Partnership w/

Gratz High School

We have established a partnership with a number of local organization and are collaborating with them in projects that support the sound development of the parish.  The first project, undertaken in collaboration with the St. Thomas Homecoming Alliance and Teens for Technology, involves providing computers for schools and community-based organizations.  We work closely with a number of local basic schools (for children up to 6 years of age).  The partnership has undertaken to provide computers to the schools and a number of community-based organizations, in order to begin to link them to the information highway.  We will also provide support to ensure the best use of computers in instruction, both at the schools and in adult education, and supporting related activities as identified through our partnership. 

A group of 13 students and faculty, mainly from West Chester University, traveled to Jamaica in January 2004.[Some pictures are available here.]  Another group from West Chester University and Temple University traveled to Jamaica in June 2004.  [Description of the trip can be found on our blog; pictures are available here.]    Each trip combined service learning and educational tourism and students took advantage of independent study opportunities offered by participating faculty, to receive 3 credits in conjunction with this experience.

Students participated in Edu-Tourism work by setting up computers in two basic schools during two days of their stay.  They also participated in activities designed to establish partnerships with a women’s center, the public health office, and an eco-tourism initiative high in the Blue Mountains.  These activities provided opportunities to interact with children, teachers, and community members, and to learn first-hand about issues that relate to education, health, society, culture and environment in Jamaica.  Related activities included visits to the healing waters of Bath, food and craft markets, a local church service, Kingston and Port Royal, hiking the historic Cuna Cuna Pass trail, and walking up the famous Dunns River Falls, near Ocho Rios (one of the well-known North Coast tourist destinations).  Entertainment, sea, and fun are also part of this experience.