J-D students sell pulseras, teacher bids farewell
By Jason Klaiber
Staff Writer
Late last month, a pair of Spanish classes at Jamesville-DeWitt High School set out to raise awareness and funds for artists in Central America.
The undertaking tied in with the Pulsera Project, a nonprofit organization that provides colorful bracelets called pulseras to be sold in schools around the United States.
At J-D’s high school, Maria DeJesus’ two level-four regents Spanish classes competed to outsell one another, drawing from a supply of 500 pulseras and 15 purses all made in either Nicaragua or Guatemala.
“As an educator, I think it’s really important to teach an appreciation of different cultures and encourage appreciation of language,” DeJesus said.
Segueing into the classes’ career unit, the students made calls, sent out texts, created commercials advertising the project, marketed the products on social media platforms and hung up posters around the school.
While the scheduled start date for the planned two-week project was pinned down as May 24, one class proposed opening pre-sales for the $5 bracelets and $10 purses.
After selling the materials in advance, only two pulseras remained by May 29.
One student, junior Tracey Edson, individually sold upwards of 80 bracelets altogether.
“It was a really cool experience our teacher gave us,” Edson said. “For her to introduce it to us and for us to be able to make that impact on another country and give them opportunities was a really cool thing to do.”
The entirety of the proceeds accumulated will go back to the artisans who made the materials, in turn supporting Central American educational programs, scholarships, workers’ rights, community development, healthcare and housing.
“The kids really did realize the impact this is going to have outside the classroom,” DeJesus said.
Each personally signed and tagged with a picture of the artist responsible, the pulseras come in different sizes, textures and color patterns.
“They’re beautiful, and they’re all unique,” J-D Spanish teacher Simone Pacilio said. “One is prettier than the next. It’s a good representation of indigenous art as well.”
This being her final year at the school, Pacilio suggested weaving the Pulsera Project into her retirement party.
In lieu of a parting gift, she suggested that those attending the party purchase a pulsera and wear it to the festivities.
“I don’t need anything,” Pacilio, who has taught at the high school for the past 11 years, said. “I’ve got more stuff than I know what to do with. Instead of somebody chipping in $5 for a gift to go to me, they’re chipping in $5 and they get a pulsera.”
Pacilio said the project led to students becoming more cognizant of the problems in certain Central American countries.
“Guatemala and Nicaragua have a lot of turmoil going on in them, and some people are struggling just to survive and just to feed their children,” she said. “We need to be aware that not everybody is as fortunate as we are here at J-D.”
Pacilio said the project marks a top-notch end to her 31-year teaching career, which previously led her to schools in New Jersey, Costa Rica and Japan.
“Teaching has its challenges, but I’m really glad that I am finishing my career with the students that I’ve had and the colleagues that I’ve worked with,” Pacilio said.
