Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
ST. MARY’S R.C. SCHOOL: A HAVEN FOR OUR KIDS
Local Vibes
September 6, 2018

ST. MARY’S R.C. SCHOOL: A HAVEN FOR OUR KIDS

The floors and walls were being scrubbed clean. The colourful paint had been freshly applied. The vibrant cartoon and animated murals had come to life once again. There was a flurry of activity as principal, teachers and workmen alike readied the school for the students who were about to enter its gates for the new school year. This was the scene that greeted me when I visited the St. Mary’s R.C. School on Friday August 31, 2018 and while I have become accustomed to seeing this each year that I have been a St. Mary’s parent (since 2010), I believe that they have outdone themselves this time.

Bombarded with the depressing stories of rising crime in our society, it is becoming more and more difficult to strike a balance between making our kids aware of their changing society and yet preserving their childhood innocence. Schools are where our children spend their most alert hours of each week day and for this reason it ought to be a safe, clean, welcoming, child-friendly environment that not only encourages learning but promotes a positive, upbeat attitude. St. Mary’s R.C. School has struck the right balance, combining colour, inspirational messages and familiar animated characters in an array of vivid wall murals throughout the school.

While the School has its challenges with regard to its limited space and resources, the principal, Ms. Eula Johnny, and her team of loving and dedicated teachers and support staff have never adopted a laissez-faire approach, but instead have been proactive and driven in their desire to improve the school environment, even painting brightly coloured images on the blackboards that separate the classes and creating cozy reading corners in some classrooms. Their efforts have also extended to the psychological and the spiritual well-being of each child. The broadcasting of religious songs through the School’s PA system, prior to morning prayers, is a welcome addition that would, no doubt, have a calming effect on a usually rambunctious school population, enabling them to better handle conflict resolution now and in the future.

UNICEF has put out a Manual on Child-Friendly Schools, in which it mentioned diverse efforts made in countries worldwide to transform schools into child-friendly ones.

This was a major focus of UNICEF’s investment in education in the Eastern and Southern Africa region where such efforts centred on classroom processes and the school environment to promote more ‘joyful learning’.

According to UNICEF’s Manual, “the transformations are depicted in ‘before and after’ photographs of classrooms and schools that show the simple measures employed to promote change, such as:

(a) Brightly painted rooms, clean floors and colourful displays on walls;

(b) Child-appropriate furniture arranged flexibly for a variety of learning approaches; (c) Pupil activity centres or learning corners created around the classroom;

(d) Adequate water and sanitation facilities;

(e) Provision of recreation kits;

(f) Nutritious school meals.”

While the Manual pointed out that there has been little systematic evaluation of the impact of such changes on the child, the impressionistic conclusions of parents and teachers is that the child thrives in such a pleasant environment and teachers feel a greater sense of professionalism and pride as educators.

 

As a parent, I have come to a similar conclusion with respect to the effect that a pleasant learning environment can have on a child, and the proven track record of the St. Mary’s R.C. School affirms that view and is reassuring of the School’s continued excellence. In a small economy such as ours, St. Mary’s R.C. School is proof that even with little we can do a lot. Well done St. Mary’s! Keep up the good work!

Zhinga Horne Edwards
A proud and grateful St. Mary’s R.C. School parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Front Page
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    FAMILY MEMBERS of a woman who was killed at Long Wall say they suspect their relative was hacked by a person they all know very well. On Tuesday, Sept...
    Front Page
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE IDEA THAT HOUSING is a right, that every Vincentian has a right to safe and secure housing, and that the government has a role to play in ensuring...
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Front Page
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A POLICE OFFICER, who allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend 26 times about her body was remanded even as his lawyer argued that the Royal St Vincent and...
    Front Page
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A NEW UNITY LABOUR PARTY ADMINISTRATION will be rolling out an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to embrace its positives and guard against the nega...
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversery
    Front Page
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversery
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 9,2025 was a memorable day for the staff and students of the Sandy Bay Secondary School, which was marking its 20th anniversary wi...
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    News
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    NON- NATIONALS ARE being hired to fill several jobs in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) simply because locals did not have the required skill sets....
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    News
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Montgomery Daniel has sought to clear around rumours that have been circulating relating to his health. Speaking on NBC radio on...
    News
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    The GOVERNMENT of St Vincent and the Grenadines is set to sign agreements for tourism investment of $1.3 billion on mainland St.Vincent. On Monday, Se...
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    From the Courts, News
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A BARROUALLIE MAN will be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to being in illegal possession of a firearm and eight rounds of ammunition. Demron...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok