June 3rd, 2016 -- Recognizing the passion and dedication of Principal Jennifer Dolphin, Librarian Nicole Francis-Williams, and the school staff to literacy and a vibrant school library, Sandy Point Primary School has been awarded the 2015-2016 Hands Across the Sea Literacy Award for St. Kitts and Nevis (http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/HandsLiteracyAward2015-2016.htm#kittsnevis). The prize is U.S. $1,000 in brand new reading books or literacy support materials of the school's choice.
How does a library become more than a collection of books? How does a school become infused with the excitement and discovery of reading and literacy? How does the power and value of child literacy spread throughout a community? Meet Nicole Francis-Williams, librarian and architect (along with super-supportive Principal Jennifer Dolphin) of the Sandy Point Primary School library makeover (in the photo, that's Principal Dolphin at right and Francis-Williams holding up the big orange hand).
Francis-Williams embraced the methodology of the Hands Across the Sea Library Manual for Primary Schools (color-coding the books by reading level, artfully displaying them, and more). But much more than that she has brought vitality to the library by creating fun, engaging literacy activities for each grade at the school, such as: a new theme for the library every term; read-alouds dramatized with in-character costumes from books; a “Read a Book” challenge, with rewards; and literacy "parades" of the school's avid student readers through the community. The library at Sandy Point Primary is now integral to the education and daily life of the school’s 312 students. That's the way it should be.
Hands Across the Sea's Co-Founder and Executive Director Harriet Linskey said, "There is no doubt that improved literacy skills open the door to a better life, and Principal Dolphin and her staff are demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting reading and writing by making their library an important part of the school." Hands Across the Sea, founded in 2007, has served 8,880 children at 36 primary and secondary schools and reading programs in St. Kitts and Nevis since 2009, sending a total of 25,670 new and near-new books. As part of each year's Hands Wish Lists, educators specify the types of books most needed for their school.
"Our dream at Hands Across the Sea is that every primary and secondary school in St. Kitts and Nevis have a first-class lending library filled with new books, books that have been requested by each school's educators, and that the library become an integral, essential part of the school," says Tom "T.L." Linskey, Co-Founder of Hands Across the Sea. "We believe that to get children hooked on reading you have to put new, exciting, amazingly great books in their hands--and that's what we do, because Hands Across the Sea sends new books from the world's best children's book and educational publishers.
We also believe that these rejuvenated school libraries need guidance to come into being, and they need support and monitoring to be sustained year after year. Our on-island Hands Literacy Link, Heidi Fagerberg, who is the Hands Across the Sea representative on St. Kitts and Nevis, is known as a children's book author with a love of books, reading, and literacy. During her visits to schools she helps make the dream of a fantastic library come true: she listens, troubleshoots, finds solutions, and helps turn dreams into reality. I know that everyone on St. Kitts and Nevis believes that children are precious, and that children are the future. Let's make every child's future a better one by giving them access to great books, literacy skills, and the chance to shine as bright as their new libraries!"
Hands Across the Sea is dedicated to raising the literacy levels of Eastern Caribbean children on the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, St. Lucia, and Grenada. Since founding the organization in 2007, Hands Across the Sea has shipped over 209,300 books to the region through its Caribbean Literacy and School Support (CLASS) program.
The CLASS program, in concert with each school's Hands Wish Lists (school principals, teachers, and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers tell Hands which books they need), works in three ways:
1. Send Great New Books;
2. Create Borrowing Libraries (usually a school library); and
3. Foster Sustainability of the library through support at the school, the local community, and the hands-on efforts of on-island Hands Literacy Links. On St. Kitts and Nevis, Hands Across the Sea partners with the Christophe Harbour Foundation, Scotiabank Bright Future, Four Season Homeowner's Association, and Fastcash Caribbean, while working closely with the Ministries of Education.
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