Look for 21 new and eager visitors arriving in Treasure Beach this Saturday, March 6. Yes, the University of Virginia (U VA) students are returning! Three of the 21 were in Treasure Beach last year; 18 of the students will be visiting Treasure Beach for the first time.

This is the sixth year a group of U VA students will be visiting Treasure Beach. They are doing this on what is known as the Alternative Spring Break program. Instead of taking their regular spring break (and relaxing or partying), these students have volunteered to go different places in the world to be of assistance where they are needed. They range from 18 to 22 years of age. They are all honor students, and they take this assignment very seriously. They pay 100% for the cost of their trips—transportation, accommodations, meals, recreation, etc.; as you can imagine, they have scrimped and saved for ages to be able to afford this.

They will be working at both the Sandy Bank Primary School and Sandy Bank Basic School from Monday, March 8 through Thursday, March 11. Six U VA students will be at the Basic School, and 15 will be at the Primary School. They will be assisting in all the grades, sometimes on a one-on-one basis and sometimes with groups. In prior years they have done a huge number of things—individual tutoring, assisting students prepare for the GSATs, conducting special learning sessions, painting, digging latrines, and installing playground equipment.

Prior to going to the schools to assist, they will be enjoying a big dinner with Miss Zane Ebanks, Principal of Sandy Bank Primary; Mrs. Erna Black-Neil, Principal of Sandy Bank Basic; and many of the fine students who have received scholarships from Treasure Beach Foundation. This will give them an opportunity to learn more about the educational system in Treasure Beach, as well as the challenges facing the teachers and students.

When you see these students walking to and from the schools each day, please give them a very warm welcome.

These student are doing wonderful things and I wish to thank them for their dedication and hard work and add God''s blessings for their safe travels.

As a member of the Treasure Beach Foundation Board of Directors, I want to thank these students for their wonderful efforts. They are truly making a difference.

As a University of Virginia alumni myself, I'd like to say "Go Wahoos!"

The UVA students help my son whose now in Newell and he still talk about them to this day. God Bless.

Six years in a row. Wonderful. I am curious about how many University of Virginia students have come to T/B to assist in those six years.

There have been 145 U VA students assisting in Treasure Beach over the six-year period. This is actually 145 student visits as several of the students have returned in subsequent years. Treasure Beach has always been one of the trips that is most popular because of the very warm welcome these students receive from the community and the schools; many more U VA students would come to offer their help, but we have tried to cut the group to a size that is manageable.

Where do they stay and who pay for their stay.
It must be costly.
God bless them and keep them safe.

They stay at both 4Ms and Serenity Lodge. They pay for their own accommodations (and food, travel, and recreation). Yes, it is costly; however, as much as possible, they are given reduced prices by many in Treasure Beach who realize how important these students are to the community. This includes Aman Parchment and two other drivers who are provide airport transport; Floyd at the Pelican Bar; Captain Dennis on his Shallow Bar; and Aman Parchment, Richard Parchment, and Lionel Clarke for boat rides up the Black River and to the Pelican Bar. Their lunches are being provided gratis by both Sandy Bank Primary School and Sandy Bank Basic School.

waiting to see them on the road. going to the schools .

To know these students chose to be in Treasure Beach rather than Cancun or Ft. Lauderdale for Spring Break says a lot about their character. A great Big thanks to all of them, and to you Ms. Kennedy.

EXACTLY what I was thinking about Cancun or Ft. Lauderdale. Could not have said it better. I think their parents should be proud of them for doing this instead.

I was able to snap a few photos at the dinner held last night at 4M's Cottage in honor of the UVA students and the TB Foundation scholarship recipients.

It was wonderful to see our scholarship students mingling with the UVA students. I overheard lots of questions being asked from both sets of students and lots of laughter. What a great night of sharing and learning from each other.

Each person present (at the suggestion of Kimberly Taylor) got up, introduced themselves and said what was one of their favorite things. This helped to break the ice, familiarize everyone with each other and the chatter just increased from there.

What a fabulous start to what we all hope is a fabulous week!



For more photos of the evening you can view them here or by the link in the Photo Gallery

As Rebecca said, the 21 University of Virginia students now in Treasure Beach were joined for dinner on Sunday evening by Miss Zane Ebanks, principal of Sandy Bank Primary School, Mrs. Erna Black-Neil, principal of Sandy Bank Basic School—and 13 students on Treasure Beach Foundation scholarships. This gave everyone an opportunity to meet and mingle. Both principals spoke to the U VA students to explain more about the Jamaican educational system, some of the specific challenges facing their schools, and what the U VA students would be doing to assist this week. The scholarship students shared their experiences with the group, including sitting for the GSATs and what it was like to now be in high school.

Here are more photos.

Miss Zane with the three U VA Site Leaders


Mrs. Neil addressing the group


Learning from each other


A scholarship student explains her experiences

For even more photos of the event you can view them here or by the link in the Photo Gallery.

As one of the UVA students who participated in the very first two spring break trips to Treasure Beach, I couldn't be happier to see these pictures (and to see how much the scholarship recipients have grown over the past 6 years!). I have very fond memories spending time with Bridget James, Kimberly Taylor, Samantha Dicker, Whitney Abrahams, Adrian Dixon, and Shantel Williams in the schoolyard of Sandy Bank Primary School. I hope everyone has a wonderful and enriching week full of learning, laughter, and friendship. I look forward to seeing more photos throughout the week, and hope to come back to Treasure Beach to visit sometime soon! THANK YOU to Karen, Ms. Zane, Ms. Moxam, Ms. Effie, and all those who've made this trip possible for so many years, and thank you to Chris, Steven, Selamawit for all their hard work leading this group of students before, during, and after the trip.

I'm truly grateful to these UVA students for taking their spring break to help the students of Sandy Bank Basic and Primary Schools. It is so refreshing to see these young people volunteering their time to such a worthy cause. I know the teachers and students are very exited and look forward to their visits each year, and it's so nice to see the past students that benefited from their help over the years present at the dinner too. Let's all keep them in our thoughts and prayers!

Timmy, you are looking great. Keep up the good work at school and stay as sweet as you are.

I had asked where the students would be spending their week while in TB and now seeing where they are really is a good thing.
4M Cottage and Serenity Lodge are ideal places for this group. Good management and friendly surroundings.
So nice to see what these young people are willing to give up to be there in TB to help-out our children in their educations.
I know the residents of TB will make sure they are safe walking to and from the schools and they will be treated as family.

May God's blessing be with you all.

I am wondering if the UVA students will be posting what they are doing at both schools on this forum. I know they are helping but I am interested to learn more of the specifics. I ask because I am the parent of a student who will be attending UVA next year, and I think a program such as this sounds ideal for her. She is a very giving person, but she will not be studying teaching and she has no teaching experience.

To the U VA Parent in Waiting: Of the 21 students now assisting at the Primary and Basic Schools, not even one is studying teaching. Their fields of concentration include computer science and mathematics, French, foreign affairs, chemical engineering, nursing, and law. What these students have in common is the desire to give of themselves to help others. I will say going to Treasure Beach has made a big difference in the lives of many of the U VA students who have been on prior trips to Treasure Beach. They have developed much more curiosity about unfamiliar issues and places. Also, several of them have changed their career goals to become involved in community service.

Your daughter should definitely apply to go on one of these trips. Yes, she has to apply; not all the applicants are accepted. For instance, I believe only one out of four applicants for the Treasure Beach trip is accepted each year.

The teachre was sick and the uvirsity student teach my son clas. Good job and lucky for he . grade 4

when will pictures from the rest of the u va trip get posted?

The U VA students left Treasure Beach a few minutes ago and are on their way to MoBay to fly back home. They will start to post their pictures and comments the beginning of the week.

They wanted me to give a big "Thank You" to everyone in Treasure Beach who welcomed them with open arms and made their trip so enjoyable. These people include Miss Zane and Mrs. Neil, Miss Effie and her staff at 4Ms Guest House, Miss Avril and her staff at Serenity Lodge, Rebecca and Nickell from Treasure Tours, Dennis Abrahams, Floyd and his crew at the Pelican Bar, Aman Parchment, Richard Parchment, and Lionel Clarke. Most of all, they were delighted to have the opportunity to work with all the students and teachers at Sandy Bank Primary School and Sandy Bank Basic School.

And another big thank-you to Karen Kennedy

Hey everybody! I'm one of the students who led the UVA trip to TB this year (Chris) and I just wanted to say thank you so much for the support that this community (both the community physically living in TB and the community outside that cares about it so much) has offered us throughout the years. Every part of the trip this year was amazing and we are blessed to be able to work with such wonderful kids and make a significant impact on their lives as teachers and mentors.

To R, I was one of two students who taught grade 4 for the week so I must know your son! I was able to teach the entire class for 3 out of 4 days because the teacher was at a conference, then was out with her sick son. I miss grade 4 students dearly (shout out to Danielle and Tamaya if their parents are reading) and am confident that each of them will be successful in school and elsewhere in life.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about this trip! I should be posting pictures from our trip in the next few days

Cheers,
Chris

The Sandy Bank Primary School family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the University of Virginia students for coming and sharing with us their knowledge and expertise. They spent quality time assisting students and were also able to learn from each other about their culture. Having you here meant a lot to all of us and we want you to know that you will always be remembered.