Representatives of St. Thomas-based Yacht Haven Grande marina donated 100 laptop computers to the Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) in a ceremony held at the school’s library on Thursday, March 10. This brings the company’s total donation of computers to the territory’s first high school to 120; a donation of 20 laptops had been previously made.
CAHS Principal Alcede Edwards expressed his gratitude for the timely gift, as the computers arrived just ahead of the online-based Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, which the territory’s public school students will begin taking on Mon., March 14.
“This is going to take us a long way. We were hurting for hardware to do the Smarter Balanced tests. Now, I’m elated,” Edwards said in his remarks.
Dionne Wells-Hedrington, St. Thomas-St. John District superintendent, also praised the contribution.
“On behalf of the entire Virgin Islands Department of Education, we truly appreciate this contribution. This is tremendous and it will really assist Charlotte Amalie High School with their endeavors. We are looking to do much more relationship building because it takes all of us to make this happen,” she said.
Representatives from Yacht Haven Grande pledged their continued support of public education.
“It’s really touching for me to be here because I am an alumnus of the Class of ’87 at Charlotte Amalie High School,” noted Crystal Newton, EDC compliance and human resources coordinator at Yacht Haven Grande. “Let this be a testament for when you guys graduate and move forward, you give back. This school did tremendous things for me and to be in a position where I am able to make a difference with the support of a wonderful company, it makes for a great time for me.”
Charlie Irons, director of operations at Yacht Haven Grande, said, “All of you here will graduate and grow up and will have kids who may attend this school. Remember this day as what you can do for your school and your children. I am so honored to be able to do this for you. I am committed to try to meet the goal of supplying iPads to CAHS so you all, everyone in this school, can progress forward.”
In addition to the donation of laptops, Yacht Haven Grande has pledged to supply CAHS with 300 iPads.
