Summer Learning

San Felipe de Jesus Church provides program for local children

July 1, 2007 - 10:58 PM

When 8-year-old Ronaldo Troncoso dances to the sounds of the award-winning Disney movie “High School Musical,” he may not realize how true the lyrics “we’re all in this together” really are at Proyecto Digna.

Troncoso, along with a few other children, showcased selected scenes from the movie for parents and neighbors on June 28 to celebrate the end of a month-long summer program.

Proyecto Digna, an afterschool tutorial program offered by the San Felipe de Jesus Church in Cameron Park, made art, composition, dance, reading, sewing and knitting classes available to interested children.

In composition class, the students made memory journals of their favorite vacations, holidays or family memories and worked on a project titled “Who am I?”

“Through writing, students learn how to be organized and learn the logic behind things, “ said Proyecto Digna Director Alicia Gomez.

Some of the participating girls also took folklorico classes through Unlimited Dance Studio, and were recently asked to perform in Harlingen, as well as for the audience present during Thursday’s performance.

Gomez said she loves having people come by to help with the center and calls the place a real “blessing.”

Composition teacher Cristina Tijerina echoed those words.

When the children gave Tijerina a thank you gift, all she could mutter through a warm, bright smile was “thank you, but I have been blessed to work for you all.”