S.C.A. holds community cleanup

Today marks the one hundred and sixteenth anniversary of St. Catherine’s Academy. To celebrate the occasion the students and teachers decided that rather than having a party, they would give something back to the community. Today the girls painted neglected graves at the Lord’s Ridge Cemetery and picked up garbage and planted flowers in the Buttonwood Bay and Belama areas. Despite some heavy rain throughout the morning, the girls, their teachers and principal said they would not give up the work they set out to do.

Alice Castillo, Principal, S.C.A.

“For some years now they have done this depending on what was available. Last year we couldn’t get anything that needed urgent attention, but this year we started early talking to the Mayor and he identified some projects for us and we are working on that. The day is not really helping because it’s so wet and the girls are seeking shelter more than anything else. We are busy out here at the church and we will leave with a lasting impression.”

The students seemed excited about celebrating the Sisters of Mercy arrival in Belize over a hundred and sixteen years ago and the establishment of the school. They also felt proud they were contributing something to the community.

Selenie Villanueva, Student, S.C.A.

“We are just contributing to Belize. We are giving back to what the Sisters of Mercy did for Belize. So like how today is the Foundation Day we decided to come out and beautify Belize and we hope that everyone comes out and beautify it with us.”

Principal Castillo says that next year they will be back and will be giving more.

Alice Castillo

“Next year Foundation Day, we will be out here again. I want to get the girls that live in this Belama Area to help with the upkeep of the plants to make sure that they do not die on us. So yes we expect this to be an ongoing project.”

St. Catherine’s Academy has an enrollment of over five hundred students.