The Public Library in Jamestown hosted its annual Reading Awareness Day on Thursday 14 August 2014.

The goal of the day is to encourage and promote reading – the public and all primary and secondary age children were welcome to attend. Activities included storytelling, word searches, quizzes, a treasure hunt, craft sessions based upon childrens’ favourite book characters, and a talk on St Helena insects by Lisa Fowler from the National Trust.

Librarian Jill Young commented:

“The day went really well and many children attended with their parents. We also had Brenda Moors and Jean Corker helping with reading stories to children.”

Children were very engaged and happy doing various activities. Some created clocks based upon the rhyme ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ and images about the ‘Ugly Duckling’ story. Children read aloud, and silently. The older children were busy creating a wallboard display on Enid Blyton, celebrating her birthday on 11 August. Other activities included analysis of Enid Blyton stories, and colouring printed pictures from her books.

 Librarian Lacosta McDaniel added:

 “We hope that this display will be seen by all visitors who come into the library, and that it reinforces the importance of reading.”

The day reminded all of the power of reading. With reading you can gain endless knowledge, and staff at the Library encourages parents, guardians, children and teachers to use all the resources that

are available there.

 

Three photos are attached.

SHG

15 August 2014

As part of the on-going road maintenance program, the Highways Authority has given approval for the road from New Bridge to The Briars junction to be closed for an initial period of 15 weeks, starting on Monday 18 August 2014.  The closure will be for 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, weather permitting.

This closure will allow the Roads Section to carry out clearance of vegetation, repair safety fences, remove potentially dangerous rocks, upgrade and install retaining walls, fit slipper drains and double dress the road.

Residents and businesses living and working within the proposed road closure will have access to their homes and workplace at all times.  Access will be from one end of the road or the other, depending on how work is progressing at the time.

Emergency Services will be permitted access as required, and the road might be open at weekends, depending on progress on the route.

The Roads Team apologises in advance for the inconvenience.

Enquiries about this work can be made on telephone number 23640, during normal working hours.

SHG

13 August 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNCILLORS CONSTITUENCY SURGERIES

Councillors Constituency Surgeries continue this week. All the surgeries take place on Saturdays between 10am and 12noon.

If you would like to give Councillors advance notice of your concern before attending a surgery, you can do so by contacting the Secretary to Elected Members, Anita Legg, on Tel: 22590 or email: sec.em@helanta.co.sh

Dates and locations of the surgeries are detailed below:

CONSTITUENCY SURGERIES
From 10am to 12noon
Venue	Date	Councillors Attending
St Mary’s Church, The Briars	23 August	Cyril George & Ian Rummery
Levelwood Community Centre	23 August	Nigel Dollery & Derek Thomas
Half Tree Hollow Clinic	30 August	Nigel Dollery & Lawson Henry
Kingshurst Community Centre, St Paul’s	30 August	Gavin Ellick & Christine Scipio-O’Dean
Harford Community Centre, Longwood	30 August	Les Baldwin & Brian Isaac
No.3 Main Street, Jamestown	6  September	Brian Isaac & Bernice Olsson
Sandy Bay Community Centre	6  September	Dr Corinda Essex & Gavin Ellick

On behalf of St Helena Legislative Council

18 August 2014

 

 

Friday 8August 2014 saw Prince Andrew School hold its end of year Achievement Awards Ceremony, accompanied by musical performances.  Students, parents and invited guests gathered, including HE Governor Capes, Chief Secretary Roy Burke, Councillor Christine Scipio-O’Dean, Director of Education Colin Moore and Father Dale.

Head Teacher Paul Starkie opened the ceremony, highlighting to students the determination needed to achieve their goals and the responsibility of becoming future leaders on the Island.  He referred to the late Mrs Shirley Anderson, who he praised as a positive role model and a person who was compassionate in caring for those in need.

An overview of the school’s activities and events during the year was presented by Head Girl Chelsea Young, who encouraged all fellow students to strive towards their ambitions and to never give up.

The first presentation of the day went to joint winners of the House Cup – Mundens and Jenkins.  The Sports Awards then recognised students’ outstanding commitment and teamwork, and were presented to Christian George, Tanisha Benjamin, Alexia Reynolds and Kieran Bowers.  For their dedication to Performing Arts, Alex Vanguard, Shelby Bargo, Deolandre De Jager and Kayleigh Harris collected their certificates and medals.

 Councillor Christine Scipio-O’Dean noted the importance of the local community in supporting young people to do their best.  This was echoed with the Heart of Gold Awards, presented to John Dillon and Raymond Young for their help involving swimming sessions, lifeguard duties and in preparing Island and Commonwealth Games participants.  Their dedication towards learning support students was also commended.

The Environment and Conservation Award was presented to Jacob Bowers, the Student of the Year Awards to Chelsea Henry, Christian George, Keegan Yon and Scott George.  Citizenship and Progress Awards also recognised other students.

Father Dale of the Parent Teacher Association, said:

“We are very proud of our childrens’ achievements.  A big thank you to all our sponsors, and a special thank you to all students for your commitment to learning.  I also want to pay tribute to Nicky Leo and his team for crafting the awards presented today.” 

Father Dale also praised teachers Jeanette Williams and Daphne Greentree on their imminent retirements, pointing out that they taught him and many other adults in the hall.

 

 

 

 

 

Four pictures are attached to this release.

SHG

12 August 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councillor Leslie Baldwin’s full report on the 44^th British Isles and Mediterranean Region annual conference hosted by the Wales Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, in Cardiff Bay, from 27-30 May 2014, is now available on the SHG website.

Also available online is a full report on Councillor’s Baldwin and Ellick’s attendance at the 63rd Westminster Seminar held in London from 16-20 June 2014.

Both reports can be found at http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/committee-reports/

A press release summarising the Councillors’ attendance at these overseas conferences was issued on 8 August 2014.

 

SHG

13 August 2014

Executive Council met today, Tuesday 12 August 2014, to discuss two items on the Open Agenda.

The first item was a request for approval to spend extra funding on Renewable Energy from the SHG Capital Programme. The £1m extra funding is coming from the Department for International Development (DfID). This new funding has been identified specifically to support only renewable energy projects, and must be spent in this financial year, 2014/15.

In meeting these tight deadlines for spending, it is likely that the new funding will be allocated to a new solar farm for electricity generation. Work on identifying the most appropriate location is underway.

ExCo was very supportive of this proposal as solar generated electricity reduces the Island’s reliance on diesel imports for power generation. ExCo welcomed the project, subject to it being entirely financed out of the £1 million pounds allocated by DfID.

The second item on the Open Agenda was the Building Control Commencement Order 2014. The Building Control Ordinance was passed in March 2013, but has not yet been brought into force. While new Building Regulations are still to be finalised, there is no reason why the new Ordinance cannot be brought into force as the Commencement Order will, in the meantime, make transitional provision for the existing Regulations to remain in force. Work is ongoing to finalise the new Regulations and local contractors and other stakeholders will be consulted in the process. ExCo therefore agreed to pass the Commencement Order.

There was only one item on the closed agenda and this related to the disposal of Wrangham’s house. A decision was agreed, and contractual negotiations will now begin with the preferred bidder. A further announcement will be made once these negotiations are successfully completed.

The meeting finished at 10.50am.

ExCo

12 August 2014

Talented professionals and public servants from St Helena are able to apply for a scholarship award under the UK’s flagship Chevening programme funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Awarded to outstanding individuals with leadership potential, a Chevening Scholarship offers financial support for a Master’s level degree beginning September 2015 at one of the UK’s leading universities.

Those interested have until 15 November 2014 to submit their application.

Governor Capes said:

“A Chevening Scholarship provides a tremendous opportunity for individuals to develop their full potential and I very much hope that we will see a good field of applicants.”

Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s Degree, in any subject at any of the UK’s leading universities.

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship, you must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country, and intend to return there after your studies
• Hold a degree that is equivalent to at least an upper second-class honours degree in the UK
• Have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent experience before applying for a Chevening Scholarship
• Be able to meet the Chevening minimum English language requirement
• Be able to obtain the correct visa, and receive an unconditional offer from a UK university

The Chevening team are particularly interested to hear from applicants in St Helena who wish to study areas that will benefit the Island’s three national goals.

A Chevening scholarship usually offers tuition fees, a monthly stipend, travel to and from your country, and a thesis or dissertation grant.

How to apply

Those interested should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application. Further details of important dates and priority subject areas are available at www.chevening.org/apply

SHG

12 August 2014

The Lower Wharf will be closed from 12:30pm on Saturday 23 August 2014 until the same time on Monday 25 August.

This will be a full closure of the Lower Wharf, with no pedestrian or vehicle access for the duration.  The closure is necessary to allow new road markings to be painted around the area of the Cranes and the Life Boats, adjacent to the lower steps.

SHG

11 August 2014

 

Open to the Public from 9.30 am

Executive Council will meet tomorrow morning, Tuesday 12 August 2014, in the Council Chamber.

The meeting will be open to the public from 9.30am for two Open Agenda items:

• Request for approval to spend additional funding on Renewable Energy
• Building Control Ordinance (Commencement) Order, 2014
• Executive Council Members are: Ian Rummery, Christine Scipio-O’Dean, Lawson Henry, Wilson Duncan and Leslie Baldwin.

SHG

11 August 2014

 

 

Laura Lawrence of Half Tree Hollow, has graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with an Upper Second Class Degree (Honours) in English Language and Communication with English Language Teaching.

The Degree lasted three years, and was a joint Honours Degree with English Language and Communication as the Major and English Language Teaching as the Minor.

The English Language and Communication programme dealt with many aspects of language (mainly English), such as: describing and explaining how languages work, how different groups in society use language in their own characteristic ways, how children and adults acquire language(s) in the first place and how languages change over time.

The English Language Teaching programme covered all kinds of English language teaching.  It included teaching English to people who live in the UK, to foreigners and to UK visitors.

During the three years, twenty-four modules were covered by Laura.  She said:

“I found the most fascinating ‘Sounds of English’.  It looked at the physiological apparatus involved with the production of speech and examined how individual speech sounds are made.  This module gave me an important descriptive element for further language study in my second and third years and is an essential tool for my career in teaching.”

Laura also ran an independent project around the module ‘Language and Gender’, in which she investigated how St Helenian women in positions of power carry out workplace interaction with men and women.  The aim was to challenge the stereotype that women are not effective leaders when giving directives, running meetings and challenging views.

“I enjoyed this project immensely.  The participants all willingly gave up their time to be interviewed and offered valuable insight into the way they manage and lead. The most exciting trend I discovered was that all the women I interviewed began their careers in teaching.  An inspiration for me, to say the least. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who participated – your input was beyond what I needed and produced an intriguing investigation, with a pleasing end result.”

Laura will now undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Secondary English) through the University of Bedfordshire.  This will be a School Direct route – having school placements alongside university studies.

Laura added:

“During my interview for this course my passion for teaching was rekindled and my enthusiasm must have come across, as they offered me a place on the spot.

“I would like to thank the St Helena Government for this opportunity – Mrs Wendy Benjamin for starting my journey, my family and friends for always believing in me and encouraging me and the staff and students of Prince Andrew School – who motivated me to pursue this venture.”

SHG

11 August 2014