On Friday 9th June, 2023, the Grade Six students of the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School (VVPS) received their duly earned award of an overnight stay at their sponsor hotel, Shoal Bay Villas (SBV). The overnight stay is awarded to a group of approximately 10 boys and 10 girls from each class participating in the Hello Tourist program. In addition to the overnight stay, the group receives a full day excursion around the island, which also includes participation in a tourist-based attraction. All of this is the culmination of a year-long program, where the students learn about Tourism in their class setting, participate in both individual and Group projects, and receive informative class sessions from the Tourism Education Coordinator of the Department of Education.
The Hello Tourist Class of the Year 2023 distinction was awarded to the 6th Grade class of VVPS based on their exemplary behavior, participation and achievements in the 2023 Hello Tourist Program (HTP). The students excelled in the production of Individual projects where all of them in the class produced an individual project for submission to the Individual Project. In the Group Project the VVPS also excelled with their combination of a Vegetable-Herb Garden also inclusive of flowering plants and aesthetic elements like a hand-constructed well, bench, and tables complete with games and a walkway to the gardens created from recycled elements and painted in the national colours. The VVPS project was also unanimously awarded 1st place by the team of judges.
The students also displayed excellence in Group Dynamics, with 100% participation of all students and the ability of all of them to speak articulately and authentically of their involvement in the Group Project.
As their reward for an Excellent Showing as the HTP Class of the Year 2023, the students were treated to an extra overnight Stay at Shoal Bay Villas Beach Resort.
On the first day of their overnight stay, they were picked up at their school with their overnight bags, by Preston Taxi and Tour Services. The had an informative tour of the island conducted by Mrs. Niles, which included a tour of the Olde Valley and the Katouche Valley Overlook, and picture-taking at the site of Anguilla’s oldest building, Wall Blake House and the nearby Catholic Church building. From there, the students drove through the C. Leonard Carty Road to West End, where they toured the site of the Bedney ‘s and Rogers Wells and engaged in some birdwatching at the Long Bay Pond. Then it was off to Rendezvous where they visited and carried out a site inspection of the Anguilla Great House, one of Anguilla’s premier Charming Escapes properties.
The students were then treated to lunch at the Anguilla Great House’s beachside bistro, Coconuts, after which they relaxed on the beach chairs for a while until their meal was digested. Noting, that their schedule for the day had designated beach time at Rendezvous Bay and seeing that the beach was undergoing a fierce attack from marauding Sargassum Seaweed, Management of the Great House graciously invited the students to use their pool facilities, which made everyone VERY happy! After enjoying the pool, it was time to take the bus to Shoal Bay Villas, where they checked in for their overnight stay.
The afternoon was spent relaxing in their rooms which were strategically located poolside, before getting ready for pick up and transfer to dinner off-property at Ocean Echo Restaurant. After dinner they returned to the hotel, where they were permitted an hour of free time to relax, before it was lights out at 10:00 pm.
Day Two started early for the students, as they were up by 5am, eager to get their day started. The students were first treated to breakfast at the Manoah Restaurant, next door to Shoal Bay Villas, compliments the property’s Management. Then it was off to Anchor Mini Golf, where the students had their first-time experience of playing a round (or two) at the beautifully crafted course. This was followed by an ice cream treat from Tropical Treats. Then they headed out to Shoal Bay Beach for a delicious lunch beside the sparkling waters at the Las Olas Mexican Restaurant.
After lunch, the students strolled across the beach to their rooms at SBV, and enjoyed, you guessed it! – some deliciously cool pool-time. Then, thus reinvigorated, they were ready for the afternoon’s activity, a Sip and Paint Session with local artist Malesia Carty. The boys were given the opportunity to create seascapes featuring a boat, while the girls painted a lady contemplating the gorgeous pristine waters of Shoal Bay. Mrs. Palmavon Webster also took the opportunity to come by and chat with the students, and to offer her personal congratulations on their success.
After the painting and sipping was completed, the students headed back to the pool, before it was time to get ready for dinner, a short stroll away at Madeariman Beach Restaurant, where they were treated to a Pizza Evening, compliments the Management of SBV. After a full day, there was no questioning the Lights Out time of 9:30 that night!
Day Three started out considerably later than Day 2, as the students rolled out of bed around 7.00 am to head out to breakfast at the Manoah Hotel, sponsored by Webster-Law. The rest of the morning was spent relaxing around the pool until it was time to check out, and the students were transported back to their school for pick up by their parents. A wonderful, fantastic, awesome overnight stay had come to an end!
The program for Day 2 was especially curated for the VVPS students by Mrs. Niles, and sponsored by Webster-Law, one of the Sponsor partners of the School, in recognition of their hard work in winning the Group Project Award.
Further stays will be taking place in the coming weeks and months for the other schools that have qualified to receive the Overnight Stay, as some properties have to wait until they have availability in space. Stays will therefore extend into August in some cases.
The Hello Tourist Program is made possible through the generous support and assistance of the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB), The Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA), the Department of Education (DoE), Preston Hughes Taxi and Transportation Services, Aquam Water Services, Parts Haven, Advance Caribbean, Richards Architectural Design Services (RADS), Omega Carwash, Changes and DIP & STRIP Restaurants, Webster-Law, and JulucaCares.
On behalf of the DoE, the Tourism Education Unit extends sincere thanks to all who make this memorable Award possible for our students.
