Primary School Well
On Friday 2nd June, 2023, the Group Projects component of the Hello Tourist programme was judged.
The Hello Tourist programme is a special tourism awareness programme geared to Grade Six students aged eleven to twelve, to foster greater understanding of the world of Tourism and Hospitality and the importance of the Environment to Tourism, and the Service Experience to the guest.
Five of the six public school participated – the Valley Primary School (VPS), the Orealia Kelly Primary School (OKPS), Morris Vanterpool Primary School (MVPS), Vivien Vanterpool Primary School (VVPS) and Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School (AARPS).
Judging was carried out by a team of three judges from the Department of Education – Mrs. Candis Niles, Tourism Education Coordinator; Ms. Ayisha Bellot, Assessment Education Officer; and Mrs. Wenonah Lawrence, ICT Education Officer.
Fifth place went to OKPS with a score of 222 out of a possible 300 points; fourth place went to AARPS with a score of 228. The third place awardee was the VPS with a total score of 238; second place was awarded to MVPS with a score of 268, and first place honors went to VVPS with a score of 274.
While all the projects were deemed to be impressive and effective, one project stood out from the others.
The winning project had a multi-pronged approach, which focused on beautification and conservation of the environment through the planting of floral and herbal gardens, as well as responding to the threat of food insecurity by the planting of fruit and vegetable trees, the produce of which would be used to stock the school’s kitchen.
Aesthetically pleasing yet functional elements were also incorporated into the project’s layout with the addition of a walkway made from hand-painted sea rocks; paintings of vegetables found in the garden on the walls; as well as a water well, constructed from old tires and repurposed pallet boards painted in Anguilla’s national colours, a solar-powered water fountain; and benches for students or parents to use; as well as child friendly games for the students to play constructed from painted tires. It was clear that these students had “gone the extra mile” to present a project that was as diverse as it was relevant to the judging criteria.
Judges were impressed with the quality of the students’ oral presentation on their project.
They were also impressed with the level of creativity, skill and engagement and enthusiasm displayed by the students, and the level of enjoyment that they displayed as they spoke with the judges about their projects and some of the challenges they experienced in working to bring the projects to fruition. Students also demonstrated sound knowledge of Anguilla’s indigenous plants and herbs and their uses for medicinal purposes.
The group project aims to help students to focus, within the context of Tourism, on the protection and preservation of the natural environment as well as the importance of enhancing and beautifying their surroundings in meaningful and aesthetically-pleasing ways and highlights the importance of group dynamics in achieving common goals.
The students are also given the opportunity to verbally present their thoughts on the project process through their interactions with the judges.
The judges were satisfied that there were evidence of these objectives having been met in all submissions.
