Dangriga school finally has enough space

At the start of every school year, a common complaint among administrators is a lack of space. But this week, one institution took time out to say “thank you” to generous benefactors who helped them better accommodate their student population. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports from Dangriga.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This morning the students and staff of Sacred Heart Primary in Dangriga officially opened their new school building with a blessing by parish priest Chris Newman.

In October, the Catholic Church donated the structure to the primary school but it was up to administrators to raise the money for renovations.

Clara Sabal, Principal, Sacred Heart Primary School
“This morning, I don’t know, words cannot express the way I feel this morning.”

When we last visited Sacred Heart, Principal Clara Sabal appealed for the public’s assistance in alleviating the severe overcrowding at the primary school. A whopping seventy children were being squeezed into a single room with only a blackboard wall separating classrooms.

But with the support of the business sector, the Chinese community and parents and friends of the school, Sacred Heart collected just over twenty-three thousand dollars in cash as well as in kind contributions of sand and cement blocks. Over the last three months, those donations were used to refurbish the rectory into five classrooms and an office for the principal just in time for the new school year.

Clara Sabal, Principal
“It means a whole lot of difference. Our teachers are more comfortable in their classrooms, the children are more comfortable, there is no noise that’s bothering children because of the division of a classroom and so they are lot more happy and comfortable in their classroom.”

Dushinka Kuylen, Parent
“I’d like to urge the parents of our students to play a more active role in the academic life of our students. Donate what you can, help where you can, believe in our administration.”

“If they manage to do so much with so little, imagine what miracles they could perform with a little bit more financial help and moral support from the parents of our more than seven hundred students.”

Sacred Heart is also supported by staff and students of the University of San Francisco who visit annually to provide volunteer teachers to the school. Over the years, the Americans have also contributed a computer lab to the students.

Fr. John Savard, Learn Belize, University of San Francisco
“So we really look at this as being a partnership, it’s a partnership of resources. The students help us learn about a Caribbean culture, the Garifuna culture, the Creole culture, the different cultures that happen here and we help them learn a little bit about computers and other things. So it’s a partnership that we’ve been able to form between the University of San Francisco and Sacred Heart Dangriga.”

Janelle Chanona
“So what can you say in Garifuna? What have they taught you?”

Fr. John Savard
“You know Fr. DD, he talks Garifuna. He did the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in Garifuna and I was ashamed that I couldn’t and so maybe after lunch…

Janelle Chanona
“You wah teach father? How you say it?”

Children speaking Garifuna.

Fr. John Savard
“Very good. I learned something today.”

And because a school’s wish list is never ending, Sabal is already campaigning for Sacred Heart’s next project.

Clara Sabal, Principal
“My next wish for Sacred Heart is to have a very good feeding program and a nice kitchen that children can sit in and be comfortable while they are eating.”

Janelle Chanona
“And you have that space and everything?”

Clara Sabal
“We have the space already.”

Janelle Chanona
“It’s just the get the contributions?”

Clara Sabal
“You got it.”

If you would like to assist the students of Sacred Heart Primary in Dangriga, please contact Clara Sabal at 522-2040 or deposit funds at First Caribbean’s Dangriga Branch account number 3829131. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.

Renovations to the school building were supervised by contractor Eugene Levy. According to Sabal, a balance of approximately two thousand dollars which was collected in the building drive will be used to purchase new desks and chairs for the students.