ST. THOMAS — Principal Alcede Edwards of the Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) held a dedication ceremony at the school on Thursday, Sept. 22 to recognize the generous contributions of the alumni classes of 1962 and 1966 that afforded the installation of the school\u2019s mascot on the gymnasium floor and the full renovation of the nurse\u2019s office, respectively, according to the Department of Education.<\/p>\n
School administrators, district officials, alumni class members and students gathered in the Career Center for the special ceremony followed by a tour of the two spaces. \u201cYou are here because you all have given to your alma mater,\u201d Mr. Edwards opened the ceremony by saying. \u201cThe Class of 1966 has designed the nurse\u2019s office; they have put all the amenities in there that a sick person can become well just by viewing it,\u201d he said with levity. You don\u2019t get sick when you go in there; you get well on sight. Thank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additionally, Mr. Edwards praised members of the Class of 1962 for their contribution to the enhancement of the school\u2019s athletic program. \u201cTo the Class of 1962, you guys want to stay young so you decided to put your investment into the gymnasium\u201d he began. \u201cMr. Wess, class president, decided you\u2019ve got to know whose house you\u2019re in, so he contracted a world-renowned artist in Mr. E\u2019Bas to put down the emblem of the Mighty Mighty Chicken Hawks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Edwards also acknowledged the CAHS PTA for gifting a driving lawnmower and gas vouchers to the school to aid with year-round maintenance of the grounds.<\/p>\n
Harry Daniel, a representative of the Class of 1966, said 12 class members\u2014nine women and three men\u2014refurbished the five-room nurse\u2019s office within a 2-1\/2 week period during the summer months. He later pointed out that the class had pledged $6,000 to renovate the space, but came in under budget because members completed the renovations themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are honored to have done such a wonderful job for our alma mater,\u201d he said during prepared remarks.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the work was a wonderful labor of love. From laying down new tiles and applying fresh paint, to installing new office equipment and appliances in the waiting area, kitchen, bathroom and two examination rooms, class members proudly displayed their handiwork during a walkthrough of the office, affectionately dubbed a \u2018penthouse suite\u2019. A plaque recognizing the Class of 1966 has been affixed to an office door in the renovated space.<\/p>\n
School nurse Geraldine A. Walters-Buncome, who worked alongside Class of 1966 members to complete the office before school opened on September 6, expressed her gratitude. \u201cTo you, the Class of 1966, I have had the pleasure to work alongside you during the summer,\u201d she said. \u201cI thank the Most High for inspiring minds, and we are hoping that the classes to come will surpass what you have done and they will continue the legacy of giving back to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
During remarks, Ecedro Wesselhoft, a representative of the Class of 1962 and retired CAHS teacher, passionately outlined his and his classmates\u2019 reasons for giving back. \u201cOur main concern is the children of the Virgin Islands, mainly the children of St. Thomas, where we reside,\u201d he said. \u201cWhenever we give money or donations to the school, it has to be for the students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas Brutvan, chairperson of the CAHS physical education department, said, \u201cI want to thank Mr. E\u2019Bas, who did the painting. The kids are excited after seeing the painting [in the gymnasium]. There\u2019s a lot of energy there. I also want to thank the alumni Class of 1962 for their persistence. We talked from the end of school last school year and Mr. Wess was persistent in making sure the job was completed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chicken Hawks cheerleaders and athletes representing various sports teams greeted ceremony attendees with a receiving line, complete with pompoms and cheers, as they entered the gymnasium to view the freshly airbrushed mascot on the hardwood floors. A plaque was presented to members of the Class of 1962, 16 of whom attended Thursday\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n
Casmore E\u2019Bas, a CAHS teacher and well-known local airbrush artist, completed the three-panel masterpiece within a three-day period from September 16-18, 2016. The work comprised of the Chicken Hawks logo airbrushed onto the center of the basketball court and under each basket. Mr. E\u2019Bas will donate a portion of his compensation for the project to the school\u2019s art program.<\/p>\n
Kifani Hendricks-Carey, representing the St. Thomas-St. John office of the insular superintendent, thanked the alumni classes for their generosity. \u201cThe Department of Education welcomes any opportunity to partner with alumni and other members of the community to maintain our schools and show the pride that we all have in them,\u201d she said. \u201cI commend you for your continued support.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reigning Miss CAHS Le\u2019Deyjahn Belle, a senior, served as mistress of ceremonies. Members of the CAHS choir sang the National Anthem and Virgin Islands March.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ST. THOMAS — Principal Alcede Edwards of the Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) held a dedication ceremony at the school on Thursday, Sept. 22 to recognize the generous contributions of the alumni classes of 1962 and 1966 that afforded the installation of the school\u2019s mascot on the gymnasium floor and the full renovation of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":44831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1078,191,2474,147],"tags":[4127],"yoast_head":"\n