Back to School!

BACK TO SCHOOL IN JAMAICA
SEPT. 2011
The big event after summer camp ended and before I left on vacation was that the barrel of books the ROMEO group had shipped from Boston arrived in Montego Bay. The ROMEOs are a bunch of Retired Old Men Eating Out, including my father, who had set themselves a goal to collect and send books to my school. What dears! I had heard that getting a barrel was quite a process, but I did not expect 8 hours of a process! Fortunately, Ms Gowie came with me, and found someone with a truck to take us and get the barrel back to school. The process was to present papers at one window, and then take them to another window etc. for the whole morning. We skipped lunch because we didn’t dare leave our spot in case they called our name! Then when the barrel got to us, we had to wait for a customs official to open it so we could take everything out and have it inspected. I wanted to take a photo of the large sign in the warehouse which detailed the 8 steps necessary before you could leave with your barrel, but another sign stated NO PHOTOGRAPHS! Eventually around 4PM we did get to leave with our barrel! 3 of “my” summer camp boys came and helped unload the books and stamp the books. It was so cute to see these reluctant readers stop and look at various books! And such a lovely assortment was sent to us. A real blessing.
I spent the last 2 weeks of August back in the US having a wonderful family vacation visiting my daughter’s and meeting my new grandson, then off to my son’s and a family reunion in NH where we enjoyed a rain day courtesy of Hurricane Irene. Still no hurricanes in Jamaica for which I am thankful! I returned with a second suitcase of 49 pounds full of books and school supplies from Hallettsville Elementary School in Texas. One of the teachers had visited our school while she was vacationing in Jamaica and offered to send books. Since shipping is so expensive, I suggested she send them on to my daughter also in Texas and I would get them when I came to visit. Was I ever surprised when instead of 1 box of books there were 5 boxes waiting for me!
School opened on Monday, September 5. We have 3 new teachers and 2 who began in the spring of last year. The staff makeup and atmosphere is quite different and seems of more a positive, energetic nature. I hope so. I was asked to help train the new teachers in how to give the new MOE diagnostic test. That was a nice compliment! Along with the usual first week of school chaos, the MOE (Ministry of Education) was sending an inspection team on Sept. 13th for 2 days. So there was a lot of frantic cleaning, organizing, and meetings about what should be prepared. I helped out where needed. This was very stressful for the staff.
Now, the third week of school I have finally begun my pull out groups of 3 or 4 students from grades 3 and 4. This is my favourite part of my day- I truly love working with these small groups. And I am pleased that this year each class has a scheduled time to come to the library. This will, I hope, begin a regimen that can be continued when I leave Breadnut Hill Primary. The next project is to work out a computer room system that works. It is nice to get back in to the school routine.

Adventures in Learning Summer Camp for Boys
July 11-28, 2011 Breadnut Hill Primary School
The idea of this camp was to broaden the life experiences of a small group of boys who had been identified as being at least 2 grade levels below their grade in reading skills. The 13 boys were from grades 4 and 5. The plan was to create a learning environment that would excite them to learn and then use that to increase their reading and writing skills. Mr. Gooden, my Jamaican co-teacher, has a passion and interest in sports and art so these were included in the weekly schedule as well. There was also a service project component to the camp. This did not work out as planned and hoped for, but I feel still a valid idea. Swim lessons twice a week was also included (my passion!).
As part of the Peace Corps Jamaica grant, an introduction to HIV was included and 5 sessions were planned. HIV is of major concern in the Caribbean. I was fortunate that Tina Quinby, PCV in St. Ann’s Bay, was willing and able to run these sessions- she did a great job! I also had help from 2 other PCV’s for swim lessons, (thank goodness!) Daniel McDonald and Mark Bryson. For two days I had the luxury of having 2 PC trainees stay with me and help out at camp. Ann and Susan were a great help as well.
Trips were arranged to work around the cruise ship schedule and in a logical order. My landlord very generously arranged for the use of his 15 passenger van and a driver for a very small fee. I had planned a lot of site visits because I wanted the boys to be exposed to a large variety of places, people and careers. We went to: Rennie’s Auto Garage, Ocho Rios Library, Wassi Art Pottery Studio, Dr A Giles, optometrist, Jamaica Defence Force Camp, Durgan organic farm, UWI Discovery Bay Marine Lab, Hawksbill turtle hatching in Orcabessa. Plus swim lessons at Ocho Rios Beach and once we used Bucksfield football field for football drills. We had lunch supplied free to us once from Burger King and once from Island Grill for which we were very appreciative. The boys wrote formal thank you letters to some places and more creative thank you notes to others.
At Wassi Art, each boy was allowed to sit at the potter’s wheel and make a small pot to take home. That was a favourite experience for most of the boys. Dr. Giles very generously did a vision screening for each boy- and recommended that 2 boys return for a complete eye exam (free of charge!). I was able to make the arrangements and both boys have now had their eye exam and have their prescription for glasses. I am in touch with the Kingston Lion’s Club Sight Foundation to see if they can assist with the purchase of glasses. Just this made all the work worthwhile- no wonder these 2 boys have not been successful at school- they can’t read the blackboard!
We were really treated well on our visit to the JDF soldier camp. We toured the assault course, the regiment band played for us and we had lunch there as well. At the auto garage the boys had lots of questions of course and Rennie showed them his tools and equipment. The Marine Lab was neat- they had a touch tank with sea cucumbers and sea urchins, and they learned about lion fish- this is an intrusive species that is devastating the local fish population- it is edible if the poisonous spins are removed correctly. The hope is to develop a market for the fish so that their numbers will go down. A highlight for many was to see and hold the baby hawksbill turtles. Watching the boys watching them crawl to the sea was so special. At swim lessons the boys learned the buddy system and to “Reach, throw, but don’t go” in regards to water rescues. They had a blast at the beach, and we were still able to cover a few basic water skills!
Our last day was an American hot dog cook out- each boy had to find a stick to roast their hotdog (well everyone had at least 2). Mr Gooden made the fire after the boys rounded up some wood for fuel. After hotdogs and baked beans plus carrot and celery sticks (not big hit- celery was a total unknown) we made s’mores. I had drawn a diagram of how to make a s’more, and the boys roasted their marshmallows. They were a great hit. It was such fun to share a bit of American culture with them! At the end of the day parents were invited to come for an Open House, and we had certificates to hand out. Sadly only 4 parents showed up, but Miss Gowie, the principal, and another teacher came and cheered for the boys. I was happy to hear Miss Gowie say she wants to continue a boys’ summer program next year- and I will leave her a jump drive with all my letters, schedules and contacts.
This camp turned out really well- and involved a lot of community members. I hope the boys learned a lot about themselves and their community. I am grateful for all the people who helped make it a reality!