ALPHA Center to celebrate 40 years

The ALPHA Centre, School for Children with Mental Disabilities, will celebrate its 40th Anniversary with a week of activities from the 22nd to the 27th June 2014.

The School which opened its doors on the 24th June 1974 in a small room at the Goodwill Parish Hall, commenced operations with six students and two teachers as a program of the St Alphonsus Roman Catholic Parish.

With tremendous generous support from the Roman Catholic Church, the Government of Dominica, Roman Catholic Organizations overseas, private sector companies overseas and in Dominica, international children’s organizations and agencies, local service clubs, friends and benefactors, the Centre has grown into a full-fledged educational facility with a current roll of forty students and offering a holistic curriculum of academics, life skills, woodwork, sewing, art & craft, cooking and backyard gardening.

The Centre has nurtured many students into adulthood some of whom have moved to the Abilities Unlimited Workshop where they create baskets and other craft for a living, while others are employed in the private sector.

In recognition of its contribution to the education of children with special needs, the Centre was bestowed with the Services Medal of Honour for meritorious service at the Independence Day Parade on November 3, 2004 – a proud moment for the administrators, students and staff of the Centre.

The ALPHA Centre’s 40th anniversary week of activities will begin with attendance at Holy Mass at the St Alphonsus Church on Sunday 22nd June.

The official opening of the week of activities, launching of the Centre’s 40th Anniversary Magazine and Exhibition on Monday 23rd June, a field trip for students to the Londonderry Livestock Farm and a fund-raising Anniversary Dinner on Friday 27th June at the St Alphonsus Parish Hall under the patronage of Most Reverend Bishop Gabriel Malzaire will comprise the main activities of the week.