YVONNE E. MILLINER-BOWSKY Elementary SCHOOL

   

In August of 1973, the late Governor Melvin Evans dedicated the Estate Mandahl site, which was the former location of the Peace Corps Training Center to the Virgin Islands Department of Education for the purpose of establishing a public elementary school, later named Peace Corps Elementary School.  Ms. Yvonne Bowsky was appointed as the principal.  Through an unorthodox beginning, the school was transformed from a complex of vacant dormitory rooms to a viable learning facility.  Over three-hundred students were assigned to begin school that September.

Yvonne E. Milliner-Bowsky Elementary School currently offers a comprehensive program to students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.  The faculty and staff recognize and appreciate our diverse student body and continually strive to support and enrich our students' academic, personal, social, and emotional growth through our commitment to teaching, learning, and caring.

   

   

   

HISTORY OF THE Peace Corps Elementary School

          Nestled in the tranquil valley between the green Mandahl hills is a little country school that has evolved into one of the island’s premiere learning centers- The Peace Corps Elementary School.  Prior to being a school, the site was used as a home for wayward boys, thus earning the name, The Mandahl Home for Boys.   After the boys’ home was discontinued, the Boy Scouts from the All Saints Cathedral and the Mafolie Church used the site for camping.  Subsequently, the local government entered into agreement with the United States Peace Corps Volunteer Agency to construct camping facilities at a site in Estate Mandahl.  These facilitiesincluding basketball and volleyball courts were constructed with money borrowed from the Government Insurance Fund at the rate of $25,000.00 per year.  The V. I. Governmnt contributed $5,000.00 each year for maintenance.  The facilities were built on land known as No. 1513-16 Estate Mandahl.  It comprised of a total area of 10.18 acres of land.  This site served as the training center for the Peace Corps Volunteers bound for Africa.

            In 1973, the agreement between the US Peace Corps and the local Government came to an end.  Even thought it was initially recommended that renewal could be an option, this was not the case, and the local government regained control of the land and facilities.

            In August of 1973, the late Gov. Melvin Evans agreed to Commissioner of Education, Dr. Harold C. Haizlip’s request to use the facilities as an elementary school to ease the overcrowding of schools in the east.  The proposed school needed a principal, and Dr. Haizlip, the then Commissioner of Education appointed Mrs. Yvonne E. Milliner-Bowsky as principal.

            Mrs. Bowsky recalled her first day at the site --- overgrown trees and bush, several buildings with small dormitory rooms filled with bedding and various household items.  The buildings were attractive, the campus green and flowering, but nowhere in sight was a ready classroom for children.  Mrs. Bowsky stated that in her mind it was inconceivable that this abandoned Peace Corps site could transformed into an elementary school by Labor Day.  Nevertheless, four hundred students arrived within one week.

            Staffing was a major concern as the school began with one custodian, two aides, two maintenance workers.  Nedman Anthony and Michael Davis who had worked with the Peace Corps Volunteers, and seven classroom teachers.  Anthony and Davis were responsible for converting the dormitories into classrooms.  Five classes had no teachers.  The assistant principal, Mrs. Helen Reed, was assigned a class.  The Art teacher had a class.  Mrs. Short agreed to take two fifth grade classes – even the custodian held a class.  Mrs. Bowsky indicated that she asked everyone to look deep within themselves and bring forth their talents and their energy to try to make things work.

            She recalled that the first year was a matter of survival.  The staff had to be guided in ways of resourcefulness, and parents endeared for financial as well as moral support.  Some classes are held out-of-doors.  There were no lights, no screens, few desks, few books, few chairs, no money and no budget.  The entire first year was spent trying to transform the site into a school.  Appeals were made to other principals for books, desks, and chairs.  Parents began to fund raise to help the school buy needed items.  Slowly, some help came from Public Works and Property and Procurement.  By the end of the year the school was able to acquire the much needed playground equipment.  Students participated in the Prince and Princess Competition and the Children’s Carnival Parade with a float of Brer Anansi stories.  They survived the first year. 

            Although the school came into being since 1973, no one knew exactly what to call the place.  The names, “The Peace Corps Complex” and “The Mandahl School” were often used.  Eventually, the school became affectionately known as “The Peace Corps School”.  Legislation was proposed to name the school after a Virgin Islands educator on two different occasions.  Although deserving of the honor, the faculty, staff, students and parents felt this educator was never part of the unique history of the Peace Corps School.  Each time, the faculty, staff and students wrote letters to the governor and legislators requesting that the legislation be vetoed.  They honored their requests, and Peace Corps School retained its name.

            By 1977 the first sixth grade promotion ceremony was held.  The library had a total of 2,222 books and the parents had raised enough money to carpet the floor of the library.  Screens and louvers were installed in the room used as the cafeteria.  The first group of special education students arrived to make use of the small classrooms.  The school placed second in reading and math on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.  The Early Prevention of School Failure Screening Program was begun in Kindergarten.

            In 1985, the sixth grade promotional ceremony was highlighted by the acceleration of fifth grader Alex Aubain to the seventh grade at the Sts. Peter and Paul School.

            Peace Corps School continued to forge ahead establishing its identity among island’s elementary schools.  By 1980, Carver Farrow, the then Assistant Principal, was given a new appointment as Principal of the Ulla Muller Elementary School.  Elizabeth Shortt was appointed as the new Assistant Principal.  She served in this position until 1987 when Mrs. Bowsky left to accept a position as special assistant to the governor.  Mrs. Shortt was named Principal and Rosalia Payne was named Assistant Principal.  Enrollment had now increased to 435 students.

            In 1989 Hurricane Hugo delivered a devastating blow to Peace Corps School.  Twelve classrooms were destroyed along with the library, cafeteria, the patio, the playground, and other buildings.  Recovery began with students past and present, parents, faculty and staff, adopters Point Pleasant Hotel workers and members of the East End Lions Club, BD Heavy Equipment and other community members who joined in to cleanup and remove debris.  With adjustments and cooperation,  Peace Corps was able to open its doors along with other schools on October 23, 1989.  Lunches were served on the remnants of the patio and once again music classes were held out-of-doors.  By 1991, the rebuilding and most of the construction were completed.  The school acquired nine computers, and students were scoring among the top five schools on the Metropolitan Achievement Tests.  The school choir, under the direction of Carolyn Bing-Thomas, sang at the Emancipation Garden for Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  A new trailer was home for two classes.

            The school year 1991-1992 saw yet another change in administration.  In February 1992, Laura Chesterfield was assigned 2^nd assistant principal, and then assistant principal.  Rosalia Payne was reappointed as Acting Principal of Sibilly Elementary School.  Her position was filled by Frieda Farrow.  By the end of 1992, Mrs. Chesterfield was reassigned to E. Benjamin Oliver Elementary School and in 1993 Ms. Carmen Lake was reappointed to serve as assistant to the Principal.

            Peace Corps School was again completely destroyed in 1995 by Hurricane Marilyn.  The students were bussed to Ulla Muller School for double session.  After one year, the Peace Corps School students were returned to Mandahl where classes were conducted in brand new modules. There was no playground or basketball court.  Yet, under the guidance and direction of Alvin Richards, Peace Corps School built one of the most feared, top basketball teams in the elementary school division.

            Unlike in rustic beginning in 1973, the school was rebuilt and subsequently reopened in a new fully air-conditioned structure which included a well-stocked, state of the art library in August 2000.

            Peace Corps School grew and experienced many changes.  The student body was represented all the diversities of the multicultural population of the Virgin Islands.  It was the last public school in St. Thomas to mandate a uniform for the students.  Mrs. Farrow was appointed Principal of the Joseph Gomez Elementary School and Marion Lynch-Esannason was appointed as the new Assistant Principal.  In 2003 Mrs. Shortt retired as Principal after thirthy years at this institution.  Lydia Simmonds- Lettsome was appointed as the new Principal of the Peace Corps School.

            Peace Corps presently serves 351 students.  Of the total population of student, 15.38% are students with disabilities.  The faculty consists of one Principal, Lydia Simminds-Lettsome, one assistant principal, Marion Lynch- Esannason, a guidance counselor, Eunice Best, thirty-five professionals including a literacy coach, Sandra Price, a math teacher leader, Ethlyn Phillip, twelve paraprofessionals, nine support staff, one custodian, and one maintenance worker.  It is also fitting to mention that sixty-eight percent of the classroom teachers have been teaching at Peace Corps for ten years and more.

            Since 2001 to present, Reverend Jefferson C. Niles has served as a volunteer character education presenter in the intermediate classes.  As Peace Corps Nominee Volunteer of the Year, he was also voted District Volunteer of the Year.  Also from 2003 to present, Mrs. Bowsky served as a volunteer math teacher in the sixth grade classes.  To honor and commend Mrs. Bowsky for her continued and dedicated service, the 26^th Legislature of the Virgin Islands passed Act. No. 6796, Bill No. 26-0063 to rename the Peace Corps Elementary School the Yvonne E. Milliner Bowsky Elementary School.  This Bill was sponsored by Senator Adlah “ Foncie” Donastorg, and co-sponsored by Senator Shawn Michael Malone.

            Special thanks to all the persons who have contributed to the rich history and success of the Peace Corps School.  The success story of this school can be seen by simply looking at the number of students who have passed through its portal and gone on to become productive citizens of our community.

            Congratulations as you celebrate the past and best wishes as you challenge the future.

*** History was researched and compiled by Ava L. Braithwaite, Sixth Grade Teacher.   Sources: Peace Corps School 20^th Anniversary Booklet.  Peace Corps School Handbook, School Improvement Plan 2006-2007.