Gimnasio Campestre
Encyclopedia
The Gimnasio Campestre is an all-male, traditional and conservative Pre-K to 11th grade
private school
located in Bogotá
, Colombia
.
chose Mr. Jorge Bernardo Londoño as his successor.
It was during this period that the traditional field trips for high-school
seniors were extended to week-long excursions for every class, from 1st to 11th grade, to diverse destinations in Colombia
and abroad.
Mr. Londoño was succeeded by Dr. Jaime Bernal, a medical geneticist, who due to his profession and his interest in scientific discovery, re-directed the modernization process to include an observatory
(a participant of NASA
's Radio Jove Project), and the most modern Molecular Biology
Lab of any secondary education
institution in the country.
Students receive some classes in English, and the school has an English language
lab for the elementary and pre-school
levels.
's history, where many graduates have become influential figures both at the local and at the national level. The school recently obtained an international certification by the Bureau Veritas
for adhering to international teaching standards.
Among the extracurricular activities
promoted by the school are a marching band
, a Boy Scout
troop, a student-run radio station
, and a media room broadcasting school events in closed-circuit television
, as well as prominent intramural and extramural sports teams.
Two traditional yearly events include the "Copa Tradición" and the "Batuta de Plata", the former a soccer match with the arch-rival team of the Gimnasio Moderno
, the latter a marching band competition with prominent local school bands.
The Gimnasio Campestre and the Gimnasio Moderno have enjoyed for decades a healthy competition in sports and other events, and both schools continue to share a tradition of high ethical standards and scholarly comaradeship.
After the successful reforms in which Mr Londoño and Mr Bernal committed, Juan Antonio Casas Pardo, son of Alfonso Casas, was appointed to continue with the school's legacy.
featuring over 3000 titles available to low-income
students of public schools. Gimnasianos also volunteer many hours of community service
and every Friday donate groceries and non-perishable items to be distributed among low income families of nearby neighborhoods.
Its Alumni Association] has maintained a network of former students that expands over five decades and several generations, providing services such as a job bank and a bi-monthly newsletter that help reinforce the bonds created by classmates and their families during the thirteen years of shared experiences at the school.
Today, the Gimnasio Campestre's headmaster is Dr. Alfonso Casas' son, Juan Antonio, who assumed his position in early 2006, when Jaime Bernal decided to continue his career as an educator at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, also located in Bogota.
while Minister of Justice
during Virgilio Barco's presidency
), Alberto Carrasquilla
(former Minister of Finance
), the former Mayor of Bogotá Enrique Peñalosa
, as well as relevant scientists, artists, Senators, and House Representatives, among others.
Eleventh grade
Eleventh Grade is the eleventh, and for some countries final, grade of secondary schools. Students are typically 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the country and the students' birthdays.-Brazil:...
private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
located in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
Origin
It was founded in 1946 by Alfonso Casas Morales, and its educational legacy has prepared several generations of "gimnasianos", as its alumni are known, offering them an education that has stressed the school motto, to "be men of honor". In 1987, after the passing of Mr. Casas, who served also as Principal and Director of the school since its creation, the board of directorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
chose Mr. Jorge Bernardo Londoño as his successor.
Expansion
Continuing with Mr Casas' legacy, and preparing the school for the 21st century, Mr. Londoño began the modernization of the facilities, building a multi-court/ multi-purpose sports center, which also doubles as a concert hall.It was during this period that the traditional field trips for high-school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
seniors were extended to week-long excursions for every class, from 1st to 11th grade, to diverse destinations in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and abroad.
Mr. Londoño was succeeded by Dr. Jaime Bernal, a medical geneticist, who due to his profession and his interest in scientific discovery, re-directed the modernization process to include an observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
(a participant of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Radio Jove Project), and the most modern Molecular Biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
Lab of any secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
institution in the country.
Students receive some classes in English, and the school has an English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lab for the elementary and pre-school
Nursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
levels.
Accomplishments
The Gimnasio Campestre has a long tradition in BogotáBogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
's history, where many graduates have become influential figures both at the local and at the national level. The school recently obtained an international certification by the Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas S.A. is a multinational company providing conformity assessment, certification and consulting services to industry, government and individuals. Originally formed in Antwerp in 1828 as Bureau de Renseignements pour les Assurances Maritimes , the Bureau Veritas name was adopted in 1829...
for adhering to international teaching standards.
Among the extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activity
Extracurricular activities are activities performed by students that fall outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school or university education...
promoted by the school are a marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
, a Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
troop, a student-run radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, and a media room broadcasting school events in closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
, as well as prominent intramural and extramural sports teams.
Two traditional yearly events include the "Copa Tradición" and the "Batuta de Plata", the former a soccer match with the arch-rival team of the Gimnasio Moderno
Gimnasio Moderno
The Gimnasio Moderno is a private all-male traditional and liberal, primary and secondary school located in Bogotá, Colombia. It was founded in 1914 by various prestigious Colombians following the leading initiative of Don Agustín Nieto Caballero...
, the latter a marching band competition with prominent local school bands.
The Gimnasio Campestre and the Gimnasio Moderno have enjoyed for decades a healthy competition in sports and other events, and both schools continue to share a tradition of high ethical standards and scholarly comaradeship.
After the successful reforms in which Mr Londoño and Mr Bernal committed, Juan Antonio Casas Pardo, son of Alfonso Casas, was appointed to continue with the school's legacy.
Community impact
Students are highly involved with the neighboring communities, and the school recently inaugurated a public libraryPublic library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
featuring over 3000 titles available to low-income
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
students of public schools. Gimnasianos also volunteer many hours of community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
and every Friday donate groceries and non-perishable items to be distributed among low income families of nearby neighborhoods.
Its Alumni Association] has maintained a network of former students that expands over five decades and several generations, providing services such as a job bank and a bi-monthly newsletter that help reinforce the bonds created by classmates and their families during the thirteen years of shared experiences at the school.
Today, the Gimnasio Campestre's headmaster is Dr. Alfonso Casas' son, Juan Antonio, who assumed his position in early 2006, when Jaime Bernal decided to continue his career as an educator at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, also located in Bogota.
Alumni
Alumni include Ministers such as Enrique Low Murtra (one of the first victims of narco-terrorismNarcoterrorism
Narcoterrorism is a term coined by former President Fernando Belaúnde Terry of Peru in 1983 when describing terrorist-type attacks against his nation's anti-narcotics police...
while Minister of Justice
Justice Minister
A justice ministry is a ministry or other government agency charged with justice. The ministry is often headed by a minister for justice or secretary of justice or secretary for justice; sometimes the head of a department of justice is entitled attorney general.Specific duties may relate to...
during Virgilio Barco's presidency
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
), Alberto Carrasquilla
Alberto Carrasquilla
Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera is a Colombian economist who served as Minister of Finance and Public Credit under the government of President Álvaro Uribe.-Career:*Technical Manager of the Bank of the Republic...
(former Minister of Finance
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
), the former Mayor of Bogotá Enrique Peñalosa
Enrique Peñalosa
Enrique Peñalosa Londoño is a Colombian politician and New Urbanist. He was mayor of Bogotá, from 1998 until 2001, and was runner-up in 2007. He is running in 2011 for mayor as the Green Party candidate. He has also worked as a journalist and consultant on urban and transportation policy...
, as well as relevant scientists, artists, Senators, and House Representatives, among others.
External links
Images
- School's Seal
- School's Church
- Founder's Tomb
- School Building
- Courtyard
- Administrative Offices