Last Thursday, over 220 students and teachers at the Saint Mary’s Secondary School were treated to entertainment, giveaways and lunch compliments of Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa.
General Manager Matthew Cornell said, “We are indeed happy to continue playing our part in showing appreciation, support and giving back to our communities and schools. Sandals celebrates its 40th Anniversary as a company this year and Antigua holds pride of place as only the second Caribbean island to host a Sandals resort. What better way to continue our partnership with the people and communities than boost our community efforts engaging with students and showing appreciation to their teachers. At Sandals, we are family. Our Founder, the late Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and now Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart believes in the mantra of family extending to the communities where we operate. We say love is all you need, and we are happy to spread that love to the wider community.”
The initiative, organized by Public Relations Manager Leon Norville as one of the local activities to mark the company’s 40th saw it as also timely to show appreciation to the youth and teachers at that institution.
He said, “It is indeed a very gratifying experience to see the impact such a gesture had on the students and teachers here this morning. The team did an amazing job interacting with the students and faculty. This is such a significant milestone for our company, and we are happy to share that with this institution.”
On arrival at the school, the managers toured the facility and spoke with the principal and teachers about the school’s history and how they have been coping since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Norville and Entertainment Manager Sherlann Barro followed up with manager’s introductions, music, games, and giveaways from the Sandals Foundation. Lunch was served after in the school’s Home Economics Center.
School Principal Casey Phillip who was surprised by the visit said, “It feels good to know that somebody is thinking of us and thinking about us. It was a welcomed gesture.
Had it happened at any time during the school year it would have been appreciated… but particularly, at this time, with what teachers and students have been going through in terms of the whole Covid-19 situation, it is a way to say thanks to teachers for their efforts and more so their extra efforts to the students who have become disconnected from the whole learning scenario of school. It’s a way to say to them that we are all in this together.
Participating resort managers included the Training and Development Manager Carlene Spencer, Health, Environment and Safety Manager Aliyah Ramdin, Gift Shop Manager Maria Jeffery and Human Resources and Recruitment Specialist Thalia Thomas.
They expressed a sense of joy and satisfaction being a part of the 40th anniversary initiative and said, “We definitely would like to do this again.”
