school was only being used for American students only and when SEIS bought EILL the school was opened for La Lima's and El Progreso's students whos parents wished to enrll them in 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 a High school diploma and a Honduran Bachillerato.
EIS has various learning levels. EIS starts from Pre-school, going on to Elementary, then Middle school and finally high school. There are 16 years in total. (Preschool-4 and Elementary through high school-12)
Recently, there were some legal problems with the school. 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 child was being discriminated and not being allowed to remain at the school. The school claimed that is was due to a failure of paying school Fees. The school was reopened and is currently under observance and the pending trial on the case. The school to this present day does not reveal any more facts while the trial is in order, yet the government neither reveals details also. [1]
[edit] Admission and Fees
The admission process has not changed much since the 1960s. 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 highest school authority, the parent of family has to pay a fee. This fee is used to deter a mass amount of applicants to the school. The fee for the admission to SEIS is since 2003 is 180,000.00 Lps. ($10,000.00 USD. at 2006 fx rate) Once the family or parent has payed this fee, they/he/she are allowed to incorporate any number of son/daughters. 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 payed. 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 $420.00 USD. The reason for such high fees has to do with the Senior and Junior Years. During these years parents are to start planing for graduation expenses and such. Also, social events surrounding these years take place.
- Note: All these fees are payed in Lempiras (Lps) or their equivalent in dollars ($ USD) at EIS Tesoreria's Office. Also these fees are subject to change annually by disposition of SEIS.
[edit] Faculty
The faculty for EIS is composed by 40% Honduran teachers and a 3% Canadian and 57% US teachers. All other staff that is not related to teaching is 95% Honduran and 5% International.
[edit] Departments
High school Departments: English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Arts, SAT or ACT Prep, Spanish, Honduran Studies, US Studies, Social Studies, Physical Education (PE)
- Note: Preschool, Elementary and Middle School Departments are not included
[edit] College Guidance
Most graduates from EIS tend to leave Honduras and study abroad. The usual college destination is the United States. EIS has alumni in Harvard College, Ithaca College, Texas A&M University, University of New Orleans, Cornell University, Elon University, Quinniapiac University, Loyola University New Orleans, Purdue University North Central, University of Central Arkansas, Lindenwood University, Louisiana Southern University, and Florida International University. These are the colleges which are most likely to be picked by EIS alumni. There are always other alumni that chose another college in the United States or Europe.
[edit] The Mascot
During World War II one of the allie's mascot was the bulldog. This symbolized valor, courage, determinacion, discipline, tenacity and perseverance some qualities which are expected from their students. Recently, many fundraiser activities have been done by the Student Council (STUCO) to buy a pet Bulldog for the school. The money raised is alos to be used for its care.
[edit] Honors
With the Bulldog as a mascot they have won 101 ABSH (Association of Billingual Schools of Honduras) Nationals, 11 Central American AASCA, 1 Latin American CISSA, 4 Runner-ups of soccer in the America's Torunament and 1 CODICADER Nacionals. 3 Centroamericans in the tournament of acknowlagement.
Most of these tournaments though, are organized by similar billingual schools and associations throughout Honduras and Latin America. Participation is mostly limited to private billingual schools.
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- Note that some tournaments are missing. Also recent Championships are not listed.
[edit] Soccer
[edit] Departamental
- Champions at Departamental Infantil Damas 2
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- 05/06, 06/07
- Champions at Departamental Infantil Varones 2
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- 05/06, 06/07
- Champions at Departamental Pre-Juvenil Damas 0
- Champions at Departamental Pre-Juvenil Varones 2
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- 05/06, 06/07
- Champions at Departamental Juvenil Damas 2
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- 05/06, 06/07
- Champions at Departamental Juvenil Varones 2
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- 05/06, 06/07
[edit] Regional
- Champions at Regional Infantil Damas 2
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- 02/03, 05/06
- Champions at Regional Infantil Varones 2
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- 03/04, 06/07
- Champions at Regional Pre-Juvenil Damas 3
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- 02/03, 03/04, 04/05
- Champions at Regional Pre-Juvenil Varones 3
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- 02/03, 03/04, 06/07
- Champions at Regional Juvenil Damas 4
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- 03/04, 04/05, 05/06, 06/07
- Champions at Regional Juvenil Varones 4
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- 03/04, 04/05, 05/06, 06/07
[edit] International
- Champions at AASCA Varones 3
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- 99/00, 01/02, 06/07
[edit] Volleyball
[edit] International
- Champions at AASCA Damas 6
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- 94/95, 98/99, 99/00, 01/02, 03/04, 04/05
- Champions at AASCA Varones 2
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- 00/01, 01/02
[edit] Knowledge Bowl
[edit] International
- Champions at AASCA 1
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- 05/06
[edit] National
- Champions at ABSH National Middle School 4
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- 95/96, 03/04, 04/05, 05/06
- Champions at ABSH National Junior Varsity 1
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- 05/06
- Champions at ABSH National Varsity 7
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- 96/97, 98/99, 00/01, 01/02, 02/03, 04/05, 05/06
[edit] Notable Alumni
Some of E.I.S. notable alumni include:
- Porfirio Betancourt- Professional Soccer Player
- Yani Rosenthal- Businessman and Politician
