Retired teachers feted and pampered in Clarendon

Fifty-three of Clarendon's retired teachers were recently feted and pampered at the Clarendon Early Childhood Resource Centre on Foga Road in May Pen.

Organised by the parish board under the leadership of Kenton Phillips, in combination with the Retired Educators Appreciation Programme (REAP), the day was used to show appreciation for the teachers who had served well during the past years.

"We wanted to show how much we love and appreciate them, so the day was all about catering to them. We did that by giving them massages, checking their health status, and treating them," Levy Becaroo, chairperson of REAP, told Rural Xpress.

Members of the Lions Club offered the total-care package of massages, blood sugar test, pressure test, and eye screening.

There was not a boring moment, as the seniors entertained each other with poems, songs, and stories of their past experiences. "I enjoyed the day so much," said Paulette Edwards, retired principal of International Baptist Basic School. "I definitely was not ready to go home; I honestly wished the day would never end." She added that it was "really something" to see everyone interacting with each other and using that moment to catch up on old times.

Edwards said that the day was badly needed, as so many teachers who had dedicated their lives to making a difference in children's lives have been cast aside. "After today, a lot will be going back to their lonely existence, and that breaks my heart," she shared.