What a show! The students at Piaye Combined School spelled out a warm welcome for Hands Across the Sea, which is assisting the able efforts of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers Jill Watts, Susan Walch, and Lisa Kuk at this and other schools in the southern region of St. Lucia. To introduce us to the local Creole culture, student dancers performed a Creole waltz that was positively enchanting. Barefoot, of course, in best Creole tradition!

Hurricane Tomas damaged the school library at Piaye in October of 2010 when the roof blew off. The Principal, Sharon McDonald, is applying grant money to refurbish the library. In the meantime, the salvaged books (many were waterlogged beyond repair) and shelving are stored in the corner, where they are supplemented by 1,500 new books from Hands.

U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer Jill Watts, a retired art therapist, has instituted an art program at Piaye Combined School (with the help of purchased and donated art supplies from Hands' donors). Go ahead, express yourself with puppets!

Piaye is a small school (126 students) but it has a big impact on the surrounding farming/fishing community. Above, the warm-hearted and highly-regarded principal, Mrs. Sharon McDonald, with (from left) Jill Watts, Susan Walch, and Harriet Linskey.

When will everything start? Suddenly, the daring and dashing dancers (that would be the older students) appear and begin spinning their magic spell of Creole-captivation. Long, long before touristy steel-drum bands and Jamaican reggae somehow became identified as "the Caribbean," the Creole culture — a rich weaving of French and island folklore and legend — was St. Lucia's heart and soul.

U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer Susan Walch and school principal Anthia Lafeuillee extend a welcome to Hands Across the Sea. A newly-instituted program, Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading, is getting the kids hooked on reading (and giving the teachers a bit of quiet time). The computer room, at right, is in need of new PCs, LAN gear, and a printer. There's a full time IT teacher, Ms. Gail Charles, who also teaches art and music, a secure room with air conditioning, an Internet connection, and reliable electricity; all the elements are in place except for the hardware and software. If you'd like to "adopt" Reunion Primary School's cybercenter, please contact Hands.

In late October, 2010, Hurricane Tomas struck St. Lucia. An estimated 20 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, triggering massive landslides in the mountains above the town of Soufriere. A four-foot-high torrent of mud tore through Soufriere Infant School, wiping out classrooms, books, and computers (photos above). Working with U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer Lisa Kuk, Hands Across the Sea would like to replenish the school's supply of books and teaching resources. Below, Harriet and T.L. with school principal Sandra Prospere, one of the second grade teachers, students, and books donated by Marti Reed of the Personal Book Shop, Thomaston, Maine.

Hands Across the Sea is proud to have donated 1,500 books to the Soufriere Public Library and 1,500 books to Soufriere Secondary School! That's the school library/resource center of Soufriere Secondary, above. Inset photo, from left: Annalisa Matty, Soufriere Secondary School Librarian; Catherine Prospere, Librarian, Soufriere Public Library; Stephen Joseph, Soufriere Secondary School Deputy Principal; Harriet and T.L.