New Beginnings-For the Twenty-first Time
Natacha Dubois Verly, new Director of Operations, Haiti, and Principal Pierre Paul Hubert on opening day of school.
Louverture Cleary School’s twenty-first year began on September 10th when classes opened for 340 students – once again our largest student body ever! Continuing a ten year span of growth, sixty new sizyeme (7th grade) students are beginning their journey to becoming Louverturians.
The new school year got off to a great start in August with a large mission team’s visit to campus. Veteran mission leader Cathy Melanson joined forces with THP Board member and volunteer alumna Aimée Maier, as well as first time tripper Rose Woodard, to once again provide training and education for our teachers, volunteers and staff on subjects such as classroom methods and professionalism. Cathy also facilitated a refresher course for our security team to continue their ongoing training and development. Returning group members Jim Lacy, Mitch McDonald, David Rabidoux and Nathan Walsh (now of Connecticut) of Prince of Peace Parish in Chesapeake, VA were joined by newcomer Silas Schrader from New York to carry out a much-needed girls’ dorm bathroom renovation. Following the demolition of the old bathroom facilities, new living space was built in its place, opening up space for new toilets and showers on the second and third floors of the dorm where the mission team installed new plumbing and fixtures, re-worked the water system, and installed a new septic basin and pump. The project, funded largely by Prince of Peace Parish, followed plans drawn up by THP Board members Joe Altenhoff and Scott Hill, and was overseen and supplied by their fellow Board member Patrick Brun in Haiti.
The new school year brings with it new beginnings for some LCS community members. One of the goals of THP is to instill in our graduates the desire and motivation to remain in Haiti and to work to rebuild Haiti, and to be role models for others. Michelet Lofficial entered LCS as a sizyeme student in 1991, and has worked at the school since his graduation in 1998. After 9 excellent years serving LCS, Michelet has decided to leave his post at LCS as Director of Operations- Haiti, to move on to a new stage in his life. Reflecting on his time at LCS, Michelet stated, “It has been a great experience and very challenging as well. That made my formation complete and gave me more strength to defend the symbol that LCS became. Louverture Cleary in Haiti will in a sense be comparable to Jesus Christ in Nazareth – a surprise to everyone.” His contributions to our community, to our quality of operations and to the good functioning of the school cannot be over-esteemed or more appreciated. We look forward to Michelet’s continued involvement in our LCS community, as he has professed a great desire to do, and wish him the best of luck!
Natacha Dubois Verly has assumed the role of Director of Operations- Haiti. Natacha, an LCS classmate of Michelet’s, graduated from university in 2004, has worked at LCS for five years, and most recently has served as the Head of Accounting. Natacha lives near LCS with her husband Verly Veillard, and their beautiful daughter, Brianna. Natacha recently commented on her new role with LCS: “I’m happy to be the Operations Director because that will help me to meet with people as often as necessary and know their point of view about the school and see how I can best lead them.” Two outstanding examples of Louverturians – maximizing their potential and working toward building a Haiti where justice and peace thrive!
