March 30, 2009

Dear Colleague:

It is my pleasure to invite you and your faculty to the Annual Educators’ Conference of the Association of American Schools of Central America, Colombia, Caribbean and Mexico. The Conference is scheduled for October 14-16, 2009 at Renassiance Jaragua and Melia Hotels in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.. There are two reservation forms included in this mailing for your use. Hotel reservations should be sent directly to hotel with your rooming lists.

Our dinner dance will be incorporated again in the Dominica evening this year on Thursday October 15,, so we will finish conference activities at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16. This will allow you to choose to travel that afternoon or do some touring in the Dominican Republic.

The title of the conference will be “Preparing for the Future”. Please find enclosed a program outline to be shared with your staff. The following strands will be include:

• Administration and Leadership
• Early Childhood Education
• Student Well and Success
• Science
• Math
• Methodology/Curriculum , Academic Improvement and School Improvement
• Technology
• Accreditation
• AP Updates
• Spanish

The workshops are appropriate for K-12 teachers, administrators, curriculum personnel, counselors and technology/media personnel. The format of the concurrent sessions will be similar to last year, as the sessions will be more in depth and most will have two consecutive sessions. The conference will give educators from throughout the region a range of opportunities to meet in order to share concerns and discuss issues of mutual interest.

12 Pre-Conference Institutes will precede the Conference. These include

If appropriate, please make sure your hotel reservation form, has the dates of the pre conference institutes. Hotel bills can be paid with major international credit cards (AMEX, VISA, Master, or traveler’s checks). The hotel reservation form must be returned directly to the hotel by September 9, 2009. After that date reservations will be dependent on availability.

Please take a taxi to the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel Av. George Washington 367, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dom. Tel :809—221-1461.

A reliable taxi company is called Apollo Taxi. Their phone number is 809 537 0000 …..A person would have to make a 5 peso call from a public telephone to Apollo taxi…. Speak slow in English, they will get someone who speaks English, request taxi for Las Americas Airport… wait 20 min approx for it to arrive and pay about RD$ 1,100 to get to hotel approximately $30 dollars.

At the present time all U.S. citizens with a valid passport do not need a visa for Dominican Republic but you must pay $10 dollars for a tourist card at the airport in Santo Domingo. There is a window to do this at as you enter the immigration/customs area. All other citizens should check with local Dominican embassies or consulates concerning visas. The temperature in October is approximately between 87 degrees F. You may need an umbrella in October.

Attached are twelve forms, two for conference registration, 11 institute registration forms, and two for hotel reservations plus information on the Counselors’ Institute. Please complete all appropriate forms. One conference registration form and the institute forms with your check and should be returned to my office. The other registration form and travel form must be send to Neyda Marti at nmarti@cms.edu.do or by fax to (809) 533-9222 or for questions call (809) 947-1006

We look forward to your participation at the conference and will do our best to make your stay in Santo Domingo a memorable one.

Sincerely,

Mary V. Sánchez
Executive Director