EVEN though the building has a unique design it is the cleanliness and well-kept compound of the place that stands out at the Uitvlugt Nursery School, which has a lovely garden of various flowers.

The school sits on a large plot of land, which is fenced and it is conveniently located just off the public road at Ocean View and is easily accessible.

Uitvlugt Nursery School is headed by Cindy Hinds, who has been there since last February and is also part of the teaching circle of eight teachers, who have been registering children for the new school term.

“Registration was expected to finish last Friday, but we are catering for latecomers… and we want to ensure that all the children who have attained the age to attend nursery school are admitted,” Harris said.

The headteacher told the Pepperpot Magazine that they are presently registering children who have attained the age of three years, three months and should be three years and six months before admission to the school.

She reported that they have 96 children in total on their attendance roll, and even though the school has not opened for face-to-face teaching or more than a year, they would visit a few times per week to ensure that the place is in order and that it is cleaned.

Hinds added that they would also come to the school to distribute worksheets and collect finished ones from parents, weekly.

The headteacher disclosed that although she is in charge of the school, she works with all her teachers including, acting headteacher Dhumti Deonarine, called Tina, who has been at the Uitvlugt Nursery School for the past 16 years.

She used to reside in the same village but relocated to De Willem, also on the West Coast of Demerara and all teachers would come out to ensure the children get their worksheets on a monthly timeline.

“Most of the children are doing the worksheets and handing it [sic] in back, but some aren’t doing anything, so we have some setbacks but we are working with parents and reaching out to them in whatever way we can to assist them in getting the children to do school work while at home during this pandemic,” Deonarine said.

Tending to plants in the Uitvlugt Nursery School compound (Carl Croker photos)

The teachers would also be around to ensure the yard is sprayed and weeded every month and these works are done by the regional administration.

The Uitvlugt Nursery School has two cleaners, both from the community, and they would clean and de-weed the flower pots and ensure that the plants are watered three times a week.

Hinds stated that they have good relations with the community and stakeholders and whenever they need assistance, they would get from both government and the business sector.

“For this year’s work plan we are looking to put in a window in my office because there is none and there is a need for one at least, so a businessman from Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara, will assist, but we are awaiting word from the ministry for such a project to take place,” Hinds said.

As for teacher Deonarine, she says the best part about teaching is dealing with the little ones and she takes pride in her job and it feels good to mould the minds of children and sees it as preparing them for the future.

She is also very passionate about teaching and had always had her eyes set on becoming a teacher and when she did it, she was the happiest.

The Cleaners
For cleaners of the Uitvlugt Nursery School, Pauline Seemangal and Tamieel Sooklall working at the school is just like cleaning and taking care of their own homes.

The women from the look of it do a good job keeping the many potted plants and flowers weed-free and would water and mould the plants, as well.

Seemangal told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been working at the school for the past 15 years, a stable job, she appreciates and does what she is paid to do.

The mother of two added that as part of her duties she would clean the plants and flowers and make sure they are watered after doing the indoor cleaning.

The 56-year-old stated that she really likes her job and misses the children because she is so accustomed to them.

Meanwhile, Tamieel Sooklall said she is from Uitvlugt Pasture, another section of the village and would go to work three times a week, since the pandemic and schools were closed.

The mother of two noted that she has been working at the same school for 21 years and likes her job so much so she would clean it just as she does her own home.

“When you like what you do it is easier to work and you do it with a sense of responsibility and pride and this is my aim,” Sooklall said.

The 46-year-old stated that during her time working at the Uitvlugt Nursery School, she has met a lot of people and became friends with both teachers and parents.