Ann Hill School receives famous visitor bearing digital gifts

Students of the Ann Hill School will be able to catch up on their studies during this delayed school term on new laptops donated by a little-known service club represented by a familiar face.

Veteran calypsonian Mr Dale – Dale Rudder – representing the Barbados Ambassadors of Canada, made a brief presentation of the laptops and supplies, telling the students their school has a special place with the group which constantly looks for ways to assist it.

He said:  “The Ann Hill School is a place the ambassadors hold dearly to their hearts; I keep telling people it pleases me every time we come here, to see the level of organisation, the spirit, the smiling faces, and there is always a warm feeling. We always look forward to helping with all the students and teachers here at this institution.

“Amidst all the struggles with COVID, the ambassadors thought it rather fitting, to outfit the Ann Hill School with backpacks and laptops for these challenging times.”

Principal Emelda Belle, in thanking Rudder and the ambassadors for the donation, said the students were ecstatic about their return to class, describing a difficult experience with remote learning.

“Face-to-face is really the best option, especially for our children with special needs,” said Belle. “When they are in the online environment, it is very difficult for them to teach, to feel and to interact in a meaningful way. The face-to-face experience for them by far is better.

“They were elated to be back in school; we had to tell them sorry we can’t hug, and they were [disappointed] because they were really happy to come back to school.”

The principal also noted that though parents were initially very concerned about online classes, some changes to the curriculum and the community’s support made things easier for the students.

She explained: “Some parents were very concerned that their children were going to be at a disadvantage and out of touch… during the first lockdown when things were all new and fresh. The Ministry of Education has worked consistently with us and with partners in the community to bridge that gap, so I can say at this point in time we have 95 per cent of our students with the technology.

“Within our curriculum, we also teach them how to use the technology, because as you know it’s one thing to have the technology, but then to be able to interface effectively, that was a bit of a challenge, but we were able to work with the parents and the teachers were fantastic.” (SB)