New school is almost finished


Front of the new school waiting on approval to see the place
The teachers and some of the children went to see the new school on the Friday before last. We were told that it would be ready in a week.

This is progress because since October we had been told that it would be ready in a month. And now that they’ve been saying another week for a few weeks now is should really be ready soon.

Back of the front building with some work still ongoing

The new school is big, maybe bigger than the school destroyed by Ivan and certainly bigger than our current one in the community center.

One of the classrooms for the lower grades.  How am I going to fit six students in this room?
Before Ivan a lot more students attended Holy Cross. The school had a woodworking shop and other facilities (such as real classrooms for all grades) that we don’t have now. Many parents decided to send the children to other schools in the area so now we are a very small school. The hope is that enrollment will increase after we are in the new school.

Stage on the second floor.

Upper classrooms will have partitions dividing the classrooms or open for assemblies and activities
I think the plan will be to move into the school at a good time – which might mean closing school a week early or something.  I might know the plan “next week”.

We will be responsible for moving all the stuff to the new school and as it was supposed to be ready in August the government already delivered the new furniture which has been stored in the current school – so we have a good bit to move.

Part of the dining kitchen

The dining room
We will also be responsible for the landscaping and such. I’m not sure how much work will be required or, given the school’s finances, how long it will take – a typical situation for a Peace Corps volunteer and the people we work with.

The new school will be a nice change for teachers, students, and the community. I’m happy the community will soon have a new school to replace the one destroyed by Ivan in 2004.

Teacher's lounge

I don't even remember
Grenada has a much lower chance of getting hit by a major hurricane than Dominica. However, with global warming the chance of a hurricane becoming a major storm is increasing. The new school is supposed to be a shelter, but having been a Red Cross local disaster team lead for years and having activated a shelter I’m not sure what sort of disaster preparedness that really means.

A view of the old school and the Atlantic.

Love always,
John

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