September 6, 2017, will be forever etched in the memories of the people in the Virgin Islands. This statement stands strongly for the faculty, staff and students of the Ivan Dawson Primary School as most of the school’s infrastructure was damaged due to the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
 
Fundraising activities were initiated by Mrs. Gail Terry, from British Columbia, Canada after seeing the devastating impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. She is an avid visitor to the Territory and is also fond of Cane Garden Bay. Mrs Terry organized a benefit concert that was held in British Columbia, Canada with a team of business and music professionals featuring some of the area’s most popular R&B, rock, world beat and blues bands. This lively and fun benefit concert was complimented with another Blues Music event at the Cyril B Romney Pier Park. The funds raised were earmarked to help the Ivan Dawson Primary School, which included school supplies, and percussion instruments.
 
Over the past four years, the Rotary Club of Tortola has been working diligently with the school’s principals to determined how best to assist in aiding the needs of the school and adapted their programs. The initiative was to conduct a program to facilitate learning with modern technology.
 
On September 30th 2021, an official handover ceremony was held where the Rotary Club of Tortola donated a wide range of school supplies totalling over $30,000.00, to the Acting Premier and Minister for Education Youth Affairs, Sports, Agriculture and Fisheries Dr the Honourable Natalio Wheatley and Principal of the Ivan Dawson Primary School Mrs Tammy Henry.
 
“The devices would not have come at a better time,” said Principal Henry. “The current curriculum demands the use of devices and other technologies in our classrooms. Technology in the classrooms benefits the students in many ways. It creates an engaging environment, incorporates the different learning styles of the students and it prepares the students for the future. These items will go a long way in educating our students in these changing times and ensuring that every learner at this school succeeds.”
 
President Ian S Smith of the Rotary Club of Tortola stated “This donation is one of the numerous initiatives by the Rotary Club of Tortola during this Rotary themed month, Basic Education and Literacy, as we are giving our future leaders additional opportunities and tools needed to succeed.”
 
The Acting Premier said, while directly addressing the students, “The Rotary Club of Tortola has done a wonderful job at providing you with the tool that you need to be successful, but there are tools that you need to bring to school every day, your willingness to learn, your good behaviour, your respect and all the other characteristics of a successful student.”
 
Hon Wheatley showered the club and its donors with thanks. Doing the same was the School’s District Representative Honourable Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull who was also present at the handing over ceremony.
 
Rotary serves to change lives locally and internationally. This project was made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of the White Rock Rotary Club in BC, Mrs Gail Terry along with her team as well as private donations and contributions to the Dr David Baldwin Memorial fund.
 
The Rotary Club of Tortola, Gail Terry her team, and the White Rock Rotary Club are very proud to be a part of this initiative in helping meet the needs of the teachers and students through this donation and wish the students and teachers of the Ivan Dawson School a wonderful year ahead. Present at the handover ceremony was Acting Primer and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon. Natalio Wheatley and District Representative Hon. Mitchel Turnbull, educators, teachers and students. Rotary Club of Tortola representatives included President Ian S. Smith, IPP Dion Stoutt, PP Michael Killourhy, PP Lynette Harrigan, Director Cate Stephenson and SAA Cathy O. Richards