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PILLARS OF HOPE Building Foundations For A Better Future
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Pillars of Hope is located in what many have described as "the most beautiful country in the world." Costa Rica is just a short, direct 3-hour plane ride from many major US Cities. Pillars of Hope Academy has a "world class program in a world class environment."
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Academics
FAQs
FREQUENTLY Asked Questions |
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1- What if my child doesn’t have a Passport and How do we get there? No problem, just send your child to Carolina Springs in South Carolina for the PASSPORT applications and fees and They will also ESCORT your child to Pillars of Hope in Costa Rica once he/she has his/her Passport. We anticipate that the time required will be around 60 days as they also get your child acclimated to the program. You will still be required to provide the airfare into Atlanta and then onto Costa Rica later. The cost of flying the child first to Atlanta for this first phase process at Carolina Springs then on to Costa Rica is typically no more than a direct round ticket from any major city in the U.S to Atlanta (typically around $500 to $600 dollars) you simply book the ticket as a round trip to San Jose Costa Rica (SJO) with a stopover in Atlanta (ATL) with the continuation of the flight on to SJO Costa Rica in a couple of months the program will provide transport to and from Carolina springs and if you have any questions on these flight options we suggest you call an Admissions Representative: 1-800-637-0701 and they will be happy to make all necessary arrangements for you. Will my child be safe while in Pillars of Hope? YES, The following are FOUR of the ways that Pillars of Hope is fiscalized and held to a quality of control.
3- Are their professionals on Staff at PILLARS OF HOPE? YES, we have the following General Doctor, Psychologist, Dentist/Orthodontist that are on staff and therefore save parents transportation fees as well.
4- Do Staff members receive regular training? It is a requirement for ALL staff to attend the daily training meetings. Plus, they are also tested daily as to the rules and regulations of the company. Staff is also provided with seminar training every 8 weeks, so that they understand what the parents and students are going through. Staff is provided with Training Manuals and Employee Manuals to help clarify the Academy’s expectation of them. They are trained to be Friendly but Firm, and Respectful with the students. 5- What is the Academic system like? Pillars of Hope is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools. This means that the credits your child earns at PILLARS OF HOPE will be transferable to other high schools in the United States. The Academic system is a self paced program that allows student to progress at his/her own pace. On an average, students complete 2 years of schooling for every 1 year they are at PILLARS OF HOPE. It’s the schools goal that the students graduate from both the program and high school. Students are required to achieve either A’s or B’s as passing grades, so you can anticipate that your son or daughter will become an honor student while in our program. 6- Does PILLARS OF HOPE offer additional help to students who struggle academically? YES, while PILLARS OF HOPE does not have trained Special Education teacher on staff, there is additional help available. Student who are ahead of their peers or who have already graduated are given the opportunity to help tutor their peers. This has proven to be very effective to the slower learners or those with Dyslexia at no additional cost to parents. 7- What are the facilities like? Pillars of Hope was a modern adventure hotel when we purchased the 35 acre beauty. The schoolhouse is located on an island in the middle of a large pond. There are many types of wildlife observed on the premises; Macaws, Parrots, Sloth’s, Iguanas and Monkeys. As part of our campus we also have a swimming pool, basketball court, and a soccer field. 8- Are the students required physical education? Students are required to participate in ONE HOUR of physical education where they either run, swim, play basketball, soccer, aerobics or simple games. 9- Are there NA classes offered? YES, besides the program structure and seminars that are provided by both Carolina Springs and Pillars schools that address self-limiting beliefs and behaviors, Pillars of Hope also hosts NA classes each Monday and Thursday for interested students. Attendance to these classes is optional, which seems to help with the sincerity and seriousness of those attending. Parents located in the states have helped provide the necessary information and packets. 10-Will my child be able to see certain sites in Costa Rica? YES, your child will be exposed and immersed in the wonderful culture of Costa Rica! Off campus activities are reserved for Upper-Level students (Level 4-6) are allowed to leave campus for activities. The following are activities that are currently being offered at PILLARS OF HOPE:
11-Are the students taught Spanish? YES, each student is required to attend ONE HOUR of Spanish class per day; however, the true learning comes by practicing with our Staff members. We have noticed that the students have experienced significant growth and learning with Spanish. Most students are able to converse after 4 months. 12-How politically stable is Costa Rica? It is said that Costa Rica is the most stable of all Central American countries. In fact, it is so safe in Costa Rica that the Government doesn’t have a military. They spend their military budget monies on education. This, among other reasons, explains why the literacy rate in Costa Rica is 97%. They hold free elections and there is not internal strife. |
