The Life Impact Center Rainbow Preschool, in the western area of Anguilla, is the most recent and smallest of the preschools to be established on the island, but its early educational objectives are just as lofty as any other.
Sunday, July 5, was graduation day at the church-run preschool and the theme of the event was “Kindergarten Bound”. According to the Principal, Ms. Patricia Edrum, the school started in 2012 with eight registered children. The current roll is thirteen including the five who will begin their kindergarten schooling in September. Three of them will be entering the Alwyn Allison Primary School; two the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School; and one The Valley Primary School.
“At our school, we teach our children the prerequisite skills – and we build their physical, social and emotional skills to get them ready for kindergarten,” said Ms. Edrum who is a national of Jamaica and has been teaching for ten years, beginning in her homeland. She is currently a student at the UWI Open Campus in Anguilla and is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Management. Ms. Edrum has a Diploma in Education which she obtained at the International University of the Caribbean. She is assisted at the Life Impact Centre Rainbow Preschool by another teacher, Ms. Tamara Young.
Speaking on behalf of the Management Team, Mr. Shawn Lake said the preschool was the brainchild of Pastor Lucien McDonna who had fulfilled his dream of over twenty-two years. He said it was the preschool’s third graduation. Mr. Lake, a Police Officer, serving with the D.A.R.E. programme in schools, exhorted parents to continue to guide and nurture their children whom he asked to remain focused in their learning and positive behaviour.
The Valedictorian was Ameya Connor who reflected on the past two years at the preschool and the way forward for her and her fellow graduates.
Dr. Leroy Hill, Dean of Studies at the Anguilla Community College, addressed the graduating students on matters relating to the virtues of life and their continuing education.
During the programme, the Principal gave a slide presentation of various activities in which the children had been involved as part of their early education. Among those events was a tour of Heritage Collection Museum at East End where, like other schoolchildren, they had an educational peek into the varied periods of the history of Anguilla.
