growth desired, however, is a controlled growth.  "Part of Sojourn's charm," says high school science teacher Donna Schucker, is that it is a small school that is sensitive to the particular academic, emotional and spiritual needs of children and youth who are in cultural transition."  The administration's vision is not for Sojourn to dilute its ministry to the children of missionaries (MK's), but rather to expand that ministry to reach not only MK's whose parents are studying temporarily at the Institute, but also those whose parents live permanently in Costa Rica.  "We believe that there are many families who are looking for a quality education for their children in a school with a missionary ethic and vision," affirmed Julie Chamberlain, Director of the Spanish Language Institute.  "We will undoubtedly attract more missionary families to Sojourn Academy."


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Kevin and Tía Reilly are missionaries with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism

Sojourn Academy was born 12 years ago in answer to a need created by the closing of a local international school that many Institute students had been sending their children to.  The academy began with 35 children, four elementary school teachers, one secondary school teacher, three Spanish teachers, and a part-time after-school sports instructor.

Under the leadership of its founding Director Olive Reppeto and her successor Barbara Carter, Sojourn's enrollment grew to a high of 113 students in 2003.  The staff increased to seven elementary school teachers, four high school teachers, five Spanish teachers and three part-time instructors in computer operations, music and physical education.  The present lower enrollment of 65 is due in part to declining numbers in the Institute's year-long Regular Course for missionaries.

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