By Claudia Liburd
Nevis Reporter - SKNVibes.com
~~adz:Left~~ (Charlestown; Nevis) At approximately 7:35 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, staff, students and parents of children attending the Ivor Walters Primary School began their 11th Annual Walkathon to raise funds to subsidize the costs of the school's annual Sports Meet.
While the walkathon is an annual event, this year it was held from an educational backdrop where the students were lectured on the various national monuments such as the Light House which is located on the south-western side of Nevis.
Students were separated into junior and senior divisions and they traveled on different routes. The children from Grades 2-6 walked from the school to the Light House via the Long Point Estate road traveling through the Dog Wood Estate.
At the same time, the kindergarten and Grade 1 students walked a mile past the Long Point Road and then traveled on foot back to the school via Brown Hill.
Deputy Principal, Wilroy Gerald explained that the students were not originally slated to walk that distance, however due to their high levels of energy they were able to travel onward with the senior students.
"The kindergarten and Grade 1 students along with their teachers, walked from the school and originally we planned for them to stay off at the Long Point road. However, as children of this age group showed an indefatigable interest they were taken about a mile further on route towards the Light House," he said.~~adz:Right~~
He continued: "However, their walk was truncated and proceeded via Brown Hill on their journey back to the school. In total kindergarten walked a total of four miles and the senior classes walked an approximate total of six miles."
The trip was an educational one in that children were able to see the rapid coastal erosion that is presently taking place along the south-western side of our island. Furthermore, the children gained insight into the importance of the Light House for shipping as it is situated near several reefs.
"In the past, several ships ran aground in this area, meaning that they would have crashed in this area," Gerald said. "Hence, the Light House has been playing a very important role in assisting in the mitigation of these damages to ships."
According to the deputy principal, children were fascinated in the way the Light House operates as no light was on during the daytime. However, teachers present explained to their students that the operations of the Light House are solar-powered and that energy captured during the day is stored for nighttime usage.
~~adz:Left~~ "Children were also told about the area being a frequent line fishing place for many Nevisians during the day and nighttime hours as there is an abundance of fish, whelks, and other sea foods in that area," explained Gerald.
Finally, the principal described the trip which was terminated as students proceeded back to school via the Williams Quarry at Brow's Estate in Brown Hill as fascinating and noted that it was 'one of the best walkathons the school has ever had'.
"Students were lectured on the importance of the operations of the quarry. Unfortunately it was not in operation on that particular day," he said. "However students were able to see the stones. It was indeed a very fascinating experience and I can confidently say that it was one of the best walkathons that we would have held."
