Pan-American School

Pan-American School is the first IB Continuum School offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Primary Years Programme (PYP) in Costa Rica.

Our inclusive, non-selective educational programme provides a balanced, bilingual English-Spanish education, aimed at developing well-rounded, responsible global citizens.

Our broad and rigorous curriculum focuses on skill development, an extensive social and emotional support system, diverse arts, design, and physical education programs, and a unique focus on service and global sustainability.

Welcome from our General Director

Alan Wrafter

General Director

Dear families,

 Welcome to Pan-American School, and thank you for taking the time to visit our website. We invite you to explore our community, and learn more about how we strive to offer an education of excellence that inspires future leaders who will create a better world for all.

Pan-American School is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive learning community focused on delivering:
  •  Inspiring, personalized learning for all.
  •  A welcoming, engaged and connected community for all.
  •  A sustainable and balanced future for all.

Uniquely PAS

Years of experience

Nationalities represented

37

International Students

30 %

Student teacher ratio

6:1

Average class size

16

Campus

8.64 acres

5 Buildings

Languages taught

English - Spanish

IB courses offered

23

IB DP highest score  (2021)

44/45

Years as an IB World School

Colleges Acceptances (Continent/Universities since 2017)

Europe

55

Asia

13

America

189

Oceania / Australia

7

Therapy Dog

 

1

Why PAS?

  • Accredited as an IB World School by the International Baccalaureate Organization, since 2015.
  • Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on International Education (NEASC-CIE) in the United States since 2006.
  • Only school in Costa Rica to offer the IB Continuum Programme: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP).
  • PAS nurtures the whole child and empowers students to have agency over their learning from age 18 months to graduation.
  • Students can graduate with three diplomas: IB Diploma Programme, US High School Diploma and the Costa Rica Ministry of Education National Diploma.

Why The IB Continnum?


Pan-American School is an IB continuum school, focussing on both personal and academic achievement and challenging students to excel in these areas. We believe that learning is an active and lifelong process and that a well-rounded education includes logical reasoning, languages, artistic sensitivity, social awareness, physical and mental health, and critical thinking. Each person’s special interests, qualities, and talents are nurtured through real-life learning experiences and diverse educational opportunities. We support our students to develop a social conscience and a commitment to peace, democracy, cultural diversity, and service to humanity.

News at PAS

Mister Scholarship Recipient 2024

Dear members of the Pan-American School community,

Each year, Pan-American School awards the Mister Scholarship to the student who has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, and a commitment to the Pan-American School values, over the course of their Middle School years with us.  

This scholarship is awarded both in recognition of the student’s prior achievement and in our expectation that they will continue to uphold these high standards throughout High School.  We look to Mister Scholarship recipients to continue to: develop to the full extent their skills and understanding in all areas; lead by example in all that they do; and continue to embody the PAS values throughout their time at Pan-American School.

This year, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Mariana Mafla Díaz in Grade 9 has been awarded this important prize.  

On the first day of school, at the Welcome Assembly, we presented Mariana  with the award and included her picture in the Mister Scholarship Gallery.  We also shared breakfast with Mariana, her parents and other scholarship students.  We were joined by:

  • Marianne Weber Arroyo, Class of 2025, and her father Hans Andries Weber.
  • Emil Shadid Zumbado, Class of 2026, his mother Karla Zumbado Villalobos and his father don Elías Shadid Lépiz.
  • Daniela Matamoros Aguilar, Class of 2027, and her mother Kattia Aguilar Retana.
  • Andrew Wiese, Secondary Principal and  Jay Warren, High School  Vice Principal and DP Coordinator

I am sure that you will join me in extending our sincerest congratulations to Mariana, and her parents doña Sandra Díaz Sandoval  and don Juan Pablo Mafla Sanchéz- and to all of our Mister Scholarship recipients and their families as they look to continue to proud tradition of excellence in all that they do in and out of our shared community.

Proud to be PAS,

 

Alan Wrafter

General Director

Sports Updates, including new soccer pitch

Dear members of the Pan-American School community,

I hope that this email finds you safe and well, 

This year we are proud to welcome a range of new members to our Sports team this year.  Joining us are:

  • Maria José Castro Rueda, Volleyball Coach: A qualified pre-school educator (Universidad de Costa Rica, 2023) and holder of a Diploma in Business Administration (2022), Maria José is one of the leading talents in the Costa Rican Volleyball community, having been named best defender in North American, Central American and the Caribbean in the Female Final Four of NORCECA 2024. Currently playing for Goicochea, Maria José has represented the Costa Rican national team in tournaments such as Copa Centroamericana (2021-2024), Copa NOCENA (2021-2022), Copa Continental NORCECA (2018-2019), Copa Panamericana Sub-20 (2015) and more.
  • Alejandro Jesús González Madrigal, Soccer Coach: Alejandro has a long trajectory in the Costa Rican football community including roles as trainer for Sporting F.C. female team (2019-2024); Saprissa Female team (2019); Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and the Universidad Nacional (2014-2015); Fundación Real Madrid, Costa Rica (2013); and more.

With the addition of Maria José and Alejandro, our Sports team for 2024-2025 is as follows:

Sports Coordinator

Jessica Palavicini (sports@panam.ed.cr

Soccer Team

Basketball Team

Volleyball Coaches

Track & Field

  • Pablo Araya
  • Candela Andujar
  • Alejandro Gonzalez
  • Oscar Barquero
  • Jessica Palavicini
  • Yuliana González
  • Maria José Castro
  • Alejandro Cañas Lopez 

 

In our Secondary Fitness Program we are also delighted to offer the following options, which all students will participate in over the coming year:

  • Self-Defence
  • Physical Fitness
  • Dance
  • Table Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee

Update on our new Synthetic Pitch

As we announced last year, we are planning to install a new synthetic soccer pitch, with an innovative “cork infill" which will improve the experience for players, reduce heat reflection, and be kinder to the environment.  As our campus is next to a river, we have been working with the Belen Municipality to process the necessary permits. This process is taking longer than anticipated, but our external contractor is working through the paperwork and the work is progressing. As soon as we have a definitive timeline, we will share more information with the community.

Updated Sports Program Regulations 

A reminder that all students who participate in the Sports Program are expected to align with the Sports Program Regulations outlined here.

PAS Cup, 30 & 31 August

We look forward to welcoming all members of the community to our first PAS Cup which will be held on campus on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 August

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We look forward to a year of continued growth, impact and success for all our athletes through our Sports & Fitness Programs over the coming year.



Alan Wrafter

General Director

Innovation, technology and more - PYP Exhibition

The PYP Exhibition is a culminating event in the PYP programme, where our learners showcase their understanding and learning journey through their time in primary school by connecting to real world issues, engaging in collaborative inquiry and taking meaningful action. The exhibition encourages learners to demonstrate their understanding of the learner profile attributes, approaches to learning and the inquiry process. Over the 8 weeks of this year's exhibition, grade 5 learners have been inquiring into a topic of their choice, all within the context of technology. This year's exhibition included an expressive piece, an interactive piece and a written piece, based on their research. Grade 5 learners were excited to share their PYPX journey with their parents and other students in the school and want the grade 4's to know that it's a lot of work, but it's really not that scary in the end!

Staff Development Day

On Monday, March 18th, the Pan-American School community held a Professional Development Day focused on community and country service. The following activities took place:

  • Guacalillo Beach: A total of 142kg of beach litter was collected.
  • SOS Villages: Cleaning, organizing, and painting works were carried out on the houses where the students live. 
  • Food Bank: Food items, vegetables, and supplies were reviewed and classified.
  • Teaching and Learning Center (CEA): Located in Guácima, work was done in the garden, library, and mural painting.

A total of 167 people attended these activities.

PAS SOCIAL IMPACT

PAS SOCIAL IMPACT

Our commitment is not only to support the learning process of our students; but also to contribute to the society that surrounds us, our mission is preparing internationally-engaged individuals, committed to the pursuit of excellence, who make meaningful contributions to their country and the global community.

That is why at PAS, we gladly work to play a positive role in our community, taking into consideration the impact that our decisions have on social and environmental matters. Proudly, we can say that these are just some of the activities carried out:


Events

Civic Week

Reds & Blues 2024

PAS CUP

A weekend full of fun in our last PAS CUP. Thank you all for joined us! 

First day of School 2024-2025

Back to School Event 2024

Cultural Exchange

Our community is international and multicultural, which is one of our greatest strengths. During this special activity, we celebrated various nationalities, creating an environment of inclusion and mutual learning. Parents, staff, and students had the opportunity to share a bit of their traditions, including typical foods, traditional clothing, music, and dances with the rest of the community.

This celebration not only allowed us to learn about and appreciate the richness of other cultures, but it also fostered understanding and respect among all members of our community. We are deeply proud to see that what makes us different is also what unites us. This diversity provides us with the sense of belonging and community that we all need, and it strengthens our bonds, creating a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. We firmly believe that by celebrating our differences, we are building a stronger and more cohesive community.

Social Networks