P. 12 - LA PLAYA
JULY / JULIO 2014
WWW.PLAYACOMMUNITY.COM
Expats Kids in Panama
P
anama
has
long
been
recognized as one of the best
places in the world to spend
the golden years of life, and
the traditional expat in
Panama is often a retired
one. However, more and
more younger people are
realizing the benefits of living
in the tropics.
Getting out of the rat race in
the
United
States,
Canada, or Europe is
only one reason that
people in their twenties,
thirties, and forties relocate
to this country. It is also an
appealing place to raise
children.
All relatively new, founded in
response to this growing
population of expat children
are three international schools
in the beach area (along with
many more in the city and
throughout the country) that
are a testament to this.
Panama Coast International
School,
Coronado
International
School and Five
Stars Academy have
been established in Gorgona, Santa
Clara and Coronado.
Kathy Kress, principal of Panama
Coast International School, is getting
ready for nearly 100 students this fall;
the sixth year the school has been in
operation.
It was the first
international school to open in the
area, and is ready to accommodate
further growth after having 77
students last year. "We currently
have nine classrooms and just
started adding a new
building with three
more
classrooms
and
an
open-air
auditorium,"
she
says. Students earn
a
Canadian
or
American
diploma,
and
learn
from
certified North American
teachers in a supportive,
family-style
environment
where the material "...is
modified to reflect a more
global understanding of the
world and to incorporate
Panamanian language and
culture."
Raising children can be
difficult in itself, and raising
them away from their home
country introduces some
additional challenges: they're
away from other family members,
they might miss some opportunities
that aren't available in their new
country and, often they don't have
nice smooth roads for riding bicycles.
By Amanda Sides
of Locos Panama
However, the advantages for expat
children in Panama seem to make up
for all of that.
According to Brett Wikyord, one of
the greatest advantages is that his
kids can be kids. "They have been
allowed to act their age," he says.
"There is no bullying, no lock downs,
no inappropriate touching, no
parental conflicts, no one 11 going on
18, and no 17 and 18-year-olds that
feed the fire."
His daughters, ages nine [