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Escola Bandeirante (Bandeirante School)

Location: Ceres, Goias , Brazil Type: Private, Boarding, English speaking Religious affiliations: Southern Presbyterian, Interdenominational Accreditation: Princeton Testing Association Established: 1958 in town of Ceres; 1959 moved to hilltop school outside of town Closed: 1981 Grades: 5-12 Average Enrollment: 30 School Colors: green & white School song: “Great is Thy Faithfulness” Sports: Salão futebol, basketball, soccer, volley ball, handball - against Brazilian schools in Ceres and American School in Brazília.

HISTORY –

THE ROYAL ROAD TO WISDOM – from 1964-1965 “Hill Top” Year Book The well-known expression, “necessity is the mother of invention”, explains the true motive behind the origin of Escola Bandeirante (Bandeirante School).

During the year of 1958 it became evident to the missionaries of West Brazil Mission that an English-speaking school was needed for their children. It was decided that the location of the school would be in Ceres, Goias since there were a lot of missionary families in that vicinity and a small school had been previously started there by Miss Rebecca Glenn.

In September of that same year the new teachers, the Robert Seaquists arrived. Until this time the Ceres children had had their school in an old house where **Aunt Becky was living. Across the street from the house was a deserted hospital which the missionaries felt was an ideal residence for the Seaquists and the four boarding students. They decided to continue using Aunt Becky’s house for the school since the student’s quarters were conveniently nearby and the house would be adequate for the school activities.

Plans were immediately started for a new location and better school buildings. There were two possible sites chosen, one in the center of Ceres and the other on a hill over-looking the river and city. The latter was covered with woods and rocks, but seemed the best location for a school like Bandeirante. After much consideration the hill was purchased and construction began.

The year of 1959 marked the beginning of Escola Bandeirante (Bandeirante School) as we know it today. The dormitory and the dining room were completed and the school was officially moved to the hilltop. Aunt Becky had returned to the United States for furlough and, therefore, it was necessary to find more teachers. Aunt Mildred Sweet from New Tribes Mission in Brazil offered her services as housemother and Aunt Vivian Hodges was recruited as a teacher. Classes were held in the dining room since the classrooms were not yet completed.

During the latter part of the school year Aunt Joyce Seaquist came down with hepatitis. Just at the opportune time Gilbert, a Frenchman who had missed his boat to France, came to Ceres. He offered to substitute in Aunt Joyce’s classes since he could speak English. This he did for three weeks.

By the beginning of the 1960-1961 school session the classrooms were completed. Aunt Becky returned, bringing with her Aunt Pansy Duke and our new house mother, Aunt Linnie George. When the Seaquists left for language school in Decemberr, all three ladies assisted in directing the school. The end of this school year was highlighted by a three act play, Brother Goose, directed by Aunt Pansy Duke.

During the summer of 1961 a new boy’s dorm was added to the school campus. It was located at the bottom of the hill near the director’s house. This greatly relieved the previously cramped living quarters of the board students.

Among the new faculty for 1961 were Aunt Mary Rice and Uncle Robert Wilson. Aunt Mary taught piano to the students and added much to the singing in chapel. After Christmas aunt Pansy returned to the State. The enrollment at this time had increased to twenty-five.

In 1962 Uncle Robert Wilson became the director. Bandeirante was in desperate need of more teachers and the arrival of Aunt Caroline Young and Uncle Donald Chen were an answer to prayer. For half a year Uncle George Wilson, an exchange student from the States and Aunt Becky Glenn assisted us in our shortage of teachers.

In the school year 1963-1964 our first graduation exercise took place. Richard Gartrell completed his four years of high school and was honored at being Bandeirante’s first graduating student.

Our faculty at this time had increased by four. Uncle Roy Penney, Grandma (Dorothy) Kahl, and our new housemother Aunt Lucille Camenisch. Aunt Ruth Stewart, a friend of Grandma Kahl’s from Mt. Hermon, California came to give special reading and spelling help to some of the students. Our enrollment had reached thirty-two.

This school year 1964-65 shows that Bandeirante is still growing. A new gym and girl’s dorm were added to the campus and a teachers’ residence is under construction. Our count of student is higher than ever with a total of forty-one.

This fall Uncle Bob Edwards joined the faculty. Two new courses were added to the regular curriculum - Art with Aunt Gerrie Harris and Home Economics with Aunt Martha Camenisch.

This brief history clearly shows God’s guidance in the planning and building of Escola Bandeirante (Bandeirante School). We can truly say that our school has grown through the answer of prayer.


 * “aunt” & “uncle” with first names of adults were used by children to maintain respect and to create a family environment.

What can we say To show our thanks To those who have helped us learn? The times are hard But still worthwhile And now the end For some of us has come We leave, but carry in our hearts The things we’ve learned Memories of this school Our friends and our teachers We realize how weak It sounds to say these Simple words “thank you” But with them goes everything Our hearts want to express But cannot.

Written by Julia Taylor Student 1956 - 1965 DIRECTORS -

Mary Rebecca (Becky) Glenn - 1958-1959 – Founding Director/Teacher Robert (Bob) Gunder Seaquist – 1958 – 1962 Robert Henry Wilson – 1962 – 1964 Roy Watson Penney - 1964 – 1966 ; 1967-1971 Harvey Musser – 1971-1974, 1976 – 1979 Arnold (Chip) Nuckles – 1979 - 1982

TEACHERS –

Amanda Lee Lambert – 1968-1971 Aparecida Machado Caroline Elizabeth Young – 1962-1965 Claudia Silva Dianne Emmert - 1976-1977 Donald C. Chen/Chen Chiang Tsu – 1962-1965 Dorothy Sanbourne Kahl – 1964-1965 Ellen Kinsman – 1976-1977 Esther Elaine Kauffman Gladys Ribeiro Santos – 1964-1965 George Wilson - 1962-1963 Gudrun Coffey Rominger & Paul Rominger Harvey Austin & Doris Ann Musser – 1970-1971 & 1976-1977, João Fernandes Cardoso – 1969-1971 Joyce Seaquist - 1959-1960 Katherine McNeil – 1970-1972 Kathy Niver – 1976-1977 Larry Beckler – 1972-1974 Laura Cecil McMillan – 1969-170 Linda Diane Gaby Linnie May George - 1960-1961 Lucille Marie Camenischd – 1964-1965 & 1968-1972 Marcos Argolo – Portuguese Maria Lucia Silva Brito – 1969-1970 Maria Lucia Teixeira – 1969-1970 Martha Camenisch – 1964-1965 Mary Ann Fillingham – 1968-1970 Mary Dalton Long – 1964-1965 Mary Frances (Camenisch) Taylor – 1970-1972 Mary Rebecca Glenn - 1958-1959 & 1960-1962 Mary Frances Rice - 1961-1962 Nancy Mohn – 1976-1977 Nancy (Moreira) Thurmond Pansy Duke - 1960-1961 Patsy Emilie Oxner Peter Miller – 1979-1982 Robert & Betty Edwards – 1964-1965 Robert Henry Wilson & Bessie Hancock Wilson - 1961-1962 & 1964-1965 & 1971-1972 & 1976-1977 Roy & Nancy Penney – 1964-1965 & 1968-1971 Ruth Eleanor Stewart - 1963-1964 Sandy Gartrell Sharon Faith Stinson – 1971-1972 Stephen R. & Barbara Ann Bender – 1968-1970 Steve Baird – 1976-1977 Terezinha Albuquerque (Portuguese) – 1970-1971 Prof. Ushakov Vivian Hodges – 1959-1960 Vivian Marie Matthews – 1968-1971 Walter Dourado – 1964-1965 Weston B. & Patricia Hall Guthrie – 1968-1971 Willie Crenshaw

DORM MOTHERS/FATHERS -

Esther Elaine Kauffman Dudley & Dorothy Kinsman Ellen Kinsman Katherine McNeil Lee Tipton – 1981-82 Lucille (Til) Marie Camenisch- 1963-1964 Linnie May George - 1960-1961 Mildred Alice Sweet – 1959-1960 Paul Rominger Peter Smith Robert Henry & Bessie Hancock  Wilson - 1965-1967 & 1971-1972 Weston & Pat Guthrie – 1970-1972