Following the mid-term break which had begun on Tuesday, October 21st, students returned to school on Monday, October 27th. Perhaps nowhere else could the students and teachers be happier than at the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School, where a brand new classroom block was commissioned on October 27th to accommodate regular teaching and learning experiences.
The Anguillian paid a visit to the upgraded school. Escorted by the Principal, Mrs. Estelle Laurent-Carter, we were privileged to take a tour of each classroom of the new facility. It was quite a fascinating experience to note how eager the students were to express their gladness for their new classroom environment.
Looking up in the roof, one little girl commented: “Since we have a lot more fans now, it is cooler that the old school, and I love that.” Another girl pointed out, “I love how the classrooms are decorated. This school is very nice, fresh and new.” One boy remarked: “compared to the other old school, which was a ‘junk’, this school is comfortable and new.”
The students comments continued: “There is more space in this classroom,” said another young lady. “We enjoy the cool breeze from the sea and from the many fans in the roof, and I also like the theme.” When asked what the theme is, she replied: “Our theme is: ‘Life is better on the beach’.”
Another female student said: “This new school is a big change for the Island Harbour community, because it has been the same for many years. Now the students can feel more comfortable and happier in these bigger classrooms.”
The Principal, on behalf of the staff, expressed her delight over the move from the old accommodations to the new: “We are very elated and blessed to be occupying this new space,” she said. “The students are much more excited about it than the teachers, as you can see. As you know, children always love new things.”
“Our teachers spent the entire week of the midterm break making preparations in the classrooms,” she continued. “As you have seen for yourself, our classrooms are indeed beautiful. And we are very thankful for the donor who has willingly contributed to the new development, as well as to the Government of Anguilla for the indispensible role it has played to bring these facilities to reality.”
“We just want to ensure that our students and our community value and appreciate this new space, because it belongs to us. We want to be caring stewards of it. We will try our best to make sure we maintain the standards for the best care of our new classrooms. We will endeavour to ensure this school’s upkeep for future generations of this community.”
The Principal noted that the formal opening ceremony of the new block is scheduled for Monday, October 10th. “However, this morning our Chaplin, Pastor David Rodduck did come,” she said, “and he asked God’s blessing upon the upgraded facility. He went into every classroom and prayed for the Lord’s favour upon the new spaces, as well as upon all our teachers and every student,” the Principal stated passionately.
The Vivien Vanterpool Primary, known as the Home of the Green Gators, is the only school that is located on a beach front area. The new two-storey classroom block, located a safe distance away from the shoreline, was constructed in order to mitigate the effects of beach erosion as well as to reduce the impact of the health hazards of Sargassum Algae.
