Hands Across the Sea
2014-2015 Hands Wish Lists
ANTIGUA
ANTIGUA
Bendal’s Primary School
120 students • Grades K to 6
Genevieve Gomes, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: The library space at this rural school in Bendals Village has undergone a
recent refurbishment, carried out with the support of the Rotary Clubs in St. John’s, Antigua,
and Bellevue, Washington. The room has been repainted, some new shelving has been installed,
and many of the old, inappropriate, and uninteresting books have been weeded from the
collection. Although the library houses 10 desktop computers, there is still room for some more
bookshelves and, of course, for an infusion of great new books from Hands Across the Sea. The
needs of the school library are varied and widespread, as their wish list indicates. The school has
a history of underperforming in the national exams and the new principal is keen to improve
these poor results.
Bendal's Primary School Wish List
The Baby Sitters Club, biographies (Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, Martin Luther
King), Clifford, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Goosebumps, Dr. Seuss
ANTIGUA
Cobbs Cross Primary School
89 students • Grades K to 6
Carol Lashley, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,00 goal
Background from Hands: Up to now, Cobbs Cross Primary School has been operating with
modest classroom libraries, and there is no librarian on staff. But there's good news: they have
recently finished renovating a building to use as a library. Some funding was provided by a local
yachting association (the school is near English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour, two of Antigua's
most famous yachting and historic attractions) and much of the work was done by local people.
The building has taken two years to complete, and has been very much a community effort. The
students already make very good use of the limited book resources that they have in hand, but
they are looking forward to a new library with new books. The school's high-energy, alwayspositive principal is too!
Cobbs Cross Primary School Wish List
A "starter set" of storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact books," such as
DK's Eye Wonder series
ANTIGUA
Five Islands Primary School
435 students • Grades K to 6
Hyacinth Barriero, Principal
Galley Bay Resort & Spa adopted this project
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Background from Hands: Most of the children at this large primary school come from families
who cannot afford to buy books to keep in the home. Thus the school library is vital for getting
students interested in books and reading, and for helping them develop their literacy skills
(spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and related skills of analytical thinking and
problem solving). The school had a library room when Hands visited in the spring of 2013, but it
was poorly organized and overstuffed with very old, inappropriate books—a sure sign of the
donation dumping that pervades the Eastern Caribbean. The Hands crew spent two days culling
the old books and briefed the school Principal, Hyacinth Barriero, about how to organize and
present the books in an accessible, child-friendly manner by following the Hands Across the Sea
Library Manual for Primary Schools. When the Hands crew visited the school in April 2014, we
found the library was transformed into a success story: the old books were gone, the new books
were color-coded (using colored dots on the spine) and organized by grade level on the shelves,
and the students are borrowing books. This school library has made big strides in a short time!
The next step is to continue to build the collection; the library simply doesn’t have enough
books to serve the student body.
Five Islands Primary School Wish List
A "fill the gaps" selection of storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact
books," such as DK's Eye Wonder series
ANTIGUA
Freeman’s Ville Primary School
93 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Janice Joseph, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: The school in this rural village is spotless and students here greet
visitors with much excitement. The school is housed in one long building with dividers between
partially enclosed rooms and a walkway along one wall allowing passage between the classes. It
can be very noisy at times under one galvanized roof. The teachers take great pride in their
classroom spaces and bright resources adorn the walls. There is no space for a dedicated school
library, but each classroom has a little library housed in a lockable cupboard designed and built
with parent volunteers. The books in the cupboards however are old and all need to be
replaced. The principal, students and staff are very excited by the prospect of great new books
from Hands for this out of the way village where books are scarce.
Freeman’s Ville Primary School Wish List
Learning materials: Are You Ready? Game Shows K-6 (one set for each class), Magna-TilesStarter Set (one set for each class), Teaching Reading Skills Activity Centers
ANTIGUA
Glanvilles Secondary School
110 students • Grades 7 to 11
Denise Mills, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: A relatively new school, Glanvilles Secondary School was built in 2009.
The school is nestled between the rural communities of Seatons Village and Glanvilles Village.
The location has a serene environment—surrounded by a grassy plain, away from high traffic—
that is ideal for learning. Both communities are quite supportive and have shown keen interest
in the enhancement and development of the school. In 2010, with assistance from the Arthur
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Boyd Trust and the Board of Education, the library was opened. Notes the Principal, "Our aim is
to raise the literacy level of all students by providing books that are age-appropriate and will
generate a high level of interest among the students. This includes books on self-esteem,
interpersonal relationships, sexuality and sexual health, and other education and fiction
subjects." Presently, the library is very limited in up-to-date reading materials, and there is
ample space for additional books.
Glanvilles Secondary School Wish ListNon- fiction books: sexuality and sexual health; cookery;
technology; mathematics; reading; Caribbean literary works; non-fiction books relative to the
Caribbean. Other authors and materials: Caribbean authors of fiction; Enid Blyton; Laura Ingalls
Wilder; Dick King-Smith; Caribbean biographies; classic books; black History books. Educational
charts: Life skills, motivational posters
ANTIGUA
Irene B. Williams Secondary School
75 students • Grades 7 to 11
Vere Shaw, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: This school was converted from an old primary school facility into a
secondary school, and Principal Shaw, his staff, and librarian Charlene Weaver are committed
and highly enthusiastic about helping these students succeed. Hands sent a selection of
reference books and Caribbean study guides to update a library that was launched years ago by
the Mill Reef Fund. The library space at Irene B. Williams Secondary is of adequate size and has
plenty of shelving, and the staff are gradually renovating the room with new flooring, more
tables and reading desks, and a supply of young adult fiction to entice secondary school
readers—Hands looks forward to supporting this library and school staff again.
Irene B. Williams Secondary School Wish List
Encyclopedia set, English/Spanish/medical dictionaries, illustrated classics, teen biographies,
Babysitter’s Club, Bluford High, books by Roald Dahl and James Patterson, books on agriculture,
engineering, culinary arts, aviation
ANTIGUA
Liberta Primary School
125 students • Grades K to 6
Pauleen Simon, Principal
Luanda Simon-Haywood, Reading Teacher/Librarian
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: Students at Liberta Primary School have soared to high levels of
academic achievement in the school's long history, and in all that time the school has made do
with classroom libraries. The Principal, however, has identified a small room that they could
convert to a library. It would need some work—it needs shelving as well as books. Liberta is a
relatively large community and she feels that a proper library is much needed, since there is no
other source of books for the children. On the plus side, the school has recently appointed a
Reading Teacher, Mrs. Haywood, who could also function as a part-time librarian, since she has
had some library training. The stage seems set for good things to happen!
Liberta Primary School Wish List
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Peppa Pig, Nancy Drew, Percy Jackson and the
Olympians. Teaching resources: pencils, construction paper, whiteboard and markers, book
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binding machine, laminating machine, die-cut machine
ANTIGUA
Mary E. Pigott Primary School
400 students • Grades K to 6
Gayle Samuel, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: This large primary school on the outskirts of St. John’s has an energetic
new principal in Gayle Samuel, who has a lot of good ideas for improving educational outcomes.
She has set aside a classroom to set up a library, and it has been painted with a bright mural.
Thanks to the Scotiabank Bright Future Program she has metal shelves and some great new
books. Next steps are floor tiles and some more furniture. Hands Across the Sea has provided
funding for the floor tiles and we expect this job to be done over the summer months. This
school library is a work in progress, but we are very optimistic about these children from
disadvantaged backgrounds being encouraged to read and having regular access to books in the
next school year.
Mary E. Pigott Primary School Wish List
We need a wide range of reading materials, and filing cabinets
ANTIGUA
New Winthorpes Primary School
Winner, 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award
100 students • Grades K to 6
Whitfield Browne, Principal
Mrs. Michiyo Robinson, Teacher/Librarian
The Mill Reef Fund adopted this project
Background from Hands: Principal Whitfield Browne and his school staff have created a vibrant
borrowing library in a space so small that few would consider it possible: the school's pump
room. About the size of a storage closet, the library is a welcoming, child-friendly space where
students can browse and borrow their favorite book. Grade 5/6 maths and science teacher Mrs.
Michiyo Robinson is in charge of the library and reports that the boys, who at most schools are
less interested that the girls in reading books, are excited about the graphic novels and "fact
books" about animals, cars, computers, and robots. The library at New Winthorpes Primary
School proves that the most important requirement for a library is not space, but passion.
New Winthorpes Primary School Wish List
The Berenstain Bears’ Family Reunion; Princess DisGrace: First Term at Tall Towers; My Feelings
pack; Pocket Books: Animals pack; Science Vocabulary Readers pack: Wild Weather; Discovering
My World: Space and the Planets pack; National Geographic Readers pack: Level 1, Trucks,
Trains, Boats and Planes; 100 Weirdest Facts; Amelia Bedelia Means Business; The Babysitters
Club: Mary Anne Saves the Day; Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s Guide to Fighting Evil; Wicked
World Cup; Goosebumps Most Wanted: Creature Teacher—The Final Exam
ANTIGUA
Old Road Primary School
96 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Ryona Joseph, Principal
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Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: This freshly-painted school on Antigua’s beautiful southern coastline is
across the street from the famous Carlisle Bay Resort. Ryona Joseph is the new Principal at Old
Road Primary School, and she has done a great job upgrading their library. We sent the school
new books as part of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists shipment. The dedicated space is divided
into two with a nicely set up computer room donated by the Antigua and Bellevue Breakfast
Rotary Clubs. The library has enough shelves, and all the books have been sorted and colorcoded according to reading level, as we advocate in the Hands Across the Sea Library Manual for
Primary Schools. The principal and staff, especially Julia Irish, the Reading Recovery teacher, are
excited about receiving new books to fill the gaps in their newly rejuvenated library.
Old Road Primary School Wish List
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, adventure series, science books for all
grades, books for lower grade students, world history, Alfred Hitchcock, Enid Blyton
ANTIGUA
Pare’s Secondary School
450 students • Grades 7 to 11
Rosalind Beazer, Principal
Stephanie D. Caesar-Maxime, Librarian
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,500 goal
Background from Hands: This medium-size rural secondary school is located on the eastern
quadrant of Antigua. With a relatively new Principal and staff in place, the push is on to give
raising literacy levels a high priority. The school’s librarian, Ms. Caesar-Maxime, who has been
trained as a remedial reading teacher, notes that the school has a lot of students who are
remedial readers, and that there are almost no appropriate books for them. (Ms. CaesarMaxime has been at the school for nine years, and notes that the library collection doesn’t look
much different now than when she first arrived. Most of the books that have been added to the
collection are library discards from U.S. donation agencies and individuals.) The librarian is
particularly keen to get up-to- date reference materials and encyclopedias into the library (what
they have right now dates from the 1980s). The first step for the school is to cull their collection
of outdated materials—after which there will be almost no books left. If the chance to create a
first-class library for high school kids appeals to you, this is a good project to support.
Pare’s Secondary School Wish List
Reference books: encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, school dictionaries; high interest/low
reading level books for remedial readers; Caribbean study guides; teenage non-fiction for grades
7, 8, 9; teenage fiction for grades 7, 8, 9 (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Babysitter’s Club); youngadult fiction for grades 10, 11 (The Hunger Games, Twilight, Little Women)
ANTIGUA
St. John’s Catholic Primary School
458 students • Grades K to 6
George Imhoff, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: This is a large school where students love to read—and they love to
write, too. Miss Latoya Honore, one of the three grade 4 teachers at the school, asked the
students to write essays for the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize of 2013, and ended up entering the
most writing submissions of any school on Antigua. As a result, her class won $500 worth of new
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books from Hands (we were one of the sponsors of the event). We included the Hands Across
the Sea Library Manual in the shipment, and Miss Honore is now leading the charge to establish
a library at the school. This is a great school to support at this vital juncture—you can help get a
school library underway and make a real difference for the students. With 458 students, this
school really needs a library!
St. John’s Catholic Primary School Wish List
Geronimo Stilton, Captain Underpants, Goosebumps, Scholastic Reader series, Harry Potter,
Little Leveled Readers, Clifford, Junie B. Jones, Dear Dumb Diary, Scholastic Discover More
series, The Baby Sitters Club, Scholastic Book of World Records, Scholastic First Biographies,
National Geographic Kids, animal picture books; craft/art supplies and manipulatives
ANTIGUA
Willikies Primary School
100 students • Grades K to 6
Denmore Roberts, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: There is a dedicated library in an unused classroom that is filled with
some new books shipped by Hands Across the Sea two years ago. This recently reorganized
library needs metal, child-friendly shelving. The library was cleaned and arranged in 2013, but
most of the shelves are rickety due to termites. Now, with a fresh start of great new books, the
focus is on creating sturdy new shelves for the library.
Willikies Primary School Wish List
Additional shelving for our school library.
DOMINICA
DOMINICA
Achievement Learning Centre
30 students • Grades K to 6
Beverly Leblanc, Director
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: In the Caribbean, special needs children can sometimes fail to receive
the help they need. The Achievement Learning Centre, located in bustling Roseau, the capital
city of Dominica, has a dedicated and caring staff that employs a variety of teaching strategies to
reach special needs children. We’ve been supporting the center for several years now, and we
continue to be impressed by the creative use of materials, from books to art supplies, to engage
the students. The Achievement Learning Center also tutors primary school children after school
and on weekends—this is a very busy, vibrant place!
Achievement Learning Centre Wish List
Automatic pencil sharpener; activity books, puzzles, foam mat (for library reading time), Basic
Phonics reader set, Eric Carl series
DOMINICA
Atkinson School
101 students • Grades K to 6
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Alice Laronde, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: This is a very tidy rural school located in the Carib Territory on the
northeast coast of Dominica. The school has given literacy a high place in its curriculum—several
years ago, the staff and students created a wonderful illustrated folktale, The Snake King of
Kalinago that brings an indigenous Kalinago folk tale to life. The school has a library space that is
in the process of being renovated (it had become a bit of a storeroom for “stuff”) and with
support from Hands donors rejuvenated with great new books. The staff is fired up and the
students at this school are avid readers—let’s get them the books they need!
Atkinson School Wish List
"Books for boys," storybooks, science books (forces and machines, magnetism, plants and
animals, earth and space, body systems), books about Dominica, shelves for classrooms, library
cards/pouches, teacher’s resource books, charts (human body, solar system, classification of
plants and animals), books on social issues, drugs, HIV/AIDS
DOMINICA
Bense Primary School
55 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Nathalie Ferrol, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: The agricultural village of Bense is nestled way up in the mountains on
the remote northeast coast of Dominica. It's a quiet life in this village, where many of the adults
speak Creole and/or English with a heavy island dialect. Traditionally, books and literacy have
not been given high emphasis in the culture of these out-of-the-way settlements, but things are
changing (Hands is helping speed that change). In situations like this, establishing a school
library is invaluable—often it will be the only source of reading books for the children.
Bense Primary School Wish List
Sports books, fairy tales, fables, Ladybird Sunstart Reading Scheme, Houghton Mifflin Language
Arts series: Writing/Comprehension Skills; various arts/crafts supplies and manipulatives
DOMINICA
Calibishie Primary School
110 students • Grades K to 6
Mr. Andrew Shaw, Principal
Abby Shapiro, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,700 goal
Background from Hands: With funds received from Hands donors and supporters of U.S. Peace
Corps Volunteer Abby Shapiro, over the last year Calibishie Primary school has been putting into
action a vision for transforming the school library. The team, led by Abby Shapiro, Principal
Shaw, and Literacy Coordinator Ms. Grell, and supported by keen students and U.S. Peace Corps
Volunteer Aurora Fox, has creatively and beautifully transformed a drab, disorganized space into
a well-organized, vibrant school library—complete with underwater-themed murals that
encourage the children to "Dive into Reading." The “out with the old, in with the new” approach
to books is certainly paying dividends, and with a book lending check-out system now in place
the students, and some parents, too, are making good use of the library and getting excited
about reading. But to get the most out of this new space, the library needs help with the
creation of a dedicated "soft reading area," and some tables and chairs, and at least four copies
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of certain books, such as Dr. Seuss favorites, to enable group reading.
Calibishie Primary School Wish List
Sports books, fairy tales, fables, Ladybird Sunstart Reading Scheme, Houghton Mifflin Language
Arts series: Writing/Comprehension Skills; various arts/crafts supplies and manipulatives
DOMINICA
Castle Bruce Secondary School
Winner, 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award
460 students • Grades 7 to 11
Octavia Alfred, Principal
The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: One thing about the folks at Castle Bruce Secondary School: they never
gave upon their dream of a school library. The school’s original library room, located in a
concrete structure, had been dismantled five years previously to make way for a computer
room. The school was without a library for many years until early 2011 when U. S. Peace Corps
Volunteer Judy Joyce teamed up with HOD English Vernilla Nation to organize a library in an old
wooden “core house.” The roof leaked, there were holes in the floor and it was hot. We sent
new books as part of the 2011-2012 Hands Wish Lists shipment to improve the collection which
consisted of old books and library discards. In 2013 grant funding from HHV Whitchurch and the
Western Union Foundation paid for some new books, new windows, air conditioning and a
ceiling fan. The Ministry of Education stepped up to fix the roof, upgrade the electrical system
and repair the holes in the floor. With its win of the 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award for
Dominica, the school will gain an additional U.S. $1,000 of new books for the school’s eager
readers.
Castle Bruce Secondary School Wish List
Survival series, realistic fiction, James Patterson collection, Hunger Games collection, Guinness
Book of World Records, The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer, Abandon Trilogy series by Meg
Cabot, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Book Thief by Laurie Anderson, The Outsiders by B.
Hinton, Sarah Sessen collection, Susanne Collins collection, Cassandra Claine collection
DOMINICA
Delices Primary School
100 students • Grades K to 6
Priscilla Darroux, Principal
The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: The school library at this small rural school is outstanding—but school
staff, already stretched, need help manning the library during and after school. We have been
funding a librarian for this school since February 2014 on the recommendation of Peace Corps
Volunteer Pamela Chiang. A mother from the community, Mrs. Noelize Hilaire, manages the
combination library/computer room three days a week from 9 to 4 pm. She keeps the room tidy,
helps students to choose books, keeps track of books borrowed by student and class, processes
book returns and reads aloud to the children when they come for their library period. The
program has been working well for four months now and we’d like to continue to support this
school. They are also planning to offer additional classes in the summer and, in tandem with this
effort, we would also like to support some summer opening hours for the library, for the benefit
of the students and the community.
Delices Primary School Wish List
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Reference books: dictionaries, thesaurus, encyclopedia. Storybooks, fiction (The Hardy Boys),
color-coding labels for the books (red, green, yellow, blue), Hooked on Phonics, books on
Caribbean people, CD player and CD’s with matching books, puzzles and games, microscope,
globe, wall charts (planets, world map, Dominica map). Sports: Frisbees, whiffle balls, jacks,
jump ropes, paper dolls, pick-up sticks
DOMINICA
Dos D’Ane Primary School
100 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Jocelyn Cambran, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,700 goal
Background from Hands: Dos D’Ane is a small, tidy school perched way up in the hills,
surrounded by rainforest, in northern Dominica. Intrepid Hands volunteers Maggie and Al spent
an entire day culling the old-old-old books from this school library, and found few gems in the
process. The principal and teachers are now re-categorizing the collection now that the old,
moldy stuff is gone, and have found out that they need.
Dos D’Ane Primary School Wish List
Art supplies, resource materials, desks, inflated chairs, theme wall decals, Help Yourself book
boxes, classroom collage box, Life Cycle theme book library, Reading Comprehension activity
series, grades 1-6
DOMINICA
Dublanc / Bioche Primary School
44 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Joycelyn Alexis-Joseph, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: This small school is located in one of the many mountainous regions of
Dominica and is relatively isolated. In little farming villages such as this, a school library is
invaluable—and the only source of books for the children. Transportation to one of Dominca's
three main libraries is problematic (bus fare, adult supervision) for children. Often, there is only
one bus into town, very early in the morning, and one bus to take you home in late afternoon.
You don't want to miss the bus home!
Dublanc / Bioche Primary School Wish List
Paint and brushes for art, construction paper, copy books, pens, pencils, markers, thumbtacks,
Scotch and masking tape, microwave oven, blender, fan, printing paper, small medals/trophies
to award pupils, assorted stickers
DOMINICA
Goodwill Secondary School
600 students • Grades 7 to 11
Benedict Charles, Principal
Clara Lee, Remedial Reading Teacher
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: Goodwill Secondary School is large— 600 students!—and is located in
urban Roseau, the capital of Dominica. Many of the students are reluctant/remedial readers
who do not have books at home. At present there is just not enough room at the school for a
library. Clara Lee, the remedial reading teacher, has done an amazing job with her classroom
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library in the Form 1 homeroom. Her library has been open for 1.5 hours after school on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for F1 and F2 students to read books. Ten of the most
responsible students are book borrowers; the rest of the students read the books during the
library hours. She said she had one student, a boy named Roland, who read 32 books this year.
He is a boy from a home that does not have any books and he was not what you would call a
reader until this year in Form 1 when he discovered books and a love for reading. This success
story is thanks to Scotiabank Bright Future funding.
Goodwill Secondary School Wish List
Simple storybooks, puzzles, games, books on the following themes for boys: boats, cars, planes,
sports, discovery, and adventure. Word games, encyclopedias for children, posters, activity
books, tags for color-coding books, glue, index cards, motivational flyers for reading
DOMINICA
Grand Fond Primary School
80 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Hatty Leslie, Principal
The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: This well-run rural school, located at the foot of mountains on the
southeast coast of Dominica, has had a good library going for several years, and now the time is
right to fund a summer librarian. Grand Fond, while a remote community up a long hill and half
way up a valley, is fortunate to have a dynamic, funding-focused principal in Hatty Leslie. The
library is operational and shares its space with the 6th grade teacher who is also in charge of the
library. This year 60 students (75% of the student body) were active library borrowers and
checked out some 2,000 books. They need more books and would especially like books for boys
as well as activities such as board games, math activities and manipulatives.
Grand Fond Primary School Wish List
Storybooks for grades K and 1, puzzles and games for all grades, books with themes for boys,
word games, encyclopedias for children, reading charts for grades K and 1, posters, activity
books, color-coding labels for the books, motivational flyers for reading, board games
DOMINICA
Love One Teach One Foundation
100 children • Grades K to 6
Gloria Walsh, Director
The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: The founder of this organization, Ms. Gloria Walsh, was named as First
Caribbean’s Unsung Hero for Dominica in 2011. Love One Teach One has touched the lives of
hundreds of children in the impoverished neighborhoods of Silver Lake and the Bath Estate in
Roseau and the Kalinago Territory. The focus is on at risk youth ages 4 to 18. During the school
year, there is an after-school program where children can have a safe and quiet place to study
and receive tutoring. On any given school day about 20 students attend, and there are about
100 children overall who participate. In the summer 40 to 60 children participate in a half-day
summer camp with varied activities such as science, math, home economics, English, sports and
occasional field trips.
Love One Teach One Foundation Wish List
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Arts and crafts: colored paper, small scissors, glue, glitter glue, crayons; workbooks, dry erase
markers, storage containers. School supplies: exercise books, pens, pencils, erasers, school bags,
stationery
DOMINICA
Massacre / Canefield Primary School
323 students • Grades K to 6
Elizabeth Dailey, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: The school has a library space, but the collection needs culling (time
for a book sale of those old, moldy, inappropriate books!) The majority of the 303 children
enrolled in this rural school come from the disadvantaged communities of Massacre, Canefield,
Check Hall, Cochrane (the primary school there was recently closed) and Bena Ravine. Bena
Ravine is an especially deprived area with high rates of crime. When asked about her priorities
for the school, the principal replied that getting vegetables and protein for the school lunch
programme was number one and the library was number two. The children have not performed
well on the grade 2 and 4 national assessment tests. They have a new kitchen and a cook thanks
to funding from the local parliamentary rep so children are assured of getting one solid meal a
day and staying in school through the afternoon instead of scrounging for food. The principal
writes: “The lack of appropriate materials for various reading levels and insufficient books to run
the school’s library have posed major setbacks for the literacy coordinator.” Fortunately, there
is an enthusiastic parent volunteer, Mrs. Shawna Johnson, who is overhauling the library.
Massacre / Canefield Primary School Wish List
Reading books for students from grades K to 6—especially reading material for boys
DOMINICA
Morne Jaune Primary School
64 students • Grades K to 6
Vanya Eloi, Principal
The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Morne Jaune has a busy library that is well used and loved. Many of
the books are old and need to be discarded among them ancient encyclopedias. The principal
Vanya Eloi has requested computers for the library, but we are concerned about security and
the open windows which allow for dust, dirt and insects to enter. We would prefer that the old
books be discarded to make way for new books, that reorganizing occur and that we look to
2015 to support them with a new laptop or two if they are able to secure the site and arrange
for air conditioning and windows. We would like our Hands Literacy Link, Celia Sorhaindo, to
assist with the reorganization and culling of old worn out books from the shelves.
Morne Jaune Primary School Wish List
Fresh books for all grade levels
DOMINICA
Petite Savanne Primary School
78 students • Grades K to 6
Oliver Samuel, Principal
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The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Principal Samuel has done a great job keeping his school library in top
form, but school staffers need a hand running the library during and after school. Principal
Oliver Samuel has identified a former substitute teacher, Miss Merlin Francis, to manage this
very active library at Petite Savanne Primary. The objective is to keep the library open during
lunch break from 12 to 1:30 and allow for time to clean, tidy up, and re-shelve the books. As
with Delices Primary, funding for additional opening hours during the holidays would be
desirable—in this instance, to allow for a two-day per week summer program, which would
include elements such as developing library skills, book exchanges and creative writing. Mr.
Samuel appreciates his library very much and wrote us the following: “I am extremely delighted
to share with you the results of the most recent grade 2 and 4 national assessments for the
2012-2013 school year. For grade two, 100% of the ten pupils got 'A' grades—they were able to
read grade two material or above; likewise for grade four, 93% of the 14 pupils scored 'A' grades
in reading (13 out of the 14 pupils were reading at or above their grade level, and the other
pupil just one level down). So we know definitely that the library is having a positive impact on
reading at school along with all the other factors in play.”
Petite Savanne Primary School Wish List
Funding for a three-times-a-week librarian; books for grades 4 to 6, especially books by
Caribbean authors. Resources: activity books, word puzzles, art supplies, glue, tape, markers,
crayons
DOMINICA
Pioneer Preparatory School
104 students • Grades K to 6
Esther Robinson, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,000 goal
Background from Hands: This primary school (kindergarten to grade 6, plus a pre-school) prides
itself on nurturing the creativity of children—artwork and evidence of all kinds of student
projects decorate the hallways and classrooms. The teaching staff is dedicated, and there is lots
of parental involvement and volunteer activity at the school.
Pioneer Preparatory School Wish List
Art Supplies: Instruction books on threadwork such as macramé, string art, glass painting. Pliers
for wire bending, materials for origami and paling. School glue and art paints for finger painting
as well as painting of pictures. Classroom supplies: dry-erase markers, white board cleaners,
Lined sheets, copy paper, card paper, permanent markers, projector (to be used in the
computer lab). Books: leveled reading of the early stages; chapter books for grades 3, 4 and 5);
foreign language books with listening tools (Spanish, French and Mandarin). Big Books with
listening tools for kindergarten and grade 1. Science: kits and texts to teach magnetism,
electricity. Sports: timers, soft balls for small children, bean bags, hula hoops, skip ball
DOMINICA
Roseau Primary School
250 students • Grades K to 6
Gretta Roberts, Principal
The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
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Background from Hands: The Lions Club of Dominica is making great strides at this school,
raising child literacy levels through their Lions Club Reading Programme. Club members work
one-on-one with students, helping with reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and more. The
Lions Club is also instrumental in shepherding every year's Hands Wish Lists shipment through
customs and distributing the boxes to each project. In a word, the Lions Club of Dominica is
fantastic! We have been assisting Roseau Primary School since 2009 with the refurbishment of a
lunch room for their school feeding program, paying for cooks for the program, supplying school
supplies and resources, reading corners, books for classroom libraries and most recently an
upgrade to their school library. Roseau Primary School is located in the Bath Estate and near
Silver Lake, a rough part of town where most of the students come from disadvantaged homes
and many are in foster care. Three years ago when Hands Across the Sea first started assisting
this school, one of the first steps of the dynamic new principal, Gretta Roberts, was to create a
school lunch program that quickly extended to breakfast to make sure that her students were
starting the school day with a full stomach. Over the years we have seen a vast improvement in
this school including fresh paint everywhere, reading corners for grades K-2, a French program,
a music program, a new lunch room, new uniforms, a garden and a computer room. The
principal has been able to attract more committed teachers, and children are performing at
grade level, improving their behavior, and basking in the love and attention they receive in their
school environment.
Roseau Primary School Wish List
Teaching resources, to be used by the Lions Club of Dominica Reading Programme: Flash cards,
stickers, stars, crayons, coloring books, pencils, red ink pens, markers, word games, jigsaw
puzzles, exercise books, picture dictionaries, reading and spelling workbooks, chalkboard
erasers, manila paper
DOMINICA
St. John’s Academy
100 students • Grades 7 to 11
Dr. Juliana Magloire, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,000 goal
Background from Hands: This new secondary school in the Portsmouth area has made good
progress in its first year. New construction has gone up fast and is being integrated into the
existing structure (an old convent). The Principal, Dr. Juliana Magloire, is passionate about her
new library, started courtesy of a grant from HHV Whitchurch and the Western Union
Foundation; current plans are to put the book collection on wheels (movable library cabinets) as
construction of the school continues. The students at this school have big dreams and are highly
motivated. We plan to continue augmenting the book collection of this budding school library.
St. John’s Academy Wish List
Youth classics, research books, dictionaries (English, French, Spanish), resource books on
different subject areas
DOMINICA
St. Joseph SDA School
113 students • Grades K to 6
Shirley Mills, Acting Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
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Background from Hands: St. Joseph is a small fishing village, located about an hour north of
Roseau, the capital of Dominica. Acting Principal Shirley Mills is very passionate about creating a
working library at the school; the current library space is unusable because of all the old, moldy,
inappropriate books that have been dumped on the school. Plans call for the library space to be
cleaned out so that it can function properly. A small section of decent children’s books does
exist, however, in the library space; grade 2 teacher Miss Vidal opens the library Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons so the kids can get access to the small collection.
St. Joseph SDA School Wish List
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, large world maps, thesaurus, globes, motivational books for
teachers and children. Teachers Resource books in: mathematics, language arts, science, social
studies, health, science, history, geography. Children's reading books by E.B. White, Lewis
Carroll, Frances Hodgson Burnette, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Basil E. Frankweiler, Edward
Stratemeyer. The Hardy Boys, Famous Five, Dr. Seuss, Tom Sawyer
DOMINICA
Salybia Primary School
113 students • Grades K to 6
Lorna Lewis, Principal
The Beverly Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: The Venezuelan government built this rural school a few years ago and
it’s located right on the coastal road in the Kalinago Territory. When we arrived the students
were checking out books and there were several Leap Frog machines on a table that were
clearly in use by grades K and 1. This library needs to be reorganized, the inappropriate donated
books removed and existing good books catalogued according to the Hands Across the Sea
Library Manual for Primary Schools. Celia Sorhaindo, the Hands Literacy Link, is going to assist
and by mid-June we expect to know the gaps in their collection. We plan to ship new books
according to their needs.
Salybia Primary School Wish List
Early readers (Dr Seuss, Lady Bird, Read It Yourself, Big Books); Junior readers (Enid Blyton, The
Baby Sitters Club); Independent readers (The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew); educational DVDs and
charts, art supplies, permanent markers, dry erase markers
DOMINICA
San Sauveur Primary School
99 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Merlyn Rolle, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: San Sauveur, a recently-constructed, modern school in a remote
coastal area on Dominca's east coast, has a good-size library, but the book collection, especially
for boys, needs a little updating and organizing. Hands Literacy Link Celia Sorhaindo reports:
"Mrs. Rolle and her library team which includes students and teachers like Issiah Benjamin,
already have good systems in place to improve literacy. As well as a relatively well stocked
central library visited by each class for at least half an hour a week, each classroom also has
books and there are 'reading desks' in the corridors downstairs, with books laid out for break
time reading. Children are actively encouraged to read before school and during breaks and the
library is open every day after school. Once a week, grades 2 to 5 check books out to read at
home. The library book displays could do with a 'child friendly' makeover by grouping in reading
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grade levels and displaying them in a more appealing manner for children (as recommended in
the Hands Across the Sea Library Manual for Primary Schools). New books targeted at boys are
always welcome as it can be challenging keeping some of the boys motivated to read. Soon the
remedial reading teacher, Diane Laurent, will take over as librarian; Diane has a lot of good ideas
for the running of the library."
San Sauveur Primary School Wish List
Boys books for grades K to 6 (comic books, sports, space, travel, science); reference books
(encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesaurus); Big Books for grades K to 3; educational wall charts
(science, words, math, calendar, birthdays); maths and literacy flash cards for grades K to 6;
educational games, arts and crafts supplies: stationary, scissors, pens, pencils, crayons, erasers,
Scotch tape, sharpeners, rulers, book storage shelving or baskets
DOMINICA
Sineku Primary School
109 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Kathleen Jno. Lewis, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: Located in the scenic northeast rural coastal hamlet of Mahaut River in
the Kalinago Territory, Sineku Primary School is facing a number of challenges. These include
lack of classroom and storage space, lack of teaching resources, classrooms in need of repair,
and incidents of burglary and vandalism. The current library room is also used as a classroom.
Many of the bookshelves are broken and the rest are mainly filled with old, redundant books,
which do little to get the students excited about reading. Despite all this, since taking up the
post in February 2014 Principal Kathleen Jno. Lewis and her dedicated teaching team are on a
mission to change things. They have already disposed of several unusable books, and over the
summer the principal is recruiting the help of teachers and volunteers to organize and tidy up
the library. During the 2014-2015 school year they will implement regular library times and a
book check-out system. But they urgently need a wide variety of attractive, new and interesting
books for the students. The principal is determined to break the cycle of poverty in the Kalinago
territory, home to the indigenous people of Dominica, and knows that a good place to start is to
put great books in the hands of children and get them passionate about reading.
Sineku Primary School Wish List
Encyclopedia set, dictionaries, and reading books for beginners and middle-grade students.
Supplies: dividers, folders, chairs and tables, wall charts, reading signs, slogans, posters, library
pockets/index cards, reading mats
DOMINICA
Sineku Tunubuku Library
Clara Frederick, Director
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,000 goal
Background from Hands: The Carib Territory, home of the indigenous Kalinago culture, is located
in the northeast coast of Dominica. The Sineku Tunubuku Library is located within a busy
community center that is used as an area of interaction for people of all ages within the Carib
Territory, for assisting and encouraging individuals to participate in wholesome development
activities, and for raising the standard of education and literacy. The library serves the entire
Carib Territory as the main source of information and research for students and others
interested in learning. On a daily basis, the library sees about 30 patrons. Pre-school, primary,
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secondary and college-age students use the library, as do a smaller group of folks over age 30.
The library is in good physical condition but does not have many books. The majority of the
reference books are in good condition, but need updating. Most of the children’s storybooks are
old—and some are falling apart. There is a lot of open space on the shelves waiting for new
books in a variety of subjects. Here’s a chance to support a community library that is used by all
ages.
Sineku Tunubuku Library Wish List
Encyclopedia set; reference books for primary, secondary and college students; fiction for all
levels; non-fiction for all levels; romance novels; history books; Caribbean history; sports books;
art supplies
DOMINICA
Temple SDA School
120 students • Grades K to 6
Erdmine Fabien, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: Principal Fabien has made great strides in culling the old, moldy books
out of her library space, which is now looking much more student-friendly, to make way for the
brand new books we shipped as part of the 2013/2014 Hands Wish Lists. This rural school,
located amidst the banana plantations and rainforest valleys of the remote northeast coast of
Dominica, is known for instilling courtesy and fair-play values and a love of books and reading in
its students. We are happy to continue our support of the school, its committed teachers, and
its bright, friendly students.
Temple SDA School Wish List
Reading books for grades K to 6; books catering for the boys of the various levels; mystery
books, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Captain Underpants, High School Musical. Resource
materials for teachers: color-coding labels for the books, grade level books for teaching music,
science, agriculture, mathematics, and arts and crafts; set of encyclopedias less than five years
old; books teaching values
DOMINICA
Tete Morne Primary School
146 students • Grades K to 6
Nathalie Jude, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: Hooray for the Principal, Nathalie Jude! Her passion for and belief in
the power of literacy shows in the school's well-organized, busy school library, and in the
classroom libraries (each stocked with a table of neatly-arranged class sets of reading books).
Tackling the Caribbean-wide issue of boys reading below grade level (most are lagging well
behind the girls), Principal Jude has a "Boys Only!" book table with the books that boys love:
dinosaurs, sports, adventure, cars, trucks, and anything that zooms, growls, leaps tall buildings,
or travels at hyperspeed through other galaxies. Because Principal Jude's experience with boys
and literacy is personal—by using reading strategies at home she brought her own learningchallenged sons to academic achievement—we expect to see the boys at this little mountaintop
school improving too. Ms. Jude writes: “We are making strides in encouraging and developing a
reading culture at our school. My students have shown interest in reading books by Nancy Drew,
Enid Blyton and Jeff Brown (Flat Stanley).” Thanks to Scotiabank’s Bright Future Program for
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rewarding this school’s efforts with brand new books.
Tete Morne Primary School Wish List
“Books for boys,” graded readers from Scholastic’s guided reading program (four sets of six
books for 24 copies of a single title), chapter books for grade 3 and above. Arts and crafts
supplies, Big Books
Thibaud Primary School
28 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Jacintha Marcellin, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,700 goal
Background from Hands: This small northern coastal village school of 28 students has been
enduring major challenges for over five years. Since 2009 the school was forced to move from
their unsafe, dilapidated building, to temporary accommodation at a much smaller village
resource center. While they patiently wait for news on when construction of their new school
will commence, Principal Mrs. Jacintha Marcellin and her staff try to make best use of their
extremely limited resources. The library consists of a few shelves in the cramped principal's
office, stocked with mostly inappropriate and outdated books from well-meaning individuals
and charities, but the students still come and borrow books to take to their classrooms to read.
Mrs. Marcellin is passionate about literacy, and although she only took up the post in January
2014 and is faced with a long list of challenges, this hardworking principal has her goal set on
making her school "the best small school on island." But the school desperately needs a wide
range of items to help them achieve this admirable goal.
Thibaud Primary School Wish List
Big Books and storybooks for boys. Materials for arts and crafts (puppet eyes, craft paper, paint,
crayons, glue, designing glues and glitter), storage baskets, swings and see-saws and other items
for play area, floor paint (brown), flip charts, easels for flip charts. Radio, recorders, reading CDs,
phonics games and cards, sight word cards, sorting trays, television, Leap Frog reading tools,
erasable markers, world maps, Caribbean maps, reading workbooks for all grades, materials for
teaching vocabulary, spelling, composition, reading comprehension, teachers guides for
teaching reading, steel presses, teachers' desks, plastic racks for books, pencil holders, large
markers, writing paper, materials for teaching and practicing manuscript, wax crayons, school
backpacks, writing books, pencils, and stationery, posters for decorating classrooms, reward
stickers, reward tickets, plain paper, writing pads, spiral-bound exercise books, colored folders,
clocks. Any available resource for coping in a multi-grade classroom (teaching techniques,
guides, materials dealing with classroom management)
DOMINICA
Vielle Case Primary School
44 students • Grades K to 6
Jean Marie Royer, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Vieille Case is located on the steep, remote northeast coast of
Dominica, an agricultural community where most residents speak Kweyol and a local patois
version of English at home. For children, school is their first exposure to Standard English. There
is a library at the school, but it is filled with old, inappropriate books. Children are not borrowing
books at present because there is nothing appealing to read. The principal has pledged to clean
out the old books, hold a book sale or give them away, spruce up the sagging shelves and
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prepare the space for brand new books. Dominica’s Hands Literacy Link, Celia Sorhaindo, will be
visiting the school to make suggestions and the principal will also be visiting a few schools
nearby that already have Hands Across the Sea libraries.
Vielle Case Primary School Wish List
“Books for boys,” Big Books, storybooks, books with West Indian and Caribbean themes, novels
for young and junior readers, leveled readers for beginners, series books (The Hardy Boys),
books by Enid Blyton, comprehension books with passages for completing, books with activities
for phonics and reading, storybooks for teachers to read to students (Cinderella, Sleeping
Beauty), science materials (such as thermometers)
DOMINICA
Warner Primary School
50 students • Grades K to 6
Verna De Jean Frederick, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Principal Frederick: "Approximately two years ago I worked with Hands Across
the Sea as principal of the Jones Beaupierre Primary School, and was able to refurbish our
school library, thanks to a generous donation of reading books from Hands. Now I am principal
of the Warner Primary School, with 45 students. The school does not have a library and right
now we are working toward that goal. We have just started putting up a few shelves to display
our small collection of old reading books; unfortunately, the students have no other access to
reading books in this community, and transportation to Dominica’s main library in Roseau is
impractical. It is for this reason that I am making a request for reading books to begin a library at
our school."
Warner Primary School Wish List
A "starter set" of storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact books," such as
DK's Eye Wonder series
DOMINICA
Wesley Primary School
144 students • Grades K to 6
Magdalene Bontiff-Honore', Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from the Principal: “I am seeking your kind assistance in upgrading the library at our
school. Presently, the school's library consists of mostly outdated books. This school is faced
with several challenges, one of which is literacy. I firmly believe an improved library will help
improve this situation.”
Background from Hands: This little school is located way up in the remote northeast region of
Dominica, and is reachable only by a twisting, turning mountain road. In situations like this, a
school library is invaluable—and the only source of books for the children.
Wesley Primary School Wish List
A "starter set" of storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact books," such as
DK's Eye Wonder series
DOMINICA
Woodford Hill Primary School
118 students • Grades K to 6
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Martha Carbon, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,000 goal
Background from Hands: This rural school has a wonderful art program—they’ve garnered
several awards, surprising the “big city” schools down in Roseau. Led by Ruselle Daniel-Cyrille,
the grade 5 and art teacher, the refurbishing of a dedicated art room, in an unused basementlike room of the school, is underway. The school made outstanding use of the art supplies sent
in the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists (this school is covered with students’ art projects!), and we
want to keep supporting their art room as needed, and continue to fill the gaps in their library.
Woodford Hill Primary School Wish List
Here Comes Jack Frost, Ready to Read, Favorite Fairy Tales, Life Times: The Story of Nelson
Mandela, DK Readers/Marvel Heroes: Amazing Powers; Scholastic & Cartoon Network/Barukan
Battle Brawlers; Scholastic/The Adventures of OOK and Gluk; Scholastic/Amulet: Books 1 to 4;
Scholastic/Hot Wheels; Knights of the Lunch Table, The Dodgeball Chronicles; Scholastic/The
American Girls Collection: 1904 (Samantha) Books 1,2, 3, 5 and 6; The American Girls Collection:
1854 (Kirsten) and 1944 (Molly); Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, 102 Wacky Monster Jokes
GRENADA
GRENADA
Anglican High School
775 students • Grades 7 to 11
Madeline Baptiste, Principal
Kim Parris, Literacy Coordinator
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: This large girls high school, perched on a hill above the picturepostcard harbor of St. George’s, has made huge strides—they’ve gone from no library to a
vibrant lending library. After forming a library team, students and staff renovated a spare room,
getting it ready to become the library. As part of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists shipment we
sent the school a “starter set” of 375 great new books. Kim Parris, the literacy coordinator, has
done a great job making the library’s organization and presentation student-friendly. It’s a very
appealing (and busy) place these days. The school still needs a lot more books; with 775
students, they should have at least 4,300 books as a base.
Anglican High School Wish List
Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Basket of Flowers, Sisterhood of the Traveling
Pants, Sherlock, Bluford High, The Fairy Tale Bride, Goosebumps, The Latchkey Children,
Divergent, City of Bones, City of Ash, City of Glass, Letters to a Young Sister, Chicken Soup for the
Teenage Soul
GRENADA
Beacon Learning Centre
300 students • Grades K to 11
Mrs. Cheryl Bishop, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: Mrs. Cheryl Bishop, a whirlwind who created this school and has been
leading it for decades, does not have any extra space in the school. But a small library can be
created in a storeroom that is also doubling as a sewing room for home economics students.
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This learning center’s unusually broad range of students—kindergarten to high school—is
reflected in their Wish List requests, from the Princess Diaries to books on theater arts. This is a
well-respected school and deserves support.
Beacon Learning Centre Wish List
The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, Princess Diaries,
Dr. Seuss, Lady Bird, Tin Tin Adventures, The Baby Sitters Club, Disney Pixar Scholastic (series),
Horrible Harry, Magic School Bus. West Indian history; thesaurus; Caribbean folk tales; books on
creative and theater arts
GRENADA
Birch Grove RC Primary School
232 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Margaret Wilson, Principal
Mrs. Rosemary Williams, Teacher in Charge of the Library
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Birch Grove RC Primary is located literally in the middle of Grenada in a
mountainous agricultural region. This school was badly damaged in Hurricane Ivan and has since
been relocated and rebuilt. The adults in this area, who are mostly farmers, are challenged with
reading and writing. In a previous government, there was an adult literacy program at the school
and many parents learned basic reading and writing. The principal is concerned with the many
underachieving readers among the students. She has applied for a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
under the new literacy program and it looks as though she will be assigned a volunteer to assist
with grade K to 3 reading skills. Our Hands Literacy Link, Olivia Phillip, is helping to organize
clearing out the old textbooks and inappropriate material from the library.
Birch Grove RC Primary School Wish List
Easy readers and leveled readers to build reading confidence and fluency; new books of all kinds
for the newly refurbished library, Scholastic teaching resources, phonics, interactive estorybooks, early learning materials, readers, science materials, wall charts, stickers
GRENADA
Blessed Sacrament RC Primary School
260 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Jane Antoine Pierre, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Makeover! With awesome funding support from the Sandals
Foundation, we’re undertaking a makeover of the library at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.
Hands Literacy Link Olivia Phillip met with the school’s principal, librarian, and literacy teacher,
and with Raelene Lazarus of the Sandals Foundation and the just-launched Sandals La Source,
Grenada, resort—everyone is very excited about starting the project. Olivia notes: “After
discussions we've decided that the shelves would be recycled and painted. We will complete the
painting of the walls, and a mural will be painted on the wall also, and we will build a new shelf
and clean up the floor.” The school has cleared the shelves of the old, inappropriate books in the
best way possible—they had a book sale and raised cash that went into the renovation. At
Hands we are looking forward to sending the school a whole bunch of great new books!
Blessed Sacrament RC Primary School Wish List
Work table and benches; Walt Disney Fun to Learn Library; Leap Frog books; Golden Books;
Sesame Street, Lady Bird, Dr. Seuss, Junie B. Jones, Magic Tree House, Magic School Bus,
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storybook character sets from Eric Carle; Caribbean authors (Ricardo Keens Douglas, The
Nutmeg Princess). Shelf boxes, book bins, floor cushions, large floor carpets, plush toys,
puppets, mobiles, incentive stickers, library borrow and ID cards, banners, bulletin boards,
classification signs. Art supplies: paint, brushes, aprons. Non-fiction: medium-large print,
hardcovers preferably: nature (plant world, animals, sea creatures); transportation (cars, trucks,
airplanes); children’s picture dictionary; health and hygiene books; books on outer space
GRENADA
Bonair Government School
Winner, 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award
350 students • Grades K to 6
Terry Francis, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: The library at Bonair Government School, which Hands Across the Sea
assisted with a shipment of books as part of the 2011-2012 Hands Wish Lists, is well-organized
and well-loved by students and staff alike. The library is timetabled and busy, with children also
using it during their lunch period. The school's Literacy Coordinator, Theresa Ganpot, and Imani
worker (Grenada’s national employment scheme) Claudian Flanders, have fine-tuned the
library's organization and effectiveness. The infusion of new books thanks to Scotiabank’s Bright
Future program has assisted a rural school that is a literacy success story. For the first time in
the history of the Unicomer Courts OECS Reading Competition, a boy won the award—that’s
Dean Bedeau from Bonair Government School. Principal Mr. Terry Francis has drawn a direct
link between Dean’s success and having high-quality books in the school library. He is also happy
to report that their pass rate on the 6th grade national assessment (CPEA) was 100%. Next steps
for this school are to upgrade the library room with new shelving and a reading corner.
Bonair Government School Wish List
Books by: Beverly Clearly, Judi Barrett, Robert Munch, Ludwig Bemelmans, Constanza Basaluzzo,
Sonia W. Black, David Shannon, Karen Katz, Ben M. Baglio, Martha Alexander, Lucille Colandro,
Dan Gutman, Christine Ricci, Andrew Clements, Arnold Lobel, Nick Bruel, and Edward Marshall,
Norman Bridewell, Russel Hoban, Arnold Lobel, Lynne Cherry, Maurice Sendak, Judy Blume,
Ellen Senisi, Angella Shelf Medearis, Gail Gibbons, John Peterson, Mary Hoffman, Bill Cosby, Fay
Robinson, Paulette Bourgeois, Harry Allard, Ellen Appleby, James Vance Marshall, and Eugene
Trivizas
GRENADA
Constantine Methodist Primary School
157 students • Grades K to 6
Shundalyn Niles-Scott, Acting Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Things are happening at Constantine Methodist Primary School. On our
first visit, we encouraged Acting Principal Shundalyn Niles-Scott to turn the school’s storeroom
(which has tons of great shelving) into a library (cleaning supplies can live somewhere else!). She
and her staff have cleared everything out, shined up the shelves, and are ready for an influx of
great new books. A lending library at this rural school will, as we’ve seen happen in similar
situations, become the nucleus of literacy at the school. As kids take books home to read and
share with their siblings and parents every day, literacy will ripple out into the community. And
that’s a great thing!
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Constantine Methodist Primary School Wish List
First Little Readers, Phonics Pathways, Lady Bird, Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew, The
Hardy Boys, The Naughtiest Girl; current encyclopedia set
GRENADA
Grenada Christian Academy
200 students • Grades 7 to 11
Mrs. King, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,500 goal
Background from Hands: The Hands Literacy Link, Olivia Phillip, visited Grenada Christian
Academy and met with the principal. Olivia notes, "Mrs. King expressed her gratefulness to
hands for Hands’ interest and desire to help her school. Right now they are in the process of
setting up their library and study area, but they only have the room—there are no materials,
such as books or shelves or furniture. Also, the room will need some paint. If Hands can help this
school, the Principal will gladly work through the summer vacation to get the room ready for
new books. There are presently three Imani (Grenada's national work scheme) trainees
recruited to help out in the library. With proper coaching, they will be happy to promote the
library through activities and programs."
Grenada Christian Academy Wish List
Teaching resource materials, books to encourage boys to read, books to run reading programs,
as well as fiction and materials to assist with building literacy skills
GRENADA
Grand Roy Government School
130 students • Grades K to 6
Mr. Jenner James, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: This school is located midway up the west coast of Grenada in a fishing
and farming community. The principal has two main priorities: improving reading skills among
the students and building students’ self-confidence and self-esteem. His goal is to expose
children to a wide variety of possible careers so they can see they are capable of being anything
they want to be. They have a room set aside for a library and an Imani worker in the process of
organizing and removing the old, inappropriate books. Olivia Phillip, the Hands Literacy Link, will
be visiting the school to provide guidance. The principal knows his students very well and has
requested specific types of books that he feels sure will appeal to his young readers.
Grand Roy Government School Wish List
Appealing children’s books for the library: animals, careers, horror stories such as Goosebumps,
mystery series such as A to Z Mysteries, character building and books to improve selfconfidence, and DK EyeWonder and Eyewitness series
GRENADA
Grenada School for Special Education
82 students
Ann Pierre, Principal
The Rotary Club of Grenada adopted this project
Background from Hands: Special education is a concept that is taking hold in the Caribbean and
being fine-tuned; often, the effectiveness of a special ed school depends on the quality of
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teacher training and the level of funding available. We are very impressed by everything we
found at the Grenada School for Special Education, from the principal and teaching staff to the
range of techniques they utilize to reach and teach their students. The school has miniworkshops and classes on reading, cooking, agriculture, woodworking, arts and crafts,
storytelling, and more. The Rotary Club of Grenada has supported the school over the years, and
Hands is now partnering with Rotary to do what we can.
Grenada School for Special Education Wish List
Manipulatives, educational games, puzzles, arts and crafts supplies, musical instruments, sports
items
GRENADA
J. W. Fletcher RC Secondary School
120 students • Grades 7 to 11
Elvis Morain, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: This new secondary school is starting from a clean slate, and a school
library is high on the list (as part of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists shipment, we’ve already
sent the school 300 new books). The Hands Literacy Link, Olivia Phillip, is working with Miss
Laurel Bartholomew, the school’s literacy specialist, and Ms. Husen to turn the library, with
shelves currently occupied by outdated and unused textbooks and encyclopedias, into an up-todate reading and resource center for students and staff alike. Among the areas of help
pinpointed were arranging for the discarding of the old and unusable books, creating a proper
inventory ( accession) and check-out system, training the library committee (student librarians),
and arranging and classifying the books.
J. W. Fletcher RC Secondary School Wish List
Literacy books (beginner and independent level), literacy games and charts, motivational books
fiction and non-fiction books, biographies (Caribbean persons), teachers’ reference books, flash
cards, resource packs (markers, glue). Character-building books, Caribbean books,
comprehensive reference book, dictionary, thesaurus, A to Z Mysteries, Junie B. Jones
GRENADA
L’ Esterre Rosary School
106 students • Grades K to 6
Sharon Bristol, Principal
Leanne Pomeroy, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Leanne Pomeroy: L' Esterre Rosary School is one of the six primary schools on
Grenada's small sister island of Carriacou. This school sits across from the famous and aptly
named Paradise Beach. The school library had a small collection of outdated and worn books,
which was replaced in 2012 by a generous contribution from family and friends. Now, with a
rejuvenated library the children are able to circulate books weekly, as well as engage in group
activities and fun learning games. It is safe to say that many of the students have converted into
readers, hooked on Goosebumps, Magic Tree House, and traveling the world through the
geography collection! The L'Esterre Rosary School wants to continue to broaden the library to
keep students on the achieving path of reading and literacy.
L’ Esterre Rosary School Wish List
Goosebumps, Captain Underpants, Level One race car books (replacements), Ocean Fairies book
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series (replacements), Magic School Bus, leveled readers and/or storybooks, story books with
science aspect, any books/stories that teach a lesson or moral, white board markers, colored
paper
GRENADA
Mt. Zion Library, Homework and Reading Center
Oonya Kempadoo, Director
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,900 goal
Background from Oonya Kempadoo, Director: A small library has been established in a historic
building in the heart of St. George's. It is open to the public in response to the National Public
Library being closed for more than two years. A children's collection, for ages 5 to 12 years old
and a general collection for teens and adults, provides central, free, access to books and literacy
support. This initiative promotes library services and literacy education as a career option and
funds will support part-time employment of a children's librarian, culturally appropriate books
and training for unemployed and economically disadvantaged women and youth. It is a
collaboration between Oonya Kempadoo, a Grenadian citizen who is on the Hands Advisory
Board, youth organizations, and a faith-based organization. The program offers one-to-one
volunteer-to-child support for homework and reading, which provides invaluable attention to a
child's development in a way that is not possible in school and sometimes neglected, or limited,
at home. Visit www.mtzionlibrary.com for more information.
Mt. Zion Library/Homework/Reading Center Wish List
1984, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Autobiography of Malcolm
X, Campanita Little Bell Caribbean titles; books by Phillip Pullman, Ricardo Keens-Douglas, Merle
Collins, Ronald Johnston, and Gregory Thompson
GRENADA
River Salee Government School
164 students • Grades K to 6
Jean James-Ross, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: This rural school, located in the northeast region of Grenada way, way
off the tourist track, has made a great start on their school library. As part of the 2013-2014
Hands Wish Lists shipment, we sent a “starter set” of books, and the principal enlisted the help
of the PTA to build bookshelves and turn a room into a library space with new purple paint. The
library is in daily use, and we see a great future for a love of reading and literacy to bloom in the
school and in the community. This is a good chance to support a project that will lift the reading
skills of children from the “frustration” or remedial level up to grade level.
River Salee Government School Wish List
DK Reading Alone series (levels 1 to 4), chapter books, A to Z Mysteries, Magic Treehouse, CD
player, DVD player, school supplies, paint and shelving, Big Books, fiction and non-fiction, fables,
folklore, poems, rhymes, The Hardy Boys, Famous Five, Sweet Valley High
GRENADA
St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School
275 students • Grades K to 6
Rev. Edward Mark, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
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Background from Hands: Located close by a historic cathedral in the waterfront heart of
Grenville, Grenada’s second-largest city, this school is built of “core houses”—old wooden
structures on stilts. The school has a tiny library at the moment—just a few shelves, really, that
are jammed with old, inappropriate books (a common situation at many schools). The principal
has indicated that he would most of these books to classrooms, since each room has a book
cupboard, and will be thrilled to replace the old encyclopedia set with titles from DK’s
Eyewitness and Eye Wonder series. The Hands Literacy Link, Olivia Phillip, is working with the
school to prepare for a shipment of great new books from Hands, thanks to the Sandals
Foundation!
St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School Wish List
Educational games, arts and crafts supplies, memory games, bingo games, puzzles, digital
projectors, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Baby Sitters Club, Berenstain Bears, Dr.Seuss.
Books by Mercer Mayer, A.A. Milne, Norman Bridwell. Poetry books, rhymes, DK Eyewitness
series, encyclopedia set, books about plants and animals
GRENADA
St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School
700 students • Grades 7 to 11
Pamela Moses, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: The library space is gorgeous: large, with modern windows, airconditioning, lots of library-optimized reading/research desks, and soaring wall murals, too.
According to Mr. Jones, the school librarian, St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School sees
approximately 200 students borrowing books every day. Indicative of the high achievement
levels at the school, the library renovation was paid for by the school’s debating team, which
won Grenada’s national debating prize two years in a row. The U.S. Embassy grant paid for new
books last year, and we'd like to ship more books to these eager readers.
St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School Wish List
DK Eyewitness titles: Farm; Flag; Olympics; Super Bowl; Tree; Technology; Moon; Religion;
Titanic; Boat; Dog; Cat; Electronics; Economy; Light; World; Water; Bible lands; Time and Space;
Forest; Plants. Dictionaries: English; Spanish; French. Britannica: Guide to Soccer. The Hardy
Boys, Nancy Drew, Babysitters Club, Magic Tree House, A to Z Mysteries, Junie B. Jones,
Goosebumps
GRENADA
Uganda Martyrs Catholic School
310 students • Grades K to 6
Pamela Moses, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,700 goal
Background from Hands: There’s a lot of energy and optimism at this school, two traits which
the principal and her teachers exude. The school has a library room, and it’s pretty well stocked
with good (though a bit worn) books. With a librarian, library assistant, and literacy coordinator
on staff, the school demonstrates a strong commitment to literacy. The colorful, appealing
library sees a lot of visits from students—books and reading are part of everyone’s daily
experience at this school. It’s great to see!
Uganda Martyrs Catholic School Wish List
Posters, fairytales for kindergarten to grade 4, flash cards, bookstands to display new books,
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color code stickers, puzzles, Big Books, educational games, stationary supplies
GRENADA
Vendome RC School
82 students • Grades K to 6
Ingrid Francis, Principal
True Blue Bay Resort adopted this project
Background from Hands: Vendome RC Primary, a rural school in the mountains of Grenada, was
hit very hard by Hurricane Ivan, and True Blue Bay Resort stepped in to help. The school
suffered major damage, and while the rebuilding took place classes were held inside a metal
hurricane shelter (which proved to be brutally hot and airless). Now the school is rebuilt,
complete with a large library room with new shelving and windows in a bright space on the
second floor. The next step is to upgrade the library collection. The existing collection consists of
old textbooks and library discards from North America and the UK and are not suitable for
children, especially children who are just learning to read. Most of the children do not have
books at home; many parents are farmers who may not have progressed beyond grade 6 in their
own education. The Grenada school system has adopted a new national assessment requiring
that children read books and write book reports, but books are hard to come by in rural areas.
This school has all the elements of a great library, including a very enthusiastic principal and
staff. Thanks to True Blue Bay Resort for adopting this school!
Vendome RC School Wish List
Fiction and non-fiction books for grades K to 6; children's books with CDs; educational
curriculum/subject-based books for grades K to 6; Big Books
GRENADA
Westerhall Secondary School
454 students • Grades 7 to 11
Mr. Martin Mitchell, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from the Vice Principal: “We have embarked on an initiative to establish and
maintain a fully functional borrowing library at our school. Ours is an institution of 454 students,
ranging from 11 to 20 years of age, who for the most part come from simple/humble beginnings
and backgrounds. Reading, as they say, is fundamental, and as such we are desirous of
furnishing our students with increased opportunities to read. To achieve this it is apparent that
we need to provide books which interest the average teenager. Our library coordinator is Mrs.
Agnes La Barrie and she is eager and enthusiastic about our drive!”
Westerhall Secondary School Wish List
Series books—mystery, drama, and light romance (The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Goosebumps,
Famous Five, Secret Seven, The Babysitters Club); Adolescent level (Sweet Valley High, Sweet
Valley Kids, Mallory Towers, Enid Blyton); fairytale novels, science fiction, classic books
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Beach Allen Primary School
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440 students • Grades K to 6
Emilita Warner, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: This large school in the capital city Basseterre has a recently
refurbished library space with color-coding, a tile floor, Plexiglas over the concrete block
“windows” to keep the insects and dust out, an enthusiastic teacher in charge and a PEP worker
from the St. Kitts National Employment scheme. It’s clear that the principal has prioritized a
functioning and vibrant library at her school. The shelves are filled with a lot of old, outdated
books however, and we wish to reward their efforts with some new books to engage the
students.
Beach Allen Primary School Wish List
A "fill the gaps" selection of storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact
books," such as DK's Eye Wonder series
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Charles E. Mills Secondary School
500 students • Grades 7 to 11
Carla Diamond, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: When we first visited the school in early January 2014, only one child
had borrowed a book since school began in September; the library seemed paralyzed. After
encouraging the formation of a team made up of the librarian, principal, HOD English, and
remedial reading teacher, we saw great gains when we re-visited in April. All the Form 1 and
Form 2 students had become members of the library, and the librarian, Mrs. Shirmel Robin, was
conducting orientation sessions with the students. Outside the door sat boxes of old,
inappropriate books that were being discarded (and there are still many more books that have
to go). Our Hands Literacy Link, Becky Rutland, will help facilitate a culling and reorganization
project. Once that is completed, we’d like to reward the school with many more exciting reading
books, especially for students in Forms 1, 2, and 3. Hands Across the Sea already has one donor,
a retired American couple who live part of the year on St. Kitts, who have pledged U.S. $1,000
toward new books for Charles E. Mills Secondary School.
Charles E. Mills Secondary School Wish List
Reference books: encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, school dictionaries; high interest/low
reading level books for remedial readers; Caribbean study guides; teenage non-fiction for grades
7, 8, 9; teenage fiction for grades 7, 8, 9 (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Babysitter’s Club); youngadult fiction for grades 10, 11 (The Hunger Games, Twilight, Little Women)
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Charlestown Secondary School
825 students • Grades 7 to 11
Elliott Edson, Principal
Marva Paris-Roberts, Librarian
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: Wow, what a makeover! Marva Paris-Roberts, the new librarian at this
large school, has transformed the school’s lackluster library into a highly effective, superappealing, exciting space. Inventive book displays that rival any bookstore, a “black heroes” wall
(from reggae legend Bob Marley to Nelson Mandela), computers, and furniture that invites
27
readers (comfy red couch) make this a great place for students to read and carry out research. It
just goes to show what a person who passionately believes in literacy can do. The school has a
long list of fiction and non-fiction they’d like to get, from To Kill a Mockingbird to Extreme
Machines. With 825 students to serve, there are still a lot of gaps in the collection to fill.
Charlestown Secondary School Wish List
Wide selection of non-fiction and young adult fiction
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Dr. William Connor Primary School
299 students • Grades K to 6
Valencia Syder, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,000 goal
Background from Hands: The library is functioning well, thanks to Ruth DuPorte, the teacher in
charge of the library, and a PEP worker, Miss Henry. This is an active library, with students
checking books out every week. The children love A-Z Mysteries, Goosebumps, Magic
Treehouse, and Secrets of Droon. They also love the information-heavy DK Eye Wonder series
and want the DK Eyewitness series next. The school’s principal, Miss Syder, sees the library as a
way to get children reading and writing book reports. The challenge is that the library has a lot
of old, inappropriate books that have to be culled. Recently, the principal told us that school
staff had spent a lot of time over the Easter break, culling and reorganizing the library. We
would like to reward the school with new books.
Dr. William Connor Primary School Wish List
Disney Keepsake series, Fisher-Price Ready Readers, storybooks for pre-school to grade 3; Dr.
Seuss, Mother Goose, Magic School Bus, Goosebumps, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys; Enid Blyton
novels, arts and crafts books, science fiction, character-building books, books specifically geared
to boys
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Irishtown Primary School
150 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Jean Boddie, Principal
Dion Brown, Librarian
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,000 goal
Background from Hands: The library at Irish Town Primary School is going strong, thanks to
librarian Dion Brown. Dion reads to the kids, keeps the library neat and tidy, manages the checkout system, helps students with research and finding the right books, and fundraises in the
community for library upgrades such as air-conditioning and curtains. The children love Dion,
and he cares deeply about serving the Irish Town community and helping the children (we’d like
to clone Dion and install him in every school where we work!). The school has a large immigrant
population from the Dominican Republic and has thus requested reading books in Spanish. The
budget for Irish Town Primary includes new books, educational DVDs and the stipend for Mr.
Brown.
Irishtown Primary School Wish List
Reading books for Spanish students; index cards, markers, folders, pens, pencils, erasers, tape,
scissors, glue), reading & literacy software, dictionaries, puppets, Nancy Drew
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
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Joshua O. Williams Primary School
109 students • Grades K to 6
Joycelyn Mitcham, Principal
Linda Stanzler, Volunteer Librarian
Scotiabank Bright Future adopted this project
Background from Hands: The books are very, very old in this school library—held together by
tape, in many cases—and just about every book needs to go. The bookshelves are jammed, but
almost all of the books are inappropriate (a legacy of “donation dumping” from the cruise ships
and misguided book-donation agencies in the U.S. and Canada). Hands Literacy Link Becky
Rutland, along with Scotiabank volunteers, is working hands-on with the school to cull the old
books, free up shelf space, paint the old shelves to make them look new, and rearrange the
room to make it more open, and facilitate a complete reorganization.
Joshua O. Williams Primary School Wish List
Books for grades 5 and 6; The Babysitters Club, books by Alex Mack, non-fiction science-oriented
books (animals, the environment), books on farming, art supplies
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
St. Christopher Children's Home
32 children
Margaret Stevens, Director
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: St. Christopher Children’s Home provides a safe, loving, and healthy
environment for all children who are in residence. The Home is committed to the
understanding, nurturing, and development of each child while providing, as closely as possible,
a family environment and setting which will ensure that each child is provided with a positive
developmental structure.
St. Christopher Children's Home Wish List
Storybooks for kindergarten to early teens, books by Trish Cooke, books by Malorie Blackman;
activity books, storage items, arts and crafts supplies, educational games, library supplies
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
St. James Primary School
52 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Janice Richards, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Thirty-five-year-old St. James Primary School, perched on the
spectacular windswept coast of Nevis, has its own full-time librarian, and a well-organized,
color-coded library that was created years ago by a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer (sadly, the Peace
Corps has recently pulled out of St. Kitts and Nevis). But virtually all of the school's library
collection—books donated from various sources—is worn out and outdated. We assisted this
rural school with a few boxes of fresh books as part of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists
shipment, but they need an infusion of new books in all categories, including a set of "books for
boys."
St. James Primary School Wish List
A "fill the gaps" boost of "books for boys," storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and nonfiction "fact books," such as DK's Eye Wonder series
29
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
St. Paul’s Primary School
186 students • Grades K to 6
John Gumbs, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,700 goal
Background from Hands: The school library here is off to a super start. With a large, modern
room and shelving donated by a local resort, the stage is set for a very effective literacy center.
Averil Gumbs, the literacy coordinator, brings her inventive, graphically dazzling approach to
everything she does—her classroom is a wonder of engaging and encouraging mobiles and
posters—so we can’t wait to see what she does with the blank slate of the library room. We
send the school a “starter set” of 225 new books as part of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists, but
the school needs another influx to really fill the shelves.
St. Paul’s Primary School Wish List
Books that appeal to boys (ages 8-12). Books that appeal to girls (ages 8-12). Stationery
materials to be used by librarian to manage library services efficiently
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
St. Thomas’ Primary School
Winner, 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award
71 students • Grades K to 6
Miss Norlene Smithen, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: St. Thomas' Primary School has one of the most child-friendly, wellorganized, vibrant school libraries we've seen, and high praise goes to the passion and creativity
of the Librarian, Miss Julitta Paris. Every element is tuned to perfection, from the captivating
mural to the simple and efficient book check-out system to the color-coded categorization and
eye-catching presentation of the books. Also, by requiring that each student read and sign their
name to a "Library Citizenship" card, Miss Paris has underscored the benefits and
responsibilities of using the school library. (There's a Library Citizenship card for parents, too,
who wish to borrow books for themselves or on behalf of their kindergartners.) The effects of
this dynamic library on the school have ranged from more children borrowing books to
exploring other exciting avenues of literacy (such as students writing and reading their own
poetry) to literacy-themed, fun outdoor activities (see the "Literacy Games: Make Your Library
Come Alive" section of the Hands Across the Sea Library Manual for Primary Schools).
St. Thomas’ Primary School Wish List
Books: science, grammar (verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, nouns), storybooks for
kindergarten to grade 6, storybooks and cassettes or CDs that teach values like patience,
cooperation, tolerance, kindness. Book pockets and cards, speaking books and batteries, DVDs
that teach grammar, reading, spelling, stories, rhymes, phonics, exercise. Resources: radio with
cassette and CD player; smart board; guillotine, white board, erasable markers and eraser,
writing slates, markers and dusters, bristol board, printing papers, crayons, correction pens,
small glues, sticky note pads, scissors, staple machine, shelf spacers, paper punch, pencils, ruler,
markers, rubber bands, stickers, CDs that teach multiplication, long division, fractions, addition
and subtraction, glue sticks and glue gun, toner, tape and dispenser; pens: black, blue, red; filing
cabinet, bookshelves, three round tables and some small chairs
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ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Sandy Point Primary School
326 students • Grades K to 6
Jennifer Dolphin, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,700 goal
Background from Hands: The library at Sandy Point Primary School typified a lot of primary
schools on St. Kitts in that it was nicely organized with plenty of bookshelves, but its book
collection was old, old, old. Virtually all of the books were donated from here and there and
were inappropriate for primary school students. When Hands visited in January 2014, the new
books were still in boxes. We were disappointed until we met with new PEP worker (People
Empowerment Program, the St. Kitts national employment scheme) Nicole Francis, who is
extremely enthusiastic. She took over the operation of the library and wrote to us in May: “I am
happy to report that this phase of the library is completed. One of the incentives that I chose to
encourage students to read is a reward system. I am rewarding the students who read the most
books from their class. I will also like you to help with these incentives. The rewards can be
stickers, pencils, pens, bookmarks, erasers, pencil cases, fancy paper folders (these items should
have on something about reading on them).”
The principal followed with a note in June: “We now have a working library where children can
come regularly to the library to read, be read to and borrow books. During this time we also
teach the children to take care of the books. We see this as a valuable investment. The children
are so excited to come to the library, even when it’s not their turn. They even want to come
during lunch time and break time.”
Sandy Point Primary School Wish List
Books for kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3. Stickers, pencils, pens, bookmarks,
erasers, pencil cases (for reading rewards), construction paper, hand puppets, Hooked on
Phonics program
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Tyrell Williams Primary School
250 students • Grades K to 6
Terrence Edwards, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: We are always delighted to visit this school, because it is always clear
that this library is well-organized, well-used, and well-loved by the students and staff alike. The
PEP worker has put into place many of the suggested best practices from the Hands Across the
Sea Library Manual for Primary Schools, including color-coding the books and rearranging the
space to improve the flow of students through the library. When we visited, many of the
bookshelves were nearly empty, because so many books had been borrowed—a wonderful sign
of success! The kids know what new books they want, too; one fourth-grade girl specifically
asked for more books about Clifford, the “big red dog.” The PEP worker has culled a lot of the
old, worn-out books, and they need replacing with new books.
Tyrell Williams Primary School Wish List
Scholastic True Books and "fact books", DK Eye Wonder and Eyewitness books, Clifford, Sponge
Bob, Magic Treehouse, Junie B. Jones, Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events, A-Z
Mysteries, any series books
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ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Violet O. Jeffers-Nichols Primary School
71 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Shea Swanston-Wilkin, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: This school has a dedicated library space (a spare classroom) and a
very enthusiastic librarian in Sasha-Gay McDermott. The collection of age- and contentappropriate children’s books is worn, and on the small side; as with most school libraries in the
Caribbean, old reference books and tourist paperbacks are taking up space on the shelves. An
influx of great new books can rejuvenate the library—everything else is in good shape, they just
need more good books!
Violet O. Jeffers-Nichols Primary School Wish List
“Books for boys,” Goosebumps, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, graphic novels and comic books,
Scholastic Student Thesaurus, Scholastic First Dictionary, Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms, Science
Vocabulary Readers
ST. LUCIA
ST. LUCIA
Aux Lyons Combined School
186 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Simone St. Fort, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: This is a school with an especially creative spirit, as seen in the colorful,
learning-rich classroom environments, complete with plenty of handy cabinets for resource
materials. The school library is a good size (a single classroom) for the school, but unfortunately
the room is filled with old, inappropriate reading books and old old textbooks which are unlikely
to be utilized. Fortunately, says Joice Forde, the Special Education teacher, the staff is
committed to culling the old books from the shelves to make way for new, appropriate books.
Also, there are boxes of “stuff” that will have to be removed from the library to open up the
space. The library has plenty of shelves (though it would be best if the too-tall shelves were cut
in half to make them a child-friendly height), and some colorfully-painted cabinets can be
requisitioned from classrooms to serve in the library.
Aux Lyons Combined School Wish List
Children’s classics, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, mystery and career books, non-fiction books with
interesting topics for boys, science fiction, comic books, Project X Reading series, West Indian
writers of children’s fiction, horror classics series, Disney books, Lady Bird. Research and
reference materials, filing cabinet, bright color paint for walls and bookshelves
ST. LUCIA
Ave Maria RC Primary School
560 students • Grades 3 to 6
Mrs. Valerie St. Helene-Henry, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from the Principal: “Our school has been plagued by space constraints which
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prevents the establishment of a library. However, we do have very good class libraries. Last year
the school’s literacy committee came up with the idea of a ‘library on wheels,’ which we would
like to get started on this year. My teachers are very excited about this project, and the prospect
of receiving different types of exciting books for our girls to read.” Background from Hands: At
560 students, this all-girls school is one of the larger primary schools we’ve visited. This urban
school has no space for a library at present, so the existing classroom libraries, most of which
are well done, are the answer. The idea for a “library on wheels” is also intriguing, and shows
creativity on the part of school staff.
Ave Maria RC Primary School Wish List
A "classroom library" selection of storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact
books" for girls
ST. LUCIA
Babonneau Primary School
250 students • Grades K to 6
Francisca Theophilus, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: This library project was identified in 2012 by Peace Corps volunteer
Steven Kim. There was some resistance from the school principal with cleaning out the old
books and making way for a new, usable library space. With the principal’s blessing and a team
of volunteers, we spent a day with Steven in February of 2013 getting rid of the insect-infested
books, rearranging the shelving into a more practical floor plan and cleaning. Steven finished the
job with color coding and staff training. When we returned in March 2014 we were delighted to
see the library still in operation and the principal requesting fresh books! This school is right
down the road from Babonneau Secondary and we expect that over time there will be many
more readers in this village.
Babonneau Primary School Wish List
Reading books for all grade levels
ST. LUCIA
Babonneau Secondary School
520 students • Grades 7 to 11
Mr. Terrence Fermelon, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $4,200 goal
Background from Hands: This is a very shipshape school with a dynamic principal whose energy
and dedication is reflected by the staff—Principal Terrence Fermelon is also highly focused on
lifting the reading and literacy levels at the school. English teacher Nancy Rosemond-Alphonse
has taken the lead in creating class libraries (the school, jam-packed with students, has no
available space at present for a school library). With the support of the Sandals Foundation, as
part of the 2013/22014 Hands Wish Lists shipment Hands sent the school six large metal
cabinets to begin the classroom library project, plus a “starter set” of 375 great new books. The
reception of cabinets and books was highly enthusiastic by staff and students, and we’d like to
continue the support of this great school!
Babonneau Secondary School Wish List
Three more metal cabinets for Form 3; graphic novels, comic books, young adult fiction;
Goosebumps, The Hardy Boys, Twilight, The Great Gatsby, Harry Potter, Teen Angst? Nah...,
Perfect Chemistry, The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an
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Unwanted Daughter, Cirque Du Freak, Impulse, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Uglies
ST. LUCIA
Balata Primary School
143 students • Grades K to 6
Theresa Heliodore-Dujon, Principal
Christina Belknap, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $1,700 goal
Background from Hands: This school has a principal who values books, reading, and literacy. The
library building at Balata Primary School was donated by the Sandals Foundation and is very
actively used. We first started working with this school back in 2010 at the request of U.S. Peace
Corps Volunteer Katherine Bowyer. We shipped several boxes of fresh books while she culled
the old, inappropriate books from the shelves, organized the library, created a check-out system
and watched as “the children literally raced to the library to get their next book.” Now a new
U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, Christina Belknap, is shaping up the library (it slipped a bit) as well
as teaching English and literacy-building subjects in the classroom. Given all this, we believe that
the enthusiastic level of library usage will continue at Balata Primary School.
Balata Primary School Wish List
Auxiliary materials for library such as rugs, bean bags, curtains, Additional good-quality books
for medium-level readers as well as beginners
ST. LUCIA
Banse La Grace School
100 students • Grades K to 6
Virginia Edward, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: Banse La Grace has reorganized and color-coded the library according
to the Hands Across the Sea Library Manual for Primary Schools to make it more easily
accessible to its many eager readers. The library is a well-organized, vibrant space from which
students love to borrow books. Each class visits the library once a week as a group, but students
also visit frequently during the day to browse the collection and read. Activities like all-school
poetry recitation day help keep the interest in new books active. Banse La Grace is really ready
to replace their termite-ridden shelves—some of which are almost hollow, due to the termites’
munching—with metal ones.
Banse La Grace School Wish List
Metal shelving (our bookshelves are infested by termites!)
ST. LUCIA
Belle Vue Combined School
150 students • Grades K to 6
Anna Zilma-Poleon, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: Great things are happening at this rural school, perched atop a cloudscraping mountain in southern St. Lucia. In previous years, the school has used classroom
libraries and shied away from creating a school library. Now the principal, very enthusiastic and
committed to reading and literacy, has commandeered an unused classroom for the school
library. Once the shelving is up and the desks and chairs are in, the students will have a
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dedicated place to read, read and relax (comfy rug and cushions), and do a bit of research.
That’s the beauty of a dedicated library—unlike classroom libraries, which inevitably are small,
do double duty with schoolwork and textbooks, rarely have a quiet moment, and may or may
not let students take books home—the library is made for reading and lending. Congratulations
to Belle Vue Combined School on their new library!
Belle Vue Combined School Wish List
A "fill the gaps" booster shot of storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact
books," such as DK's Eye Wonder series for the new library
ST. LUCIA
Central Library of St. Lucia
1,500 patrons
Mrs. Cynthia McFarlane, Head Librarian
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: Originally constructed with funding from the philanthropist Andrew
Carnegie, the beautiful building that houses the Central Library of St. Lucia is a Castries
landmark. The impressive exterior does not, however, disguise the fact that the children’s
collection in particular could use some updated materials. As the Assistant Librarian points out,
there is an “urgent need for an injection of a new level of excitement to reading and learning.
This, we believe, will only come about through the infusion of new books... Our goal is to create
a sustainable, high-functioning children’s library with available resources to meet the wide
range of needs and reading skill levels, from pre-school through to high school.”
Central Library of St. Lucia Wish List
Fiction for pre-school level (including Big Books ); reading material for starters and slow readers
(K to grade 3); Pokemon, Bakugan, Naruto, Barbie, Frozen, Disney Princesses. Non-Fiction for
boys grades 3 to 6 (cars, sports, planes); mystery books for grades 3 to 6 (Nancy Drew, The
Hardy Boys); classics, general fiction and non-fiction for all levels; biographies (Justin Bieber,
Miley Cyrus, sports personalities); book series for grades 3 to 6 (Geronimo Stilton, Animorphs,
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, A-Z Mysteries, The Babysitters Club, Junie B. Jones)
ST. LUCIA
Dennery Primary School
270 students • Grades K to 6
Benedict James, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: There was no library at Dennery Primary School until a small resource
room was transformed in 2012 with the assistance of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer Desteni
Monai. The library now plays a busy and vital part in the life of the school. Student librarians,
including volunteer students from the nearby secondary school, have taken ownership of the
library. Principal Benedict James has recently taken the library to a new level with the addition
of a tiled floor, modern windows, air-conditioning, reading tables and chairs, and lots of wall
charts and graphics. This is really a great place! (The book collection, however, is getting a bit
worn.)
Dennery Primary School Wish List
Reading materials (books) that appeal to boys (age range 8-12). Reading materials (books) that
appeal to girls (age range 8-12). Stationery materials to be used by librarian to manage library
services efficiently. Instructional materials to be used in the teaching of language arts and
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mathematics
ST. LUCIA
George Charles Secondary School
496 students • Grades 7 to 11
Wulston Alfred, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: The story at this large rural secondary school is that the boys (who
outnumber the girls, 400 to 96) need to catch up, literacy-wise. Recent test results are
disturbing; last year, only about 40% to 45% of the school took the CXC exam (equivalent to a
high school graduation exam), and only 15% passed. The school has put in place a number of
literacy-building initiatives, and staff is aiming for a 40% to 50% pass rate this year. On
Thursdays, for example, the school has begun the Reach One, Teach One after-school program
for literacy; students from Sir Arthur Community College do literacy tutoring, vocational
guidance, and cultural programs, such as dance workshops. The school has also begun a CVQ
program featuring career modules such as tourism/hotel work, pastry making, and hygiene, so
students can study and pass them one at a time. George Charles Secondary School is facing
challenges, including a lack of appropriate reading books, and the Principal and staff are taking
action to move their students forward.
George Charles Secondary School Wish List
"Books for boys"— adventure, superheroes, science, mystery, non-fiction "fact books" such as
DK's Eyewitness and Eye Wonder series, high interest/low reading level books, comic books,
graphic novels, books on character traits, sex and sexuality, dangerous drugs, and how to build
career skills
ST. LUCIA
Gros Islet Infant School
150 students • Grades K to 2
Merlissa Charles, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from Principal Charles: “We have worked assiduously on developing a reading
culture at this school, and are presently involved in two remedial programs for our students.
New books would be of great value to our students, as we would be able to provide them with a
variety of books needed to develop and enhance their reading abilities and skills.” Background
from Hands: Most of the children at this resource-challenged school, located in one of the larger
fishing villages in St. Lucia, come from families with little to no money for books in the home—
thus the school library plays a vital role in lifting child literacy levels. At present, the school
library needs rejuvenation in a big way, and the school staff is committed to a make-over.
Gros Islet Infant School Wish List
Key Words with Peter & Jane; assorted stories (both to use as library borrowed books and as
class sets); Scholastic books for ages 4 to 10 (Leveled Readers and My First Phonics Readers
Library); Dr. Seuss
ST. LUCIA
La Ressource Combined School
154 students • Grades K to 6
Claret Rameau, Principal
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Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: The Hands crew met with the Principal, Ms. Rameau, and U.S. Peace
Corps Volunteer Melissa Torres. A lot of progress has been made rejuvenating the library—
which had formerly been used mainly as a storage room—and when Melissa Torres ends her
Peace Corps service the library responsibilities, including managing the book borrowing system,
will be assumed by a teacher. A mobile library visits every Wednesday and is popular with the
school’s 154 students, and the school has also been purchasing some books in Castries, the
capital city of St. Lucia. There is plenty of free shelf space for new books.
La Ressource Combined School Wish List
Sports, science, fiction, “books for boys,” non-fiction, and inspirational books
ST. LUCIA
Laborie RC Girls Primary School
130 students • Grades K to 6
Donna Peter-Joseph, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: The library at this school is stunning, due in large part to the efforts of
U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer Tatjana Bicanin. In addition to a good collection, the library has a
number of computers with large monitors, on which the students access on-line books. The
library is very well-used, with each grade being timetabled at the library and the girls
enthusiastically working on book reports. Bicanin has tracked the borrowing patterns at the
library which show an initial healthy growth followed by a consistent level of activity. The
principal took up her position at the same time that Bicanin arrived at the school and is “on
board” regarding the importance of the library within the school.
Laborie RC Girls Primary School Wish List
Student Librarian badges, interactive materials, educational games, mobiles, Leap Frog pads
ST. LUCIA
Marchand Combined School
196 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Shirley Ann Lubin, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: Whenever a school principal tells Hands that their school has no room
for a library, we have to see it for ourselves. At Marchand Combined School we came, we saw,
and we believed. The students are served by 12 classroom libraries, and until space opens up,
this is the way things will continue. (While there are proponents of classroom libraries, we have
seen much more dramatic gains in literacy in schools that have created school libraries, because
the library becomes a nucleus of literacy and shared reading and researching experience. Often,
space for a school library is found once the great new books arrive—and the excitement of the
students is apparent!)
Marchand Combined School Wish List
The classroom libraries at Marchand Combined School need replenishing with a wide range of
books, from kindergarten to grade 6 students, both boys and girls.
ST. LUCIA
Marigot Secondary School
265 students • Grades 7 to 11
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Mrs. Irene Dujon, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: This rural school, built by the World Bank in 2006, has a great layout
and modern classrooms—but unfortunately it also has a very high dropout rate and students,
particularly boys (they outnumber the girls 3 to 1), who have a lot of catching up to do in terms
of reading and literacy skills. The school staff is focused on literacy, working one-on-one with
remedial readers. The library is organized according to reading level. The U.S.-based nonprofit
Global Volunteers also conducts tutoring workshops with the school, three or four times a year,
bringing specialists in literacy, special education, and psychology.
Marigot Secondary School Wish List
Families and social issues: bullying; realistic fiction; holidays and celebrations: Earth Day, Black
History Month; anatomy charts, English games, fiction
ST. LUCIA
Micoud Library
Ms. Adria George, Head Librarian
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: This community library, located close to a primary school and a high
school, has a number of laptops donated by the European Union and a substantial but outdated
collection. The library employs two full-time librarians and appears very neat and wellorganized. The librarians run a number of programs for children.
Micoud Library Wish List
Diary of Wimpy Kid, Dr. Seuss, Daisy Meadows Fairy series; books for children ages 9 to 12 (Sara
Shephard, Meg Cabot, Ally Carter); art supplies (colored pencils, markers, construction paper,
acrylic paint, stock card, fabric paint); headphones, educational games
ST. LUCIA
Micoud Secondary School
900 students • Grades 7 to 11
Mr. Guibion Ferdinand, Principal
Randall James, Literacy Coordinator
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $5,000 goal
Background from Hands: This is a large (900 students!), overcrowded rural school that needs
new books and a school library. Hands, thanks to funding from Scotiabank Bright Future,
delivered a number of great new books to the school as part of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists
shipment, but the school had no space for a dedicated library. This summer the Rotary Club of
Saint Lucia is stepping in to renovate a termite-damaged wooden building just steps away from
the school into a library for the school. The Rotary project calls for fumigation, the replacement
of damaged parts of the structure, and the addition of new drywall, paint, electrics, and
plumbing. Micoud Secondary School's like-new, first-ever library will be an outstanding element
in raising the literacy levels of the students for years to come. Three cheers for the Rotary Club
of Saint Lucia!
Micoud Secondary School Wish List
Encyclopedia set, young adult fiction, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, books about careers,
values, and teen issues
ST. LUCIA
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Monchy RC Primary School
238 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Jane Jacob-Jean, Principal
The Benjamin R. Bibler Memorial Fund adopted this project
Background from Hands: Built in 1951, this rural school, although located in beautiful
surroundings, is termite infested and in serious need of repairs. The community library located
on the school compound includes a very small section of old books for children. Mrs. Jane JacobJean, a young and energetic principal, is very keen on starting a school library and has identified
a location in the school. The space has to be cleared and a library team organized. This
passionate principal and charming school—a school where there are no books—needs your
support.
Monchy RC Primary School
A "starter set" of "books for boys," storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction
"fact books," such as DK's Eye Wonder series
ST. LUCIA
Mongouge Combined School
113 students • Grades K to 6
Feria Modeste, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Mongouge Combined School values books, reading, and literacy, but
their library room needs a fresh start. For years, “donation dumpers” have piled boxes of old,
inappropriate books on the school—to the point where there are so many boxes of bad books
there is little to no room on the shelves for good books! The good news is that the principal and
staff recognize this and they want change—they are getting rid of the old and irrelevant books,
and the local librarian in charge of organizing the collection is willing to use the color-coding
methodology of the Hands Across the Sea Library Manual for Primary Schools. The school is
poised for an influx of great new books and resources from Hands!
Mongouge Combined School Wish List
Fiction books: pre-school to grade 8; non-fiction books: pre-school to grade 8; Big Books, reading
resources for struggling readers; class sets of available texts (class sizes are approximately 20
students per class); reference sets ( encyclopedias), interactive CD’s
ST. LUCIA
Morne du Don Primary School
278 students • Grades K to 6
Feria Modeste, Principal
The Sandals Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Principal Charles is very, very excited at the prospect of rejuvenating
the school library at Morne Du Don Primary School—she is ready to move out the ancient
encyclopedias and old, unused textbooks (perhaps a book sale, a bonfire, or just give them
away) and start over. A little housecleaning is in order, too—“stuff,” including old computer
monitors and furniture, has accumulated in the library, which (a side effect of the old, bad
books) has been used as a storeroom.
Morne du Don Primary School Wish List
Ricky Ricotta Mighty Robot, Dr. Seuss, Little Golden Books, Stink, Sweet Valley Kids, Clifford,
Young Cam Jansen, Captain Underpants, Goosebumps, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Boxcar
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Children, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Amelia Bedilia, Ramana Quimby, Babysitters Club
ST. LUCIA
Piaye Secondary School
488 students • Grades 7 to 11
Faye Wilson, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Piaye Secondary has a good sized “reading room,” but many of the
books are old and inappropriate. The school has 488 students; close to 300 are boys. Most are
from a low socio-economic background, with many parents struggling to pay the annual $160 EC
facilities fee. The vice-principal noted that “reading is the missing piece of the puzzle in St.
Lucia,” and said that testing had shown that many grade 7 to grade 10 students are reading at a
grade 1 level. Consequently, the main needs are for high-interest, low-level readers. Everyone
we met—the vice principal, the head of the English department, and the literacy coach—is very
engaged in raising literacy levels.
Piaye Secondary School Wish List
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, 2014 Scholastic Book of World Records, The Hobbit, The Secret Diary of
Adrian Mole, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven,
Gossip Girl, Shivers, Sweet Valley High. Books by Enid Blyton, Judy Blume, Philip Pullman,
Stephen King, Kevin Crossley-Holland, Michael Morpurgo. Books to teach morals; teen romance
books. Teacher resources
ST. LUCIA
Plain View Combined School
620 students • Grades K to 6
Isla Sammie, Principal
The Benjamin R. Bibler Memorial Fund adopted this project
Background from Hands: The school has a separate library for the 630 pupils, and some books
have been purchased in the past from the Logos ship. Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary
School (Campus B) recently donated some DK Eyewitness books to the school, and these form a
library in the grade 4 classroom of teacher Renata Kisna. The students arrive as early as 7:30 to
borrow their favorite titles—in case someone else claims them at lunchtime. A survey of the
class revealed a wide range of preferences in terms of titles, ranging from the Holocaust to
soccer to animals.
Plain View Combined School Wish List
“Books for boys,” all ages, fiction and non-fiction. Books for grades 3 to 6 (fiction, some nonfiction). Books for reluctant readers (high interest/low reading level; graded if possible). Reading
programme for literacy development (Jolly Phonics). Metal shelves (area is termite infested and
we often have to build new shelves; books also get damaged this way)
ST. LUCIA
Richfond Combined School
240 students • Grades K to 6
Sonjane Marcelle-Etienne, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: At Richfond Combined School Mrs. Sonjane Etienne, the Principal, and
Mrs. Leticia Regis, the Remedial Reading teacher, have raised literacy levels of the students by
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raising the level of awareness and participation of students' families. Creative initiatives, such as
their "Reading Extravaganza," brings parents and families to an open-air get-together to
spotlight the benefits of reading and sharing books at home. The school's "Bedtime Stories"
program brings out families in their pajamas to discover the joy of reading aloud to their
children (it's also a good way to lull the kids to sleep!). And now, after several years of the
initiatives, the community is onboard with literacy. Meanwhile, a classroom has been turned
into a very exciting school library, well-stocked for every grade. Richfond Combined's dedication
to books, reading, and the advancement of child literacy—and the effectiveness of their
community outreach—make the school a shining example for others to follow.
Richfond Combined School Wish List
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Magic Tree House, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, science-oriented books,
how-to books, mystery novels
ST. LUCIA
St. Aloysius RC Boys Infant School
292 students • Grades K to 2
Mrs. Andrewna Gill, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: The Hands crew met with Literacy Coordinator Elizabeth Alexander,
who walked us through the school’s well-organized, colorful library space/literacy resource
room. This large school serves 292 kindergarten to grade 2 boys and (this is a busy, busy, busy
place), and books are in high demand and constant use. Some of the current collection is
showing evidence of wear and tear—that’s a good sign—and the school recently bought some
new books to refresh the collection. They need more!
St. Aloysius RC Boys Infant School Wish List
Picture books for kindergarten students; adventure, sports, superheroes, and science books for
boys (class sets); Project X books; interactive reading books, wordless picture books, audio
books, storage baskets
ST. LUCIA
Soufriere Primary School
233 students • Grades K to 6
Felix Gill, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: The staff at Soufriere Primary School followed suggestions in the Hands
Across the Sea Library Manual for Primary Schools to make the books in their school library as
appealing and accessible as possible. Books are being borrowed on a daily basis by students who
now can’t wait for their library period to come around—every class in the school spends some
time reading in the library at least once a week. The librarian, Cecilia Clovis, reports: “Our boys
have become hooked on books like Horrid Henry and Captain Underpants. Our girls are in love
with Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House.” Other favorites include A-Z Mysteries, Magic School
Bus, Nancy Drew, and Goosebumps. Students are also encouraged to read widely, a goal made
possible by the wide range of books supplied by Hands Across the Sea. This is a great school with
a great library!
Soufriere Primary School Wish List
Horrid Henry, Junie B. Jones, Captain Underpants, Magic Schoolbus, Dr. Seuss, DK Eyewitness,
biographies. Cataloging cards, mobile storage cart
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ST. LUCIA
Vide Bouteille Primary School
460 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Elizabeth Prudent, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: The library space at this large school in Castries, the capital of St. Lucia,
has plenty of shelves—but, alas, the shelves were filled with mostly old books. Also, the room
was “shared” by a collection of musical instruments, and the bookshelves needed organizing.
Enter Hands Literacy Link Jacqueline Vidal-Atherly, a whirlwind who culled the shelves and
organized the room. Now the Principal and staff are very excited by the prospect of a
rejuvenated library with an influx of great new books from Hands. In fact, the school has started
a reading club, investing in a starter set of books to get it underway.
Vide Bouteille Primary School Wish List
Amelia Bedelia, Dora, Eric Carle, Boxcar Children , Nancy Drew, Dr. Seuss, Magic School Bus,
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Clifford
ST. LUCIA
Vige Primary School
54 students • Grades K to 6
Ruth Eugene-Dixon, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: Built in 2001, this small rural school located in the south of the island
has been performing extremely well (the school placed fourth island-wide at Common entrance
examination and first for the district!) due to its dedicated and vibrant team comprising the
principal and four teachers. The students come from poor families which cannot afford to buy
books, and the principal deplores the fact that there are no books at all for the children. She is
very enthusiastic about the visit from Hands and the potential refurbishing of the school library.
A space was located—the sick room, built of concrete, it has no termites and there’s no need for
repainting. Junk will be removed and everything will be made ready to receive shelves and
books. Mrs. Eugene-Dixon has been the principal since the school opened and sees the school as
her baby!
Vige Primary School Wish List
The school needs shelves for the new library to be created in the sick room. A "starter set" of
storybooks, easy readers, chapter books, and non-fiction "fact books," such as DK's Eye Wonder
series, will get the library up and running
ST. LUCIA
Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (Campus A)
Winner, 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award
800 students • Grades 7 to 11
Dr. Cadelia Ambrose, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: This school library is a success story with a bright future. Teachers
bring their classes to the library; there are about 30 students in the library every day at
lunchtime; all the library helpers are boys; and the check-out system is computerized. And,
according to Miss Jeanne Lawrence, the Learning Resource Center Manager/Librarian, the
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students gravitate only toward the new books. Besides being brand new, the books that Hands
sent are relevant, age-appropriate, and nearly irresistible. One student, Dmitri Valmont, has
won the school's Most Avid Reader competition. He's read every book that Hands has
donated—and he asks to borrow about ten books every day. The main thing the library needs is
a lot more books. Determined to continue spreading the benefits of literacy even further,
Principal Ambrose is encouraging reading in other languages, such as French and Spanish. And
she is teaching a class in Mandarin at the school—one of the Form 1 students recently won a
prize for writing a poem in Mandarin. The school will be moving to a new location in September
2014, taking over the former Vieux Fort Technical School, and plans call for expanding from
Forms 1 and 2 into a full five-year secondary school with a technical/vocational component.
Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (Campus A) Wish List
A “polyglottic” library, with a focus on English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and German;
reference books/educational materials for grades 7 to 13 in wide range of subjects. Caribbean
history, Goosebumps, Animorphs, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew
ST. LUCIA
Vieux Fort Primary School
300 students • Grades K to 6
Francis Moonie, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: Sad news! Everything from the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists shipment
was destroyed in the 2013 Christmas Eve flood. We were shown the “resource room” by Special
Needs Teacher Romelia Jn. Baptiste. The school had been flooded and the books supplied by
Hands had been destroyed before they had even been unpacked. Ms. Baptiste noted the low
socioeconomic level of the area, and the poor literacy levels of the pupils, with boys presenting
a particular challenge in this regard. Although such books as existed could be borrowed (using a
notebook system), they were old and of little interest to the school population. Grade 3
students were taken to the public library once a week. Ms. Baptiste showed interest in the
Hands Library Manual for Primary Schools, and the school could certainly use materials for
struggling and remedial readers. A good number of old books would need to be cleared out as a
first step.
Vieux Fort Primary School Wish List
“Books for boys”: nature, space, travel, cars, motorcycles, adventure. Decodable books with
large print. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dr. Seuss. Templates for book reports; reading programs for
grades 3 to 6; basic sight-word list; plastic letter tiles to enhance teaching of reading; software
with reading and comprehension exercises. Basic Phonics Skills, levels A to D
ST. LUCIA
Vieux Fort Special Education School
60 students
Mrs. Palma Phillip-Joseph, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: This school has a dedicated staff working with a minimum of resources
in a small space. It caters to a clientele who range in age from age one to 25, with an enormous
variety of issues, including physical disabilities, mental impairment, deafness, and autism. The
space appears inadequate for the 60 children and young people who attend the center. Their
library consists of a small bookcase, but books are not the priority here.
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Vieux Fort Special Education School Wish List
Manipulatives and other materials for teaching special ed children.
ST.VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
C. W. Prescod Primary School
770 students • Grades K to 6
Yvette Antoine, Principal
The Benjamin R. Bibler Memorial Fund adopted this project
Background from Hands: At a whopping 770 students, this is one of the largest primary schools
in St. Vincent. A government-funded school, the infrastructure at C.W. Prescod needs renewal.
The long-suffering library space, for instance, has gotten some help lately (steps have been
taken to reduce the bird and termite problems) but still needs shelves for books. The library
space has reasonably fresh paint, and lots of potential. Hands sent the school 150 new books as
part of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists shipment, but the library needs about 800 to 1,000
books to be able to serve the large school population.
C. W. Prescod Primary School Wish List
Furniture for the library; new books, reference books; photocopier, laminating machine, audio
and visual aids
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Chateaubelair Methodist Primary School
Winner, 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award
275 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Edmie Charles, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,500 goal
Background from Hands: Back in 2010, Chateaubelair Methodist Primary School didn't really
have a library. There was a large storeroom, about the size of a double classroom, and it was
mostly filled with old furniture and boxes of "stuff," and along the wall stood a few bookshelves
half full of various books, most of which were old and unappealing to students. The collection of
reading books didn't come close to serving the school's 275 students.
That's when Mrs. Edmie Charles, the school's Principal, and U. S. Peace Corps Volunteers
Stephanie Kistner, followed by Camille Aragon (both now returned), decided to create a
borrowing library full of great books. Principal Charles, her Peace Corps partners, and a crew of
school staff (including Deputy Principal Ms. Lorraine Matthews and Literacy Coordinator Ms.
Melrose George) and volunteers began cleaning out and painting the space, and they increased
the number of bookshelves and tables and chairs. Then they contacted Hands Across the Sea for
a book donation (we shipped 1,300 books) and implemented a borrowing program. And then
the library was opened, and very quickly it became the center of literacy at the school. "We are
grateful for our library," says Principal Charles. "If we didn't have a library it would be difficult
for grade 6 students to do their book reports. A lot of interest has been generated in reading,
and our students have learned to appreciate and take care of the books."
Chateaubelair Methodist Primary School Wish List
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School supplies and learning resources, such as educational games, to supplement the books in
the library
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Clare Valley Government School
150 students • Grades K to 6
Godfrey James, Principal
Mr. Asif Dover, Teacher/Librarian/Literacy Coordinator
The Mustique Charitable Trust adopted this project
Background from Hands: To create a functional, exciting school library that will get the children
reading, Clare Valley Government School needs many things. Fortunately, the school has a
literacy champion in Mr. Asif Dover, who has been teaching at the school for ten years and is
now in charge of the library. Mr. Dover, the remedial reading teacher, teaches phonics on a
timetabled program. The library uses a composition notebook as a checkout system; books are
color-coded (by Christa Elliott, the previous U. S. Peace Corps Volunteer) but the collection is
old, old, old. Students are enthusiastic about the library, and about books. Mr. Dover reports
that boys often ask for adventure books, and girls want princess and fairy tale books. Mr. Dover
enforces a late book fee of $.25 a day, a $5 charge for lost book (only four books have been
lost), and there is some lending to responsible parents of kindergarteners. Mr. Dover repairs
books and teaches kids to be responsible and to take care of the books. When it is up and
running properly, the library will function as a valuable resource for grade 6 students, who need
to take books out so they can write book reports for the CPEA exams. Mr. Dover says, “The
library programme at our school has just taken off and the students are head over heels in love
with books. The problem is there's not enough books to sustain their voracious appetites, and
those that are being constantly borrowed are being quickly worn out!”
Clare Valley Primary School Wish List
Books for grades K to 6; adventure books for boys; flash cards, projector white board, book
color-coding stickers, transparent glue, scissors, murals for wall, mounting tape, computer
speakers, posters of the alphabet, large hand-held (easily manipulated) letters of the alphabet
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Georgetown Primary School
375 students • Grades K to 6
Paula Blake-Toney, Principal
Haldor Charles, Literacy Coordinator
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: Much of this school is brand new, and the existing structure has been
refurbished and painted. The library space is gorgeous and has great potential: large and open,
with plenty of shelving in the form of wooden cabinets on wheels. The school administration is
very eager to create a first-class library. Principal Blake-Toney is a member of the St. Vincent
Reading Association, and Literacy Coordinator Haldor Charles is trained and ready to do great
things.
Georgetown Primary School Wish List
From Principal Blake-Toney: “We do not have a wish list as there is a great need for books. We
are in the process of re-opening our school library. Books are required in the different levels for
the various age groups (ages 5 to 12). Books should be fiction and non-fiction.”
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ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
J. P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School
585 students • Grades 7 to 11
Mr. Alwyn Joseph, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $3,000 goal
Background from Hands: J. P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School has an enthusiastic Principal,
Mr. Alwyn Joseph, and a very dedicated Head of English Department, Mrs. Marcia John, who are
elevating literacy and the school library to the top of the school’s priority list. We were very
pleased to see that the 300 books of the 2013-2014 Hands Wish Lists shipment (funded by
FastCash) were properly categorized and displayed in the school library, which is well-organized
and utilized daily by students. Kevin Jessamy, the Country Manager for FastCash St. Vincent,
accompanied the Hands crew on a visit to the school. “I am very highly moved by seeing children
develop, in particular children from poor families, coming from a humble and poor background
myself,” said Mr. Jessamy. “It’s a blessing when someone can become part of something that
helps the improvement of children.”
J. P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School Wish List
Encyclopedia set, journals, magazines. Fiction: Westerns, fairy tales, science fiction. Textbooks
used in CXC, CSEC, and CCSLC courses. Books on photography, music and sports
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Judy's Pre-School
23 students
Judy Dublin, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: Judy Dublin may be running this pre-school on a shoestring, but she
has created a caring, learning environment for her kids. There's a little kitchen that provides
healthy meals, some sleeping cots (thanks to the Basil Charles Foundation), a selection of
boardbooks (chewable) and picture books, and some tables and chairs where the children can
sit and work on art projects or leaf through the storybooks. Pre-school education is so
important—this when the seeds of literacy are sown—and Judy is doing a great job nurturing
her students.
Judy's Pre-School Wish List
The children need toys, manipulatives, and educational games
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Langley Park Government School
252 students • Grades K to 6
Elva Springer, Principal
The MoneyGram Foundation adopted this project
Background from Hands: This rural primary school, located in a farming/fishing community on
the windward coast of St. Vincent, is full of enthusiastic children who are hungry for a
rejuvenated school library. Unfortunately, many of the students are reading below grade level.
At the moment, every class comes to the library, and the library is timetabled, but the collection
is old old old and quite unexciting. “Eventually,” notes Principal Springer, “we want the children
to see a book and want to read it!” The first step to improving child literacy is to get great new
books into the hands of the kids—we’ve seen it happen many times, and Langley Park
Government School has just the kind of principal who will spearhead the effort.
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Langley Park Government School Wish List
Beverly Cleary, Fancy Nancy, Baby Sitters’ Club, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Disney titles,
World Book encyclopedia; art supplies
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Mary Hutchinson Primary School
115 students • Grades K to 6
Ms. Claudia John, Principal
Palm Island Resort adopted this project
Background from Hands: It’s a new day at Mary Hutchinson Primary School. The energy comes
from the new Principal, Ms. Claudia John, who transformed a storeroom into a cool little library.
The books are displayed in an enticing, accessible fashion—covers are facing out, and books for
kindergartners are on the lower shelves, chapter books for grades 5 to 6 are on the upper
shelves). Making the most of a small space, a nucleus of literacy (otherwise known as a lending
library) has come to this school. The students are excited. And they are reading. What a
difference the leadership of a great principal makes!
Mary Hutchinson Primary School Wish List
Big Books; art supplies, teaching resources and manipulatives
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
New Prospect Primary School
40 students • Grades K to 6
Mr. Albert Harry, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: This small school, high up a winding road in the interior of St. Vincent,
has a fiercely dedicated principal and teachers. Clearly, though the school lacks resources the
teachers are doing a great job in many ways. The Hands Crew asked the students what they’d
like to read and they said: Cinderella, Dora, Benton, superheroes, Clifford the Big Red Dog, fairy
tales, princess tales, adventure books, books about the earth, and traveling to different lands.
New Prospect Primary School Wish List
Content area books: music, health, science, language arts, math. Dandelion Readers, Magic Belt,
repetitive/predictable books (Dr. Seuss), Lady Bird series with CDs, Sight Word readers,
encyclopedia set, puzzles for all grade levels
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Sandy Bay Primary School
301 students • Grades K to 6
Miss Hepcie Roberts, Acting Principal
Chessie Merrill, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,500 goal
Background from Hands: At this medium-size school, located on a long, sandy bay on the
windswept east coast of St. Vincent, Chessie Merrill has worked very hard on improving the
school library, throwing out a whole bunch of old old old library discards; reorganized and colorcoded the library, following the suggestions of the Hands Library Manual for Primary Schools;
instituted a book check-out system; trained student librarians; and opened the library to grade 7
and 8 students from Sandy Bay Secondary School, located next door. The school is focused on
getting more parents involved in reading, and in reading to their children at home, through their
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“Reading Extravaganza” and “Books & Bakes” (a yummy local snack) programs. This is a well-run
school that deserves support! Hands sent the school 225 new books as part of the 2013-2014
Hands Wish Lists shipment, but a whole lot of brand new books are still needed for every grade
level.
Sandy Bay Primary School Wish List
Boys fiction and non-fiction: sports, animals, vehicles, mystery. Girls fiction and non-fiction:
fairytales, mystery, autobiography, folktales, fables
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Spring Village Methodist Primary School
Winner, 2013-2014 Hands Literacy Award
107 students • Grades K to 6
Mrs. Carol Edwards, Principal
The Mustique Charitable Trust adopted this project
Background from Hands: Spring Village Methodist School has a large, clean, active library
(fortunately, because the library is located on the second floor, it was not damaged by the 2013
Christmas Eve flooding that hit the school and devastated the local community). The library was
created and organized by Jennifer Ewart, a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, in 2011; Hands sent 800
books and five boxes of teaching resources to the school as part of the 2011-2012 Hands Wish
Lists shipment. Principal Edwards reports that since the opening of the library she has seen a big
improvement in reading levels at the school. The library has a full-time librarian, Mrs. Magalene
Bracking, who keeps the book borrowing process humming. The Hands Crew met one young
man, 6th grader Silroy, and learned that he visits the library every day. We found him reading a
book we had shipped entitled Biology, and he has a keen interest in science. The principal noted
that it took him a long time to learn to read, but that with a little extra help from the teachers
and the wonderful selection of books at the library he has developed a love of reading and now
is an enthusiastic patron of the library.
Spring Village Methodist Primary School Wish List
Scholastic: Reading is Fundamental. Beginning reader series, novels, math reference books.
Picture books on: math, science, animals, earth, ocean, human biology, and engineering. Large
world map and a large map of the Caribbean
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
St. Clair Dacon Secondary School
320 students • Grades 7 to 11
Hyacinth Richards, Principal
Click to adopt all or part of this project: $2,000 goal
Background from Hands: U. S. Peace Corps Volunteer Vicky Vail (now returned), and newlyinstalled Librarian Roxanne Dick have made great strides at the school library. They’ve culled a
lot of the old-old-old books, and they’ve reorganized the books so that they are more
appealingly displayed, and they’ve made the library a fun place to be—students like to come to
the library. The remaining collection is (still) pretty old and (too often) inappropriate. More new
books are needed!
St. Clair Dacon Secondary School Wish List
Goosebumps, Babysitters Club, dictionaries, atlas, educational games, board games, Bluford
High, remedial reading books at grade 5-6 level
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ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Stephanie Browne Primary School
145 students • Grades K to 6
Lorette Coy-James, Principal
Palm Island Resort adopted this project
Background from Hands: Even before Lorette Coy-James became the Principal of Stephanie
Browne Primary School (located on Union Island in the Grenadines), she created a library at the
school—that's how strong her enduring commitment to literacy is. Over the years her energy
and enthusiasm for sustaining the library has not flagged. Recently, volunteers reorganized and
categorized the library to make it easier to manage without a dedicated librarian. We’ve seen
this library function sustainably through the six years we have been running Hands Across the
Sea. The commitment to raising the literacy of students at Stephanie Browne Primary School, a
winner of the 2012-2013 Hands Literacy Award, has never wavered.
Stephanie Browne Primary School Wish List
“Books for boys,” art supplies, science supplies, manipulatives, educational games, sports
equipment
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Troumaca Ontario Secondary School
262 students • Grades 7 to 11
Esther Providence Burke, Principal
The Mustique Charitable Trust adopted this project
Background from Hands: Perched on a cliff on the precipitous northwest coast of St. Vincent,
Troumaca Ontario Secondary School has a full-time librarian, Karlene Samuel, who is funded by
the Ministry of Education. Hands sent the school 225 new books as part of the 2013-2014 Hands
Wish Lists shipment to replace the shelves full of inappropriate and old texts. Librarian Samuel
reports an increase in the number of students coming to the library since this shipment of
books. We’d like to continue the momentum at this library by shipping more books enticing to
readers in grades 7, 8, and 9.
Troumaca Ontario Secondary School Wish List
Books in a wide range of subject areas (8 copies of each): romance, adventure, comic books,
Spanish dictionary and language materials
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