CACOON, HANOVER — AFTER graduating from the Cacoon Primary School in deep rural Hanover more than 50 years ago, UK-based lecturer and former publisher, Merrise Crooks-Bishton recently returned to the institution that had laid the foundation for her successful career, with a welcome gift.
The donation included story books, poetry, languages, dictionaries and religious materials, which are suitable for different reading levels.
"The children are really enjoying the books," Carole Grant, the principal of Cacoon Primary School, told the Jamaica Observer earlier this week.
"The books will help us with our literacy programme and will arouse the students' interests, so we expect to seek an improvement in their literacy skills."
Grant, who has been teaching at the school for almost 35 years, noted that many parents in the Cacoon area have been finding it extremely difficult to purchase books for their children.
She was particularly delighted with the By Myself book, which shows children and teachers how to create and develop projects from everyday objects.
Crooks-Bishton told the Observer West that she attended the Cacoon school in the late 1950s, and have many fond memories of her school days there.
"I have lived in the UK for the past 50 years but have a home in Jamaica and visit the island regularly. I re-established contact with my old school a year ago, and have pledged my support to help them," she emphasised.
Crooks-Bishton recalled that in 1958 she was among the two students at the Cacoon school who were successful in the Jamaica Local Examination.
She said she plans to raise funds to further assist the school.
According to the literary lecturer, Cacoon Primary has changed beyond recognition over the past 50 years.
"In 1957 it was one large open-plan room with all ages in the same room. Today, it is a two-storey concrete building with individual classrooms for each grade," she noted.
She presented the co-educational institution with 90 books taken from her personal library.
UK-based lecturer Merrise Crooks-Bishton (left) and principal of the Cacoon Primary School Carole Grant pose with two of the books donated to the school.
Grade 3 teacher Peta-Gay Cragie (right) engages students in a reading session with books donated by Merrise Crooks-Bishton. (PHOTOS: ANTHONY LEWIS)
    UK-based lecturer Merrise Crooks-Bishton (left) and principal of the Cacoon Primary School Carole Grant pose with two of the books donated to the school. #slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}  1/2  |
"The children are really enjoying the books," Carole Grant, the principal of Cacoon Primary School, told the Jamaica Observer earlier this week.
"The books will help us with our literacy programme and will arouse the students' interests, so we expect to seek an improvement in their literacy skills."
Grant, who has been teaching at the school for almost 35 years, noted that many parents in the Cacoon area have been finding it extremely difficult to purchase books for their children.
She was particularly delighted with the By Myself book, which shows children and teachers how to create and develop projects from everyday objects.
Crooks-Bishton told the Observer West that she attended the Cacoon school in the late 1950s, and have many fond memories of her school days there.
"I have lived in the UK for the past 50 years but have a home in Jamaica and visit the island regularly. I re-established contact with my old school a year ago, and have pledged my support to help them," she emphasised.
Crooks-Bishton recalled that in 1958 she was among the two students at the Cacoon school who were successful in the Jamaica Local Examination.
She said she plans to raise funds to further assist the school.
According to the literary lecturer, Cacoon Primary has changed beyond recognition over the past 50 years.
"In 1957 it was one large open-plan room with all ages in the same room. Today, it is a two-storey concrete building with individual classrooms for each grade," she noted.