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SCHOOLS

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Young students hold school supply drive

for students on Barbuda

By Melissa Wilfong
Barbuda is just a little island of help the students where she used to family,” Parker explained. “We as a wanting to help with the book and
approximately 1,600 villagers in the teach. “I wanted to initiate a book school are all excited to be able to help supply drive. “We get people saying
Caribbean. Hurricane Irma touched and supply drive for the school and the children and teachers of the Holy ‘Can we help? What can we do?’”
down in Barbuda on Sept. 5, ravaging library,” Parker shared. “Having school Trinity School in Barbuda.” said Parker. “This is an amazing
the area with winds of 185 miles per resume will bring some normalcy A few members of Parker’s island community, their giving spirit and
hour. community from Atlanta, Washington making a connection, because
One teacher at Curtis D.C., and Virginia have worked out the one story, one book, can make a
Elementary School calls logistics and means for the donations difference.”
Barbuda home. Deborah to be delivered to the Antigua and Deliveries can be made to the
Parker, early-learning Barbuda Embassy. The precious books Curtis Elementary reception area until
specialist, started updating and supplies will then be transported Oct. 13. The next day, they will be
all her fellow teachers to the island to assist in the recovery delivered to D.C. and on their way to
about the destruction in and rebuilding efforts. the children and teachers of Barbuda.
her home just around the Parker is hoping to fill a pod to the
time the storm came into brim. She knows this means a lot of
the area. “Please pray for donations in a hurry. She wants to get
my island,” Parker shared as many new or mildly used books and
with her coworkers by school supplies as possible by Friday,
e-mail. “My family owned a Oct. 13. Donations can come from
bakery there, and my sister, A POSTER MADE BY ONE OF THE STUDENTS AT the community. Just drop those books
nephew, and others were CURTIS ELEMENTARY FOR THE SCHOOL SUPPLY sitting on bookshelves, or new books
DRIVE FOR THE STUDENTS ON BARBUDA.
living there; the bakery is and school supplies, off at the front
gone and all the homes,” she said. to the people on the island,” she reception area of Curtis Elementary
The entire population had to be explained. School to participate.
evacuated to the mainland of Antigua, Parker and Miller teamed up. Parker said she had just been CURTIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACH-
where they are housed in shelters, Miller’s class would become the so impressed by the community. Two ERS DEBORAH PARKER, LEFT, AND
having no homes to return to on spokespersons, and they would collect other schools have reached out and SARAH MILLER.
Barbuda. the supplies. They created posters and
The teachers at Curtis wanted led the effort to collect supplies from
the students and community. School
counselor Marjorie Boehlert has SAVE THE DATE!
helped in their efforts as well.
Miller’s classroom is leading Sept 23-24
the effort, and she couldn’t be more
eager. “During this year of service
learning at Curtis, the children are so Publick Days & Godspeed
enthusiastic,” Miller shared. “They are
excited to lead the effort and make a from Jamestown Settlement
connection and help others.”
“The Curtis community is my 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
HOLY TRINITY PRIMARY SCHOOL IN
CORINGTON, ANTIGUA, AND BARBUDA
AFTER HURRICANE IRMA.
Our annual celebration of the 1611 founding
to know what they could do to help of the Citie of Henricus.
Parker. A fifth-grade teacher, Sarah Living history re-enactments, military drills and musket firings,
Miller wanted to do a service project craftsmen and blacksmiths, 17th-century medicinal
to help Barbuda. So, she reached out
to Parker and asked what they could demonstrations, Virginia Indian activities, historical children’s
do. “We have dedicated this year to games and crafts, storytelling and more.
being a service classroom, so now The 400th anniversary of the death of Pocahontas and
their [the student’s] actions can help Rev. Alexander Whitaker will be commemorated.
others,” Miller said. Tour 17th-century ship replica, Godspeed from
Parker wanted to do something Jamestown Settlement.
to help the elementary school on
Barbuda, Holy Trinity Primary Cost: Free admission; parking is $5/vehicle
School. She began her teaching career
there years before and served as the
principal. “That school is devastated,
it will need to be completely rebuilt,” HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK
Parker explained. “The children will 251 Henricus Park Road • Chester
need books and supplies to even begin (804) 748-1611 • www.henricus.org
to get their education again and it will
possibly be two to three months before
they can start their lessons again.” SUPPLIES COLLECTED FOR THE STU-
Parker finds that her efforts can DENTS ON BARBUDA.
14 SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 news@villagenewsonline.com