Pirogue Investments staff help out at Baie Ste Anne primary school |13 May 2020

“We are very grateful that you came to lend us a helping hand in implementing the new measures to ensure that we are ready to start the new school term next Monday. This is what we call ‘Education is a shared responsibility’.”

The head teacher of Baie Ste Anne primary school, Monique Lesperance, shared this on Monday in a short debriefing after the management and staff of Pirogue Investments joined teachers of the school on their first working day in preparation for the school’s opening next week.

Monday May 18 will be the start of the new term and the ‘new normal’ for the school, and Miss Lesperance shared how they understand that they will have to be cautious in observing and explaining the different new measures to the pupils.

“For sure it will not be an easy task but we will have to be vigilant and observant of not only the pupils but of ourselves as teachers in order to protect our community,” she said.

In order to ensure that the school is ready to welcome its young pupils on Monday, Pirogue Investments found it ideal as part of its corporate social responsibility to bring support to the school which also happens to be the starting place of most of its staff and their children.

“We seized this opportunity now that we have not resumed our normal services and all our staff are available to bring our support to the school within our district. We understand that quite a bit of adjustments have to be made for the start of the new term and we believe that if we put our hands together, we can be of assistance in helping the staff prepare for next week,” said Rock Bedier, one of the company’s owner.

“The staff showed much enthusiasm towards the activity, especially taking it at heart as the school and teachers will be welcoming their children as well next week. This is the little bit we can do during this difficult time to show our solidarity to our community,” he added.

The 45 staff helped the teachers in preparing their classrooms and dining halls especially to ensure social distancing as well as assist with the general maintenance of the school compound.

Miss Lesperance along with the school’s council and teachers thanked Pirogue Investments for the initiative and called on other companies or individuals who would like to assist the school in any possible way to feel welcome.

“Our doors remain open and we welcome any assistance, especially for the newly introduced changes,” Miss Lesperance shared.

The maintenance team of Pirogue Investments will continue to work with the school during the week to help with the installation of additional water basin around the school’s compound as required by the department of health.

Pirogue Investments operates the popular restaurant Pirogue Restaurant & Bar and the six-room hotel Pirogue Lodge both situated at Côte d’Or on Praslin. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary last month.

The accompanying photos show Pirogue Investments staff and teachers getting the school ready for Monday.

Text: Nadia Bedier

Photos: Romano Laurence