In The Daily Herald van 3 juni 2008

Child Focus hosts evening spotlighting activities

SABA—Child Focus, the AMFO-funded after school activity program, hosted a gala program on Saturday evening at the Eugenius Center to spotlight all this school year’s activities for parents and friends of Saba youth.

A rousing outdoor concert by the Saba Boys and Girls Sports Society Drum Corps started off the festivities, which continued inside on the stage with a PowerPoint presentation of the activities of the Sea Scouts, which is run by Saba Conservation Foundation Ranger Sue Hurrell. The girls’ group explained about snorkelling, kayaking, beach clean up, fish identifications, swimming rescues, and working on new trails and helping in an archaeology project.

Several piano teachers – Carmen Simmons, Golda Sorton, and Everard Blackman - brought their students on stage for short performances. Living Waters also brought up two groups, under the direction of Sister Charmaine: the elementary school prayer group and the teen group.

One of the evening’s highlights was the dancing of several groups, who are taught by Christina Pallotta. The small ballerinas in their pastel net tutus and pink leotards were a definite hit. The gymnastics from Tr. Curtis’ class performed everything from forward summersaults to supported handstands on mats at the front of the room. The drama group completed the evening with a skit produced by David Pallotta, which simulated a newsroom atmosphere.

In addition to the performing arts, there was a display at the back of the room of various craft projects and several dishes made by the cooking club. The “Be a Pilot Club” was responsible for selling snacks and refreshments.

Child Focus Project leader Wim Schutten thanked all parents for their support, island government for the building and the buses and drivers that carry the children to the various activities, and AMFO for the continued funding of this important project. He said the Child Focus youth leaders spent a lot of time organizing interesting activities for the children and he thanked them and the Child Focus office staff Sanna Bakker and Carolyn Langhorne for making the program run smoothly.