Children attending the Summer Programme at the Resource Centre in Huntums Ghut take a photograph with Deputy Premier, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, and Fifth District Representative Hon Kye M. Rymer, back, left, and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) back, right. Photo: VINO

Deputy Premier, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, and Fifth District Representative Hon Kye M. Rymer interacting with students of the Summer Programme being held at the Resource Centre in his district. Photo: VINO

One of the teachers at the summer programme, Ms Natasha M. Marshall, left, said one of the objectives of the summer programme is to make sure the children have a cultural and educational experience. Photo: VINO

The summer school in the Fifth District began with 33 children, three more than was originally intended, as room space at the Resource Centre is very limited. Photo: VINO

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), right, addresses the children attending the Summer Programme at the Resource Centre in Huntums Ghut, Tortola. Second from right is Deputy Premier, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, and Fifth District Representative Hon Kye M. Rymer. Photo: VINO

Some of the children ‘getting an out of classroom’ experience at the summer programme in the Fifth District on July 8, 2019. Photo: VINO

Also singing and clapping along were Deputy Premier, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, and Fifth District Representative Hon Kye M. Rymer and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7).

The summer programme, which caters for children aged 6 to 14, began with 33 children, three more than was originally intended, as room space at the Resource Centre is very limited. The children will be in the care of four teachers for the summer programme.

According to Hon Rymer, the long term plan is to have after school programmes, a music programme and the facility would also be outfitted with computers.

“The music programme is something we had years ago and that is something we can also revamp,” Hon Rymer told Virgin Islands News Online.

“We have a lot of interest for the summer camp. We intended to host about 30 students but now we have exceeded that. As you can see the space is limited but we will make sure that it is impactful and the children will have a great time here,” Hon Rymer added.

“I will be stopping in and making sure that you are having a good time,” Hon Rymer told the children.

The Fifth District Representative acknowledged the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, along with the Committee to Bring District Five Alive and other persons, for making the initiative a reality.

The space being used for the Resource Centre is rented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture and was refurbished by landlord Mr Carl M. Todman.

Mr Todman told Virgin Islands News Online the Resource Centre had been closed prior to the hurricanes of September 2017 and had received damages to the doors and windows. He said it took him two months to get the space refurbished for the reopening.

‘We don’t want to fall behind’- Hon Natalio D. Wheatley

Meanwhile, Hon Wheatley said he was delighted to partner with Hon Rymer to have the summer programme going. ‘We don’t want to lose grounds during the summer, we don’t want to fall behind and when school comes we want to make sure we are sharp and we [are] learning all the different skills to be successful in life.”

Hon Wheatley emphasised it was important that the children have fun learning at the summer programme while in a safe environment. “We want you to have fun, to have a good time but we want you to be safe and we want you to play well with your colleagues.”

The Education Minister said he was now looking forward to "great things" from the summer programme as well as the after school programme when school begins.

Cultural & educational experience

One of the teachers at the summer programme, Ms Natasha M. Marshall, said one of the objectives of the summer programme is to make sure the children have a cultural and educational experience.

“They are going to be well rounded when we are finished, well exposed, we have a lot planned for them in terms of community outreach programmes, [and] different services [are] being offered soon.”

The summer programme runs from 9:00am to 3:30pm daily. Two such programmes will be held over the holidays, with the present one ending on July 30 and the second programme to run from August 12 to August 30, 2019.