| The Teacher Noonie Library was officially opened and dedicated at the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School on Friday, November 25, at a ceremony attended by officials from the Ministry and Department of Education, teachers, students, members of the Anguilla Community Foundation and book donors. |
The dedication of the library was in honour of the late Muriel Richardson, better known as “Teacher Noonie” who taught at the then Road School where she built up a high reputation as an excellent and committed educator over a number of years.
The cutting of the ribbon was done by Mrs. Rhona Richardson-Roydon of the Anguillla Community Foundation and daughter of the late Teacher Noonie; Mrs. Jacqui De Lacoudray, book donor; and Dr. Paul Webster, a former student at the school.
Principal of the school, Mavis Fleming-Drakes, especially welcomed Jacqui De Lacoundray, a former student at West End, now residing in New York, who was instrumental in providing a number of books for the library. Two other persons mentioned as working with her in the United States as part of a team called “Rojjak” to provide books for schools in Anguilla are Katherine Rogers and Joseph Williams, also former students at West End. A fourth donor is Randy Miller of Massachusetts who recently contributed one of the largest shipments of books for schools on the island.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett thanked all the persons who contributed to the new library at the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School. “It cannot be stressed enough how important literacy development is to the overall development of our children,” she said. “Without sound literacy skills, it is virtually impossible to learn anything else. I am so grateful to the community partners, both locally and overseas, for recognising this and realising that if we are to develop our children educationally, and in all aspects, that they must have a sound foundation and that can only be based on sound literacy skills.” Mrs. Petty-Barrett appealed to the children to make very good use of the library.
Rev. Dr. S. W. Hodge, an early teacher at the Road School, recalled that at the time of his service the school did not have any library facilities. As a result he frequently rode his bicycle to the public library in The Valley where be borrowed a box of books for reading at the school. He said it was now a privilege that the now renamed school had its own library. He was particularly grateful to the donors and urged the children to read the various books as part of their education process.
Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Rhonda Connor, joined in thanking the book donors and in stressing the benefits of reading. “You will have heard the Permanent Secretary mentioned the importance of literacy and being able to read,” she told the students. “If you cannot read, then you will not be able to do your science, social studies and maths properly; you will not be able to do well in your Test of Standards and at secondary school; and if you do not do well there, then you are not going to do well at college or at your work place;so literacy is therefore very important.”
She thanked Mrs. De Lacoudray for giving back to Anguilla; the Community Foundation for providing funds for setting up the school library. Mrs.Richardson-Roydon was pleased to have been accompanied by several Board members of the Community Foundation. She stated that it was a privilege for her organisation to have contributed to the development of the library through the Teacher Noonie Fund and she thought it was an important addition to the school. Dr. Paul Webster was grateful for the opportunities of learning he had at the school; for its continuing contribution to the community; and he pledged his to continue his support for the school and its students. Mrs. De Lacoundray, who is originally from St. Kitts, expressed thanks to her former classmates at the West End Primary School, Katherine Rogers, Joseph Williams and John (Sunny) Richardson) and a friend, Randy Miller, from Massachusetts, for assisting her in providing books for schools in Anguilla. Her first contribution comprised books and toys for the West End Day Care Centre; and was followed in 2010 by a shipment of 14 boxes of books to the primary school there, by her and Ron Delaney. The next shipment she made comprised 28 boxes of books to the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School. Mrs. De Lacoudray said that she and her friends, known as the “Kojjack” team,along with Randy Miller, had undertaken to ensure that each primary school in Anguilla would receive a shipment of books. “Thanks to all in the United States who have contributed books,” she acknowledged. “We could not have been successful as we are today. In a world that is constantly evolving, the power of reading has always remained constant.” Other speakers were Deputy Principal, Janice Connor, who delivered the closing remarks and Teacher Shauna Connor, who gave the Vote of Thanks. |
