Class Vega: Graduates Pass Through LCS's Green Gates
A few of the Philo class graduates gather in front of the mural created by St. Joseph’s of Newport, RI mission group.
The young men and women of Class Vega (the brightest star in star cluster Lyre) will enter the LCS gates as students one last time on June 9th. The Class of 2007 has successfully met the challenge offered them as students of LCS to grow spiritually, academically, and in awareness of their personal responsibility for themselves and for others.
For some, it would have been impossible to be dedicated and devoted students with the constant growth that occurred at LCS over the past seven years. No problem for Class Vega—they embraced change and growth, relishing the opportunity to be active participants in the evolving community of LCS. “All of the students from this Philo class will be friends forever because of our time at LCS,” Beethovens Seïde enthusiastically says of his class. “Even if we are not physically together, we are connected in spirit. God has brought us together for life.”
Over seventy percent of the graduating Philo students began their journey at LCS as young and much smaller sixième students seven years ago. Since Class Vega first entered LCS in 2000, LCS has experienced much growth: three new buildings, additions to several existing buildings, solarization of the school, a new soccer field, an additional basketball court, and a playground. Concurrent with all this construction was the ever growing size of the student body. Meme Mathanie says, “Expanding and improving the campus makes living more comfortable and secure for a growing LCS.”
The Language Program and St. Francis Xavier Ti Ekol were developed during Class Vega’s years at LCS. Ti Ekol, a literacy program for children and adults in the school’s neighborhood, plays an important role for both LCS and the neighborhood community. Meschac Gervais comments, “By creating Ti Ekol, it shows that LCS is engaged in helping others in our community, especially the children, to begin solving the problem at its roots and to eliminate illiteracy.” Ti Ekol has grown to an impressive 250 students and truly embodies LCS’s motto of Se gratis nou resevwa, se gratis tou pou nou bay [What you receive as a gift, you must give as a gift] (Matthew 10:8).
In February of 2004, Haiti experienced another period of instability, and schools were forced to close. At LCS, classes were temporarily cancelled, but with the grace of God and the spirit and dedication of LCS staff and volunteers, operation of the school never closed down and students returned to class only one week later. Beethovens proudly expresses, “LCS and the Philo class are very optimistic. Even when things are ‘dark’ and people say things are hopeless—in our country or in life in general, we always have faith that we will succeed at things that people think we cannot do.” Class Vega students will leave LCS knowing that they have already made a significant change because together they have helped make this school possible for the 330 current students and hundreds more that will enter these brilliant green gates of LCS in the future. Bob Charlemagne Pierre reflects, “Being a student who has spent 7 years at LCS, I have been ‘spoiled’ by everything it has given me, and this is why it is not easy to leave. However, I am prepared to end my days at LCS so I can enter the ‘real’ world and apply the skills and morals LCS has taught me and begin to rebuild my country.”
