GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Emil Lee, paid a visit to Ideal Pre-School to officially launch their Sustainable Roof Garden (Green House) which was featured on Earth Day.
Minister Lee was given the honor of cutting the green ribbon and declared the green house to be officially open! He also planted some pumpkin seeds in the pumpkin patch of the green house and thereafter took a brief tour of the pre-school with Agnes Kapoor, owner and director of Ideal Pre-School.
Teaching about health benefits of eating organic home grown produce at a very young age ensures that it carries on later in life.
This also teaches appreciation for how much effort it takes to grow food and therefore waste less, Minister Lee pointed out.
With his genuine gesture of paying a visit to Ideal Pre-School, Minister Emil Lee has conveyed a very powerful message Agnes Kapoor stated, “We as a community, can do things to make this world a better place.”
The event was also attended by Dr. Virginia Asin-Oostburg, Head of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) at the Ministry of Public Health, who had coordinated with Agnes Kapoor, the minister’s visit. Also present was Jacky Morris, a teacher at the Sundial School and the National Institute for Professional Advancement, and a few parents and guests.
The Minister and the guests were warmly welcomed by Agnes Kapoor during her opening remarks, and were delighted by the singing of the Sint Maarten song sung by three-year olds from the pre-school.
The entire sustainable roof garden was built from mostly material that is normally wasted, like broken wooden pallets, used plastic bottles, hard boxes etc., Kapoor explained. Minister Lee shared his views about the schools project adding that re-pursing plastic bottles is also good for public health.
The pre-school plants their vegetables and herbs in the green house which are then used in the kitchen for making fresh meals for the school kids.
Minister Lee was quite impressed with the fact that being a pre-school, there is an active involvement by parents of the school kids.
Minister Lee believes in active parental engagement in school activities as this contributes to a better learning environment that benefits the entire family and school.
Minister Emil Lee encouraged school management, staff and the parent teacher committee to keep engaging themselves in more partnerships where the needs and resources can be put together for mutual benefit.
The Minister gave an example of partnering with the St. Maarten’s Home for the Elderly and probably making a program where the kids from the pre-school can meet senior citizens and interact with them as well as read them stories etc.
Minister Lee also shared his idea of having an area at the St. Marten’s Home and the White & Yellow Cross, and to turn the open yard in between the senior citizens home and the White & Yellow Cross into a playground where partnership programs between the children and the elderly could be materialized.
Kapoor applauded the Minister on this idea and was willing to take necessary steps in order to achieve this wonderful goal of bringing the two innocent minds together (the child and a senior citizen) for their mutual benefit, and to give the elderly a reason to smile and look at the brighter side of life!
The Minister promised to extend any help needed to make this vision come true!
