So proud of our students, teachers, and volunteers organizing for organizing our first annual AzTECH Kids Code Summer Coding Camp at Academia Cuauhtli (meaning "Eagle Academy" in Nahuatl) that combines teaching kids how to code, gaming, and Aztec dance/ danza Mexica at the City of Austin's Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC).
Our students, families, and community-based organization, "Nuestro Grupo," are very appreciative of support we have received for this initiative from the Austin Independent School District, as well as from Grantmakers for Girls of Color. AISD has been a faithful long-term partner and we cannot be more pleased of their willingness to take our work to new places. Thanks, Dr. David Kauffman, for your unflagging support of Academia Cuauhtli.
The Academia Cuauhtli-AzTECH Kids Code camp is a project-based, culturally sustaining STEM program for second to sixth grade students attending Academia Cuauhtli and AISD schools. Through this program that runs for the entire week, our students are learning the following: coding, video game design, digital monetization via application store, Danza Mexica, (Aztec ceremony or dance) and Nahuatl mathematical systems.
Comprised of 16 Latina girls and four Latino boys, all of our students are immigrant or first generation, immigrant bilingual learner students. Due to COVID-19 regulations set in place by the City of Austin, we had to cap our class size to 20 students this summer, taking all the precautions and abiding by all the protocols laid out, of course. One class of 10 is taught in Spanish. The other class of 10 in English. Next year, we hope to double our students and make it a two-week summer program.
A special shout out to AzTECH Kids founder, Azteca Sirias and head organizer, Maria Unda, for their hard work, initiative, and vision. Thanks to all the teachers pictured below, as well.
It's no small thing to think big like this in the throes of a pandemic and bring much happiness to young students whose lives we touch—and whose lives touch ours.
Thanks, as well, to Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Director Michelle Rojas, Olivia Tamzarian, Lori Navarrete, Ulises Garcia and all the staff at the ESB-MACC where the camp is happening and where our Saturday school, Academia Cuauhtli, is located.
Our AzTECH Kids are a joy and this work, a labor of love. 💗
-Angela Valenzuela
#AcademiaCuauhtli | #AztechKidzCode
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