So Carnival Warrants Closing School Now?!

So Carnival Warrants Closing School Now?!

As a native and longtime resident of the U..S.V.I I was shocked to find out that there wouldn’t be any public school for the entire last week of this year’s Carnival events. 

I will assume that this is at least a part of why school teachers are rallying against the government. As a student, some ten years ago, when I attended public school students were given a vacation period similar to that of adult government employees’; attend school regularly and on Food Fair (usually a Wednesday) schools would end early (half day) and the rest of the week was Carnival vacation for students participating in Carnival activities or those who choose not to partake at all. 

            With this schedule everyone was allotted time to enjoy the festivities while most business offices made accommodations for their clients for the short vacation period. No parent needed to take time off to stay home with their child, or find/pay a babysitter (which can be hard during the festivities), nor did employers become short staffed due to unforeseen circumstances (a bunch of parents with no help!). No parent would be in danger of/ or losing their jobs and maybe, just maybe, a lot of public school teachers wouldn’t be upset for having to give up two weeks or more of their vacation time.

            While I don’t want to be misunderstood, this is not me criticizing the government for their decision for they are the policy makers and are qualified to do so, but why make such a change/ shift with such a problem (as teachers protesting extra days), when this could’ve easily been an opportunity to elevate at least some of the pressure and tension of the situation by subtracting a few more days?

            Furthermore, I also wonder if any of the public school teachers have any say on the matter as it pertains to the Carnival season or if it was sanctioned by requests from faculty and staff members of our public educational institutions. I mean, since it is them who are being done ‘injustice’. 

This is the opinion of Ms. Child Advocate and doesn't reflect the views of the preschool or other community activities she engages in or works for. Any questions or comments are welcomed and appreciated and can be sent to usvi.childhood.learning@gmail.com or can be left on our blog website, http://usviearlychildhoodlearning.blogspot.com/. 

National Poem In Your Pocket Day

My Pledge of Allegiance to Me

There’s more to me than the human eye can see.

I’m a woman of purpose and destiny.

A perfect design, I’m special and unique.

I won’t be identified by the parts that make

up my physique.

My beauty is not defined by my skin or my hair

and my soul has more value than

 the clothes that I wear.

I’m not a symbol of pleasure or sex appeal;

I have the natural ability to comfort

and the power to heal.

When God made me, He created a gem

because He fashioned me in the likeness of Him.

I refuse to do anything that will put God to shame.

I deserve to be treated with reverence

and called by my name.

I can’t be purchased or sold at any price

because I’ve already been bought and paid

for by the precious blood of Christ!

Written by Letitia L. Hodge

#HappyEarthDay

Happy Earth-day Everyone! At the link below you can find out just what is Earth Day and how you can get involved. Remember the children are our futures so they need knowledge of how to abide by the earth or else we will continue on the path of destruction that has lead us to the state we are currently in. Participate and get involved!

http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement
http://www.earthday.org/
#HappyEarthDay!!!

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USVI Early Childhood Learning

Children's Corner; Easter Poetry

Easter Joy     Jesus came to earth,
To show us how to live,
How to put others first,
How to love and how to give. Then He set about His work,
That God sent Him to do;
He took our punishment on Himself;
He made us clean and new. He could have saved Himself,
Calling angels from above,
But He chose to pay our price for sin;
He paid it out of love. Our Lord died on Good Friday,
But the cross did not destroy
His resurrection on Easter morn
That fills our hearts with joy. Now we know our earthly death,
Like His, is just a rest.
We'll be forever with Him
In heaven, where life is best. So we live our lives for Jesus,
Think of Him in all we do.
Thank you Savior; Thank you Lord.
Help us love like you!     By Joanna Fuchs  

Children's Corner; Poetry

The Day

It hangs on its

                stem like a plum

at the edge of a

               darkening thicket.

It’s swelling and

               blushing and ripe

and I reach out a

               hand to pick it

but flesh moves

               slow through time

and evening

               comes on fast

and just when I

               think my fingers

might seize that

               sweetness at last

the gentlest of

               breezes rises

and the plum lets

               go of   the stem.

And now it’s my

               fingers ripening

and evening that’s

               reaching for them.

BY GEOFFREY BROCK

Children's Corner; Poetry

Earth Day

I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.
Each blade of grass,
Each honey tree,
Each bit of mud,
And stick and stone
Is blood and muscle,
Skin and bone.

And just as I
Need every bit
Of me to make
My body fit,
So Earth needs
Grass and stone and tree
And things that grow here
Naturally.

That’s why we
Celebrate this day.
That’s why across
The world we say:
As long as life,
As dear, as free,
I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.



BY JANE YOLEN