More than 150 parents and children excitedly marched through the doors of the majestic Turnbull Regional Library on St. Thomas for a one-of-a-kind event on Saturday, August 20--the first Back to School Night at the Library.

Dubbed "a celebration of literacy," the five-hour event was a joint effort between the Virgin Islands Department of Education and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Archives, Libraries and Museums. It brought together students in grades K-6 and their parents for an evening of storytelling, music, theater, arts-and-crafts and more! Parents attending the event expressed their pleasure in having the library opened during the evening hours and requested that the event be held at least once per month.

Dr. Lois Habtes, retired school principal and children's author, kicked off the event with music, singing and storytelling. She led students in a variety of local songs and games, while playing her guitar. A highlight of the evening came when students put on a small theatrical production for parents in the library's state-of-the art theater. Students in grades K-2 performed in the "Feelings Chorus," featuring handcrafted puppets made with paper plates. Then, there was the Reader's Theater, featuring students in grades 3-6 reading as various characters in a play. Students also enjoyed making a pencil box in a special Home Depot workshop, in addition to making their own crafts based on stories that were read to them. 

There was lots for parents to do, too. They were treated to workshops on how to incorporate literacy into everyday activities at home and on digital citizenship. Parents also assisted their children with arts-and-crafts activities.

The evening ended with a bang as youngsters and their parents curled up to watch Smurfs 2 on the big screen in the library's theater. Following the event, students received a bag of goodies containing a book, courtesy of Scholastic Books, as well as folders chockfull of handouts promoting reading and writing.

Volunteers for Night at the Library included members of the local Eastern Stars, as well as Friends of the Library. Workshop and activity facilitators included Education Department's Jeune Provost, Jerae Forde, Kisha Corbett and Shamika Williams-Henley. Iman Maynard and Ann led the Reader's Theater and Feeling's Chorus, respectively. 

A similar event will be held at St. Croix's Florence Williams Library on Saturday, August 27.

High school students participating in the revived Math and Science Research Academy this summer on St. Croix showcased their STEM projects on Friday, July 29 at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Great Hall.  The Research Academy was conducted from June 27 to August 5, 2016 at the St. Croix Educational Complex.

About 60 students eagerly discussed their research projects and proudly displayed their accomplishments through Power Point presentations, posters, brochures, jewelry and other items made from recycled materials.   Replicas of the historic district of downtown Christiansted and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport made of LEGO blocks, and a model of the island of St. Croix depicting guts, ponds, dams, and other water storage areas adorned the Hall.  “The students spoke with authority on their respective topics as they took ownership of their learning,” said St. Croix District Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maria Encarnacion.

Project topics at the Academy included, water run-off storage, the impact of improper solid waste dumping, a LEGO Design of St. Croix in 2041, sports (track and field) integration into STEM, and a trash to treasure recycling project.

Encarnacion recalls that only 16 percent of high school students are interested in a STEM career and have proven a proficiency in mathematics.  As a result, she said, the Obama administration announced the 2009 "Educate to Innovate" campaign to motivate and inspire students to excel in STEM subjects. The goal is to get American students from the middle of the pack in science and math to the top of the pack in the international arena. “The St. Croix District is serious about STEM and has put its money where its mouth is, hence, the rebirth of its Math and Science Summer Research Academy,” Encarnacion continued. “The program was designed to demonstrate the interconnectedness of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics and it was evident that all goals were met.” 

The program leads were Juanita Boneque, District Mathematics Coordinator, and Rosa White, District Science Coordinator.  Approximately ten lead teachers and ten teaching assistants participated in the academy. 

Goals of the Math/Science Research Academy were to stimulate high interest and to improve academic achievement in math and science, thus increasing career and college readiness in science and mathematics. Students were immersed in project-based learning through problem solving, scientific research, and innovative projects that encouraged critical thinking and improved communication at all levels.

Math/Science Research Academy students’ model for run-off storage on St. Croix.  

LEGO Design of St. Croix 2041 by students of Math/Science Research Academy

From Trash to Jewelry.  A display of Trash to Treasure at the Math/Science Research Academy showcase at UVI’s Great Hall on July 29, 2016.

Math/Science Research Academy Teaching Assistant LaKiah Meade shows off her students Trash to Treasure display.

Math and Science Research Academy students outline plans for St. Croix 2041.

“Science is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world."  — U.S. President Barack Obama, March 23, 2015

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