Starting Saturday, March 5, there will be 21 new faces in Treasure Beach.

2011 marks the seventh consecutive year we have been fortunate enough to welcome student volunteers from the University of Virginia (U VA). They will be assisting at both Sandy Bank Primary School and Sandy Bank Basic School.

These students spend their spring break serving others instead of doing such things as partying for a week in places like Florida or Cancun. They are part of what is known as the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program at U VA. They have each worked hard to pay for their own plane tickets, airport transport, accommodations, and meals. These students hail from places as far away as China. Their fields of concentration include a wide variety of areas such as environmental science, biomedical engineering, and systems engineering. One of them is an EMT; another knows sign language and works with children with disabilities; others are especially good at sports. What they all have in common is the intense desire to be of service and to make meaningful differences in the lives of others.

When you see them walking to and from the schools each morning and afternoon, please give them a warm Treasure Beach welcome.

These unselfish students are great for the children. Thanks to them for being there again.

Will they be working in every class or only in selected classes? I am asking about both schools.

Welcome back UVA.

Six of the students will be at the Basic School--two in each of the three classes. The other 15 will be at the Primary School, and we anticipate they will be assigned to all six grades.

Where will they be residing during their stay?
I know the last time they stayed at 4M Cottage right below the entrance to the Treasure Beach Hotel and we felt they were in a safe environment.

Hope they will be able to stay there again on this trip.
I know they are in good hands with Mrs Campbell.

They will again be at 4Ms--with Miss Effie watching out for them and doing all the cooking for the full group's breakfasts and dinners. And, the rest of the group will again be at Serenity Lodge where Miss Avril will be taking excellent care of those staying there.

Now I see they will be in good hands.
With Effie and Avril what more could we ask.

I know they are always welcome with open arms and for the good they do while being there I could not see them not being treated with respect and kindness.

Treasure Beach Residents sure know a good thing when they see it, and this is one along with many others.

I wish then a safe and healthy "work/vacation".
Thanks Mrs Kennedy for all the good you have done for TB over the years.

correction mrs kennedy miss avril no longer works at senerity lodge.

Thanks for the letting me know. I was not aware Miss Avril no longer worked there. I trust her replacement will also do an excellent job with the students.

Her replacement is Miss Ramona and I assure you, she will do her usual fabulous job! She took great care of the students last year as well.

When I was in college there weren't any programs like this. I went home for spring break and that was fine with me. My daughter will be attending the University of Virginia starting this fall and I hope she decides to do something like this. They have more than 60 different trips to choose from, but I would love her to go to Treasure Beach to work there.

Here are a few photos of Sunday night's dinner where the scholarship recipients get a chance to meet and talk with the UVA students. Lots of fun!

Great idea to have this dinner and great photos. Hoping to see more photos soon.

All 21 University of Virginia students were lucky enough to go out on the Shallow Bar for a sunset cruise last evening after they had finished their day working at the schools.

Sincere thanks to Captain Dennis Abrahams for hosting the students and enabling them to have such a wonderful time.

Where are those cliffs? Are they in the opposite direction from Floyds? Looks scary and also like a lot of fun.

That's Pedro Bluff in Great Bay

A few of the UVA students made a visit to the Treasure Beach Women's Group today to make a donation of clothes for the TBWG's largest fund raiser of the Annual Yard Sale.

Very sweet of them. These are good people to help so much in the district.

It's hard to believe it's been over a week since we left Treasure Beach. I worked with first graders at Sandy Bank and it was a great experience. I loved all of the kids that I worked with and have really enjoyed getting calls from them since I've been home. Treasure Beach itself is a beautiful place and I miss it dearly. All of the people that we met were incredibly friendly and helped us have a memorable trip. I really hope I have the chance to go back at some point in my life.

Dear Jack

Could you please rewrite the letter you gave me....my little sister lost it.

Thank you.

Brady (grade one)

Hey Brady-

Yeah I can do that. I'm planning on sending a package down with some stuff in it so I'll include the note!

Thanks Jack!

I'd like to say a big thank you to the UVA students, who took their spring break to be here in Jamaica. As a past student, I know having them around was great fun. Presently, it is still good having them around,as I had a great time at the dinner. It was LOTS of FUN meeting with the students. You guys are awesome people.THANKS and come again soon (smile)