Head teacher Gregory Julius receives plaque
Following up and acting with regards to a CDEMA sponsored Living Schools project, Director of the Disaster Coordination Agency (DMCA), Billy Darroux and local branch Red Cross president Andre West delivered certificates to qualifiers at the Brades Primary School.
Head teacher Gregory Julius introduced the days event. “We’re basically here to make a short presentation with respect to the Living School project funded by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) as well as in collaboration with CDB, in terms of the funding.”
He explained there was a plumbing project was embarked on to upgrade the plumbing facility in the schools, “so as to facilitate proper maintenance and of course to ensure that the students have indeed a safe place to use as a restroom.”
In addition, “We also embarked on a first aid training with the assistance of the Red Cross thorough the tutorage of the Mr. Andrew West as part of our professional development day.” That was on February 14 this year, the day the training began.
Then there was the “upgrading our disaster preparedness plan,” he explained further. “Out of which,” he said, “they have made a booklet, which served both in terms of information as a guide and also a work booklet that the students can use not only in terms of the class, but to provide additional information for them as they go along and as they learn about disaster plan and preparation…” He further described the work books “as being user friendly”.
The teachers received First Aid training certificates along with the booklets, that include information and slides on floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters. This was credited to the DMCA and in particular through the work of Mrs. Ann Thomas who worked with the school, “so we can improve our plan so that the school can deal with crises.”
Ann Thomas delivers book to teacher
Head teacher, Gregory Julius accepted a plaque on behalf of the school. He expressed his pleasure as the principal of the school. “I’m quite happy and I’m quite pleased to know that we have covered these areas; and actually the main thing building partnership.”
He concluded, “I think the booklet and the first aid training are indeed critical elements to the teaching and learning here at school as we move forward to improve.
DMCA director Billy Darroux explained the inception of The Living Schools project Initiative as the Caricom/Brazil Living School project which was created by CDEMA and the Brazilian government.
He said it was, “designed to provide financial support for upgrading school facilities and building capacity in disaster risk reduction for countries making up the CDEMA participating states, including Montserrat.”
He indicated further that, “the project was implemented by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and that was in collaboration locally with the DMCA and the school.”
There have been several upgrading activities at the Brades primary school in recent months including the tiling of a class room by Grade five parents. That event took place in March. Mrs. Cheryll Adams explained at the handing over of the tiled class room said that it was strictly an initiative by the Grade 5 parents as against the Parent Teachers Association.
Last month the Nursery School was upgraded with new playground equipment, donated by the Governor’s offce.
