BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Precious Gems Pre-school recently received a US$7 673 grant from the Port-of-Spain, Trinidad-based Australian High Commission for a project geared towards boosting its educational environment.
This media house recently visited the 2006-estblished learning centre at Parray’s Housing Development in St. Peter’s which, in addition to the pre-school, houses a kindergarten classroom.
A commemorative plaque is mounted at the school in show of its deep appreciation of the grant.
Some of the items that the school has bought include career outfits, musical instruments, furnishing for kitchen play area, a sink for sand and water as well as new tables and benches for the lunchroom.
Stickers with the Commission’s logo, with the words “Australian High Commission DAP Project”, have been placed on some of the items purchased for the Pre-school from the grant.
Principal of the school, Gemmy Fraser informed that the funding was sought for “manipulative teaching aids, furnishing, improved lunch area and upgrading our playground”.
Fraser seemed particularly delighted to have the lunch area aback the school extended, because during rainfall the children and staff could not remain there.
She spoke highly about the importance of providing a pleasant learning environment for children.
“When they (the children) come at the school, they must have that excitement that they want to be here and must be crying not to leave.”
She pledged that the school would continue to do its part in nurturing the minds of the future generation.
Fraser is extremely pleased that the grant was approved, especially since the application for funding was submitted during the deadline extension.
According to the Principal, at the “last moment” the school received the good news which was a pleasant surprise.
She thanked the Australian High Commission for providing an avenue for the assistance that was well-needed.
“I don’t have enough words to say how much I appreciate the effort because it was a surprise. I didn’t expect it but I give God the glory. I thank the Australian High Commission and to tell them continue because we really appreciate what they are doing.”
Fraser shared that Community Development Officer in the Department of Social Services, Community and Gender Affairs, Jaquline Christopher encouraged her to apply for the financial aid for which she is thankful.
The school’s project was approved under the Direct Aid Programme (DAP), which is a flexible, small grants programme for selected recipient countries, funded by the Australian Government through AusAID and managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
It is available to individuals, community groups and NGOs engaged in development activities, in designated countries, on a not-for-profit basis.
The school’s seventh annual Graduation Ceremony was held on Thursday (July 25) at the Zion Moravian Church on Victoria Road in Basseterre, which saw 13 children participating.
Fraser disclosed that a student of the graduation class is presently overseas and was unable to attend the ceremony.
Precious Gems Pre-School currently has 37 students in attendance, hailing from communities such St. Peter’s, Molineux and Sandy Point.
The other teachers of the school are Tabitha ‘Teacher Tabby’ Brown and Yulandah ‘Teacher Yulandah’ Mickle.
The school officially closed yesterday (July 26) for summer vacation and is scheduled to reopen on Monday, September 2.
