ST. PETER’S, St. Kitts – MANAGEMENT and staff of the St. Peter’s Early Childhood Centre yesterday afternoon (Nov. 28) presented gift baskets of goodies to one past student and three parents as part of the institution’s fifth anniversary week of activities celebration.
At a simple but very impressive ceremony held on the centre’s compound, which houses a nursery and a preschool, Jonella Clarke and Kelvin ‘Lookie’ Rawlins were presented their baskets, while Aundriel Benjamin received one on behalf of her mother, Carol Benjamin, who was not present at the event.
Shortly before the ceremony, management and staff of the Centre paid a visit to the CARIFESTA Project home of well-known paralysed teen Kailah James, a former student of the then Kiddies Kollege St. Peter’s Day Care Centre, to whom they presented a basket of goodies that included rice, peas and tins of mackerel.
Supervisor of the Centre Althea Chambers informed this media house that the institution is celebrating its fifth anniversary since nursery and preschool became one edifice and that the week of activities has so far been going good.
The week of activities started on Sunday (Nov. 25) and will end on Saturday (Dec. 1).
Chambers stated that the parents who were given baskets are those in need and so the school had recognised them, and that James was remembered as a past student in light of her health condition.
This media house spoke with the two parents and Clarke said: “I appreciate this kind gesture. It’s been a good experience as a parent of this school. I must say that the teachers are very attentive to the children”.
Rawlins, the other parent, who was involved in an accident over a year ago that left him physically challenged, also expressed sentiments of appreciation. He thanked Chambers and her staff for the gift basket.
James’ mother, Venetia Clarke, was appreciative of the gift to her daughter.
She told this media house that she is grateful that after so many years since her daughter had left the preschool, “it is a pleasure to see that the staff remembers her”.
James, who turned 18 on Nov. 30, has been paralysed from the waist down for over six years and uses a wheelchair to get around.
Upon inspecting her gift basket, James said she was glad that she had received noodles and macaroni and cheese.
James told this media house that she had just finished playing an online car racing game just before her visitors had arrived.
In a chit chat with this reporter about her 18th birthday celebration, James said it was a “milestone day”, adding that the celebration was nice and that she had gotten a “well-appreciated gift from my mom”.
Teacher of the former Kiddies Kollege, Jennifer Henry, remembered James as being energetic, outgoing and playful with a bright spirit. She said James was a “very nice child” and had loved to smile during her attendance at the preschool and continues to wear it even up to present day.
At the end of the presentation ceremony, SKNVibes was invited by Chambers to visit a showroom where art pieces created by the preschoolers were put on display.
Some of the students were present during the viewing and they were all excited to ‘cheese’ for the camera and show this reporter the pieces they made.
The week of activities commenced with a Church Service at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church on Sunday and was followed by the school’s Open Day on Monday, while on the following day the preschoolers visited the McKnight and Challengers Day Care Centres.
Today, the Centre will be hosting its Staff Social and tomorrow will be Mufti Day and a Fair. The week closes on Saturday with a Health Walk.
