Two schools receive literacy awards

Students and teacher of the Penville Primary School pose with their award

Two schools on the island have been awarded the 2012/2013 Hands Across the Sea Literacy Awards for Dominica.

The Isaiah Thomas Secondary School (ITSS) and Penville Primary School will receive US$1,000 in new books and other literacy assistance as a result of the award.

“There is no doubt that improved literacy skills open the door to a better life, and both ITSS and Penville have vibrant borrowing libraries and a passionate commitment to literacy,” Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hands Across the Sea, Harriet Linskey said.

Both schools embraced Hands Across the Sea’s CLASS (Caribbean Literacy and School Support) programme, which has donated 3,600 books to Isaiah Thomas Secondary and 1,000 books to Penville Primary over the past three years, the organization said in a release.

Principal of the ITSS, Jerome Bardouille, pointed to the importance of literacy in a child’s future as a reason for joining the program with the US-based charity.  “Reading and writing are so important to a child’s future, that is why we have joined with Hands Across the Sea to give our students access to top-quality books and literacy resources,” he said.

The organization created a Literacy Center and refurbished a reference library at the school as part of its program there.

Meanwhile at the Penville Primary School a library was revitalized with the assistance of Hands Across the Sea. “Interest in reading improved greatly at our school when the new books arrived,” said Mrs. Mary Robinson, the Grade 3 teacher in charge of the library. “The boys are reading a lot more now, because the new books are exciting and have caught their attention.”

The North East Comprehensive School has also received assistance from Hands Across the Sea in collaboration with the Beverly Foundation and the US Embassy in Barbados.

Hands Across the Sea was started in 2007 by Harriet and Tom Linskey and has been dedicated to raising the literacy levels of Eastern Caribbean children, from pre-school to high school, through their Caribbean Literacy and School Support (CLASS) program.

The organization has shipped over 28,300 new and near-new books and 80 boxes of teaching resources to 51 schools, community libraries, and reading programs in Dominica, reaching over 10,700 children.

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15 Comments

  1. goldie
    January 13, 2013

    i highly appreciated this. Our children really need to broaden their horizon through reading.

  2. January 12, 2013

    Well done to all involved. Congratulations!!!

  3. Anonymous
    January 11, 2013

    I applaud the efforts of HANDS in there vetted interest in our children’s education.I also applaud the efforts of the teachers involved at both schools.However,I must say that there are two teachers with Bachelors in Reading Literacy at one of the schools(part,if not fully sponsored by Gov’t) and they DON’T hold their wait when it comes to the degree they possess at that school…..

  4. Tee
    January 11, 2013

    Hands Across The Sea rocks! Well done and a big, resounding “Thank You” on behalf of all our youth in Dominica and in the other Caribbean islands HANDS serves. Yup!

  5. ;
    January 11, 2013

    :)

  6. looking
    January 11, 2013

    Mrs. Robinson gr8 job my lady keep up the good work.

  7. Abby
    January 11, 2013

    YES yes yes!!

  8. Abby
    January 11, 2013

    Great initiative. I am glad for this opportunity for the youth. And the boys are reading more/ Bravo!!!!!

  9. Affection8
    January 10, 2013

    Thanks to you Hands Across the Sea. I hope Dominica and the Ministry of Education are taking note of your assistance to schools in Dominica for the past 4 years or more. Dominica, these people need to be recognized for their donation and assistance to many schools in Dominica and the Caribbean. Thanks again “Hands”.

  10. peeps
    January 10, 2013

    congrats to you all….keep reading youths for a brighter tomorrow

  11. sweetness
    January 10, 2013

    GREAT JOB,HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

  12. Past Senoir Prefect
    January 10, 2013

    ITSS……..Hooray………Backwards never, forward forever !!!!!!!!!

    • Tee
      January 11, 2013

      “Learning today for a brighter tomorrow”

  13. Brenda
    January 10, 2013

    Congratulation Mrs. U. Joseph keep up the good works.

  14. Anonymous
    January 10, 2013

    Great job to both schools

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