The school Raquel Payá fulfills 30 years becoming a reference in the special education

The special education school Raquel Payá culminated this Thursday night the commemorative events of its 30 anniversary with a big party in the Jauja room, in Baleària Port, in which teachers, workers from the center, students, parents, mothers, collaborators and authorities met

The occasion deserved it, since the center is in one of its best moments in terms of projects and educational program: they participate in several European training and exchange programs and have introduced bar waiter and restaurant certification that allows students to expand their training up to 24 years.

But the good moment of form that lives the center is not only palpable in those projects. The affection that the most of 200 people who came together made clear that Raquel Payá is more than an educational center: it is a great family in which tolerance, coexistence and generosity are the great values ​​that breathe when entering Through the door.

Professors Vicen Cardona and Roc Lledó were in charge of conducting the event, which included students from the theater group of IES Chabàs and Raquel Payà. Throughout the event they sprinkled accolades with humorous gags about the addiction of people to the mobile phone. Also the music was present, with a performance of the students directed by Aure García.

Four directors for 30 years of history

Over these thirty years, the center has had four directors who were present at this event. The first was Carmen Zorita, who remembered the complicated beginnings of the center, without even pupils. Then spoke her husband, Alfonso Villarejo, who took over for the next nine years as director of the center. The next one was Maite Martí, who during 15 years dedicated his life to the direction of the school; and finally spoke the current director, Miquel Ivars.

Ivars especially acknowledged the work of the center team, which have converted to the school "in one of the special education centers of reference in many areas". The students and their families told them that "We are grateful for making us learn at all times to relativize difficulties and help us face reality from our own conscience".

Among the objectives of the current director of the center in the short term are the internationalization of the center, the treatment of new technologies, digital literacy, and attention to diversity and inclusion within the center itself.

In the long term, and also within the framework of inclusion, Miquel Ivars auguró "the transformation of the school into a true counseling and resources center" to construct "a real inclusive ordinary school with resources, trained, sensitized and correctly advised staff".

Acknowledgments

But if this act served for something was to thank, on the part of the school, the collaboration of the entities and people who every year help in one way or another to the center. From the team at the center they were grateful to the toilets, AMPA members, Grant to Wish; Logia Spring of Acacia; Rotary Club Dénia; School of Regional Theater; Cristina Serrano; Teresa Bañuls; County Gastro Show; Mall Portal de la Marina; Club de Tenis Dénia, Red Cross or Garmol.

Also on stage were the representatives of the Cuqui Ivars Dance School; the theater group Chabàs; the Manuel Lattur Music School; the Grup de Danses Portitxol; Droneamos; Cyber ​​Arena; Potens Plastianimation; Padel Coaching and Fundació Baleària.

From the school they wanted to thank the collaboration of Dénya and Xàbia.com, organizers of the Carrera Solidaria in Favor of Raquel Payà, which is celebrated each year in the streets of Denia and whose benefits go to the AMPA of the center. He was the commercial director and partner, David Ribes, who collected this recognition.

Finally, they were also recognized Condemned to the Curb; Broccoli; Look Holmen; the family of Sergei Chigrin; Aprosdeco; Vicente Moreno and Chelo Hernández.

The new school, very present

Such a special occasion could not fail to be a claim. The AMPA president, Marisa Alemany, called on local and regional governments to prioritize the need for students in the center, some students who currently go to class in prefabricated barracks.

In this regard, the mayor of Denia, Vicent Grimalt, took the glove that had been thrown to him and assured that the Conselleria has been committed to that, in 2019, the center is a reality or, at least, is in way. According to Grimalt, the construction of the new facilities of Raquel Payá are a priority for the Generalitat Valenciana.

Audiovisual as end of party

For some years, audiovisual work has become an essential part of school life. Good examples of it are the prizes obtained at the International Film Festival Educatiu (MICE). Its director, Josep Arbiol, was also present in this emotional act.

And to end the commemoration, nothing better than a fun video. The piece included small messages from people who have been linked to the center during these 30 years, as well as greetings from other European schools or collaborating entities.

But the surprise was hidden at the end: the teachers of the center, simulating the film Sister Act, played a fun song that managed to get the best smiles of all attendees to the act.

After a wine of honor, the evening ended with a dinner in the Jauja room of gratitude and coexistence in honor of the 30 years of history of a center that is a reference in the country and even in Europe.