“Can we see your school?” asked my 10-year-old son, Rowan, when we told him we were going to visit St. Croix for Parade this year. That’s when I thought about how much time we spend at our school as kids, and how often we casually mention it as adults—especially to the young people in our lives. I was over the moon when Mrs. Pedrini kindly offered to open the campus for us, even though it was spring break. Pulling up to GHCDS, a moko jumbie mural overlooked the parking lot that read, “The island is our classroom, the world is our responsibility.” It wasn’t there when I was a student, but its beautiful message brought me back to a time when I felt a deeper connection to my community.
I had to stop myself from recounting every memory that washed over me as we toured the campus that had been my familiar childhood landscape. Even from Memory Lane, I noticed the campus improvements right away and marveled (with a twinge of jealousy) at the gleaming steel pans in the music room. Watching my music-loving son coax rhythms from a pan—he had never seen one in person before—I understood that “school” is not just a memory, but a safe place for kids to learn and grow that carries on even after we’ve moved on. I encourage everyone to make time to drop by on your next trip home to enjoy the memories—and take pride in the future.
—Naomi (Reiter) Shibles, Class of 1992
