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Pen and paper
Multi-media projector

Laptop

The oral interviews were the most effective because we were involved in its making. The digital camera, although we didn’t operate it (our teacher did) it gave us a sense of ‘performing. ‘

2). In what ways did you act as “ambassadors” and spokespersons for your Cyberfair project?

We wanted to highlight the art form of drumology, song and dance. The dance group thought they had an opportunity to come into contact with the community and their potential members. At the end of the entire session, they were pleased to have been chosen. They have toured as far as England but have never had such a performance (hectic and impromptu), as at our school. What was most fulfilling for them was the children’s interest in the art. EJ’s mom really felt honoured.

During the calypso interview with David Rudder we expressed our vision to document all that we have learnt about Belmont and its people. He revealed that he was in the process of producing a package similar to ours and promised to be back to discuss it further.

          The P.T.A. was truly amazed when we presented the project to them . We plan to share the information we learned about the steelpan, African drumming, dance and calypso through CDs we are going to produce with the wider community through this project.

Our students presenting our web site to the P.T.A.

A Section of Our Appreciative P.T.A.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

We have been seeing these “people in our neighbourhood” and have never known just how talented they are. In fact, since some of us were able to actually perform with the group, we were able to live out a dream in some way. It gave us confidence and hope for our future. Something that cannot be forgotten was all the advice and encouragement that was passed on to us. We believe that by allowing school and the community to come together; we will help to make a better Belmont. We think that this project can also bring our culture to the world, to another child in another school and that would make their learning ‘fun’.

4). How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

Everyone we approached was eager to participate in the project. The adults welcomed the opportunity to share their knowledge with us. The rest of our classmates were also excited and anxious to learn from us. Our parents were also enthusiastic and volunteered their assistance.

A great big thank you must be given to Ms. Jameison, a parent, who helped us edit the video clips and gave advice as to how we should tape so that our video clips would look more professional.  To our past student, Nawanza McLean  who converted our clips into the proper format for the web page when we could not get them onto the web page, thank you. To Mr. Cuthbert Charles, one of our parents who worked behind the scenes to build this web site, we also say thank you.

We could not have done it without you!

5). Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises

While being introduced to the art of drumming, song and dance, many other things were happening. As a class, we became “inspired’ to want to dream, to continue to dream, and to begin to believe in ourselves.

We knew that Jonathan was a good dancer but he really made us proud on the stage that day when he volunteered to dance. Still, who would have actually believed that both E.J. and his brother are ‘serious drummers,’ …awesome!

We learned that a straight line could be drawn in a steelpan without any electronic device.

The art of tuning a steelpan. Oh boy those hammers are truly heavy but they produce such heavenly sounds. Imagine they were created right here in Trinidad and are used only for this purpose.

We can study calypsos to improve our creative writing skills so that when people read our work they can see the pictures our words create.

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