Graduation

Ready for the celebration

We have been practicing and preparing for the graduation celebration for some time. On Monday we worked to get the church ready.  It was almost perfect for graduation of Tuesday.  I just had to reattach some wall decorations and we were ready for everyone.

Prayers for the graduates 

Sixth grade class

The valedictorian gave a very nice speech 

Words from a well dressed teacher

And from the principal

Awards for the pre-KG

And for the 6th graders

The ceremony was nice. We were somehow able to gather together funds for awards and a lunch for students, teachers, and guests. We are a small school, but it was a first class affair as noted by a principal from a large school who attended. 

Everyone in the 6th grade class passed the standardized placement test to continue on to high school. We had 4 students moving up to KG. Congratulations to all the students in the school in all the grades who worked hard, to the teachers, and parents. One week left in the school year.

Best of luck in a new school next year

And those staying at Holy Cross will finally get a new building

Peace Corps

We got news that the Associated Peace Corps Director (APCD) for Grenada was retiring effective at the end of the month, last Friday. Peace Corps volunteers report to Peace Corps through their APCD. With the islands it is sometimes difficult for volunteers on the other islands to get access to staff located in the office on St. Lucia. So a good APCD is important to help the volunteers. It is not an easy job and he will be missed.

Thanks Eugene.  In Ghana we used those for Pito, but this is nice

Last picture with Eugene as the APCD

This does come at a busy time with new volunteers arriving soon. Arrangements for housing, training, and support for the trainees is a big task. Last year there were three people in the Grenada office. With the departure of the driver some months ago and now the APCD - only the secretary is left. She is great, has been here for a long time, and like many secretaries in many places – is essential to the proper running of the place.  Still she will have a lot of work.

The new volunteers will arrive on island early August for some training and then “swearing in” sometime in September. Staff doesn’t expect a new APCD to be in place before that and maybe a few months later.

But PC typically runs, somehow, on tight staff and difficult conditions – so as they said in Ghana, “we are managing”.

I had been waiting to hear back from St. Lucia about my approval to travel so I can get medical clearance to extend. As of this past Monday I was still waiting for final approval. I’m now considering my next step.

Local food

I saw a nice article in the BBC on the impact of the food system on our environment.  Part of the article was about “wonky” vegetables that generally get wasted. On Grenada I buy the local “wonky” carrots. A bag is slightly more expensive by weight compared to the imported carrots, those typically found in the states. These last ones I bought were certainly wonky. :-)

Local carrots - I didn't grow these

Love always,
John