GAGrand Anse Mahé primary school gets new literacy centre |22 June 2016

Grand Anse Mahé primary school has got a new literacy centre. It was opened on Wednesday during a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the inauguration of the school.

The centre caters for early childhood children from the age of 3½ years to 7 years ‒ which is from crèche to P2. But it is flexible as it also allows other children to make use of it.

Various activities were on the programme that day like a reflection by a group of children of different religious denominations, blessing of the school by the parish priest, presentation of tokens of appreciation to long-serving staff and sponsors of the school’s projects, cutting of anniversary cake, flag-raising ceremony and traditional dance performances.

The literacy centre is an initiative of Early Childhood Coordinator Chrysta Victor. She said the school saw the name very fitting as the colours in the rainbow refer to the diversity of pupils. Each one is unique and has needs that need to be catered for. They have different backgrounds that teachers need to take into consideration when planning lessons. It also refers to hope. Hope for all our children who are in our care. Hope for them to develop their potential to the fullest so as to be responsible citizens of tomorrow.

Ms Victor said it was during her two and a half year study overseas for a Bachelor in Education that she decided to put into practice in her school what she has learned there. So Grand Anse Mahé school developed the idea and hence the realisation of the project.

It is the children themselves who will decide what they want to do. The teacher will only act as supervisor and guide them.

There are four main sections in the centre ‒ story telling, phoenix, writing and reading.

The storytelling section contains story books, books with CD where children can follow and listen to the stories at the same time; books that can be pressed, it reads the story itself and children just listen.

In the writing section there are eraser boards where children can write and erase; electronic books that use pens that can be used to paint and those pens can be charged. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has also been included.

In the reading section there are more or less books, matching games, puzzles, etc.

The phoenix section is where the ability to read is developed like letter arranging, describing words, cutting out words, joining words together to form sentences…

“There is a variety of resources available in the centre that can be used to help children in their learning process,” said Ms Victor.

The centre contains a variety of resources that can be used to help children in their learning process

By Marylene Julie