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The Islander - Thursday 13th February 2003

North East Bay is where it's all happening!

The land crab Gecarcinus lagostoma is found on Ascension, Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas and Trinidade. On Ascension it is most commonly found in the wetter parts of the island around Green Mountain and the Devil's Ashpit. While they live on land, they must return to the sea to lay their eggs. Last weekend, there was a mass movement of crabs to beaches on the north coast of the island, especially North-east Bay where these pictures were taken by Mike Bell.

Land crabs usually undertake very predictable migrations, for example during a particular phase of the moon, or at the same time of year. On Ascension, the migrations are not as predictable or well understood. They usually occur between January and March, and it is thought that the migration is triggered by high rainfall in the previous autumn. However, we do not yet fully understand what triggers the migration or how the crabs co-ordinate their migration



News From St. Mary's:

PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN. 
ASCENSION ISLAND (Diocese of St. Helena)

Rev. Brian Birchmore
Church Warden: Mervyn Isaacs
Church Warden: Cheryl Anthony

ALL THINGS NEW

There is always something 'new' happening on Ascension Island and I suppose that is because it really is a new place when seen alongside history.
When Ascension Island was discovered the church in England had been established well over 1000 years and by the time our Church was built in 1843, it was nearly 1600 years since the first English Christian was martyred at St Albans. So Aimee Elizabeth who we welcomed at her baptism on Sunday continues a long line of church members..... the 'newest' Christian on Ascension Island!
The Confirmation Group - now growing in number, will soon begin their preparation to continue the line even further as adult members of the Church, and will join in our Lent programme that will be open for anyone to share .... look out for a Lent programme soon which might be a good time to do a refresher course!
Another new thing has happened - the Sunday School building (formerly the Finance/Tax Office) has now been passed back to the Church by the AIG and we can begin to seriously consider its future use. Obviously a new Sunday School/Junior Church has to be on the immediate agenda and I shall be on the look our for people with Sunday School experience - or those who just might be willing to help. Let me know if you think you could help - training is always available, even if it's only basic - and it's best to like children a bit too!
For me too, new things happen all the time .... after baptising hundreds of babies, I have now added a first.
An 'AIMEE' is the first and latest name I can add to my list; also over the years I have blessed many things, houses and potters' wheels, village halls, porch lamps, weather vanes and a yacht - but now I can add 'Shy Lady' to the list. This is the boat that Dutch built and she looks fine and sturdy in the water, and she will be remembered for years to come in the annals of the Birchmore family.
I hope you too will find new things to enrich and make your life new and interesting in the coming weeks.

Fr Brian

The Lessons for next Sunday: II Kings 5, 1-14 and Mark 1, 40-45

A meeting for prospective Confirmation candidates will be held at The Vicarage on Monday 17th February at 7.30 pm. Do come - even if you haven't, so far, given your name to Fr Brian

The next Ascension Day Fair Committee meeting is on Thursday 13th February at 7 pm in the Church with refreshments at The Vicarage afterwards


LETTERS

From the Editors:- Julia

Lots for sporting activities going on at the moment and good luck to all of those who will be rock fishing on Sunday. No valentines messages which is a shame where have all the romantics gone. Still as I'm on my own again this week there's no Adam to re-edit…..

(Happy Valentines day Darling)

Julia

 
Letters to the Editor can be sent to
editors@the-islander.org.ac

 

Dear Ascensioners;

I am in Dallas, Tx. and discovered the newspaper and website while inquiring on the internet to learn about your island. I love your newspaper! I am a garden designer, and I especially love reading about the plants. The series of "From the Archives" articles were particularly interesting in the mention of plants.
I also think that the biography project done by the students at Two Boats School is wonderful. I am going to suggest it to my granddaughter's teacher. I enjoyed reading the biographies and wish there had been more.
I wish I could just pack up and move there. The farm would be perfect for me! I hope somebody restores it.
If there are any gardeners there who have the time to e-mail me, I would love to hear from them. I am very interested in both the native and imported plants of your island.
I am also going to use your problem with the feral rats,cats, and the native bird population in my talks with school children about preserving habitat. That is a perfect example of how easy it is to negligently alter an ecosystem. I hope that you eventually find a solution.
My regards to the people of the Ascension Island!
Marti DePalma
Dallas, Texas

holamarta2@hotmail.com

 

Hello,

My name is Bob and I live in Henderson, Nevada USA which is next door to LasVegas. I find your website very interesting to someone who likes to travel around the world via the internet.

I am 63 years old, taught school in the state of Indiana for 39 years and now retired. I haven't been out side of the USA and probably will never have that opportunity. Oh, I have been to Mexico. Enjoy reading the articles posted and all the pictures. I would enjoy hearing from anyone who might like to chat via the internet. I am a Amateur Radio operator WA9WCN is my call. Because of antenna restrictions here in the area, I can't place any type of antenna outside.

Do you have anyone on the island who is a "ham" or Amateur Radio operator. I could communicate via EchoLink

Best to all,
Bob

badams@lvcm.com


ASCENSION ISLAND BLOOD DONOR PROGRAM

URGENT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS

A recent medical emergency has severely depleted our donor pool for O positive and O negative donors. Once a person has donated they are unavailable for 60 days. We are in urgent need of more donors with these blood types, in case of another emergency. Due to the unique situation on Ascension our blood donor program operates on the basis of maintaining a registered list of donors and calling them in if necessary.

This case has highlighted the need for a wide base of volunteers of all blood types. We had a number of people who kindly came forward and volunteered to donate but we were unable to use them in this case. Being on the donor list requires yearly testing to assure your status as an eligible donor. Some of the tests required must be performed in the US.

Due to the nature of the Island's population, some of our registered donors may be off-Island when an emergency occurs. As well, donors may be temporarily ineligible for any number of reasons, such as a recent illness or course of medication, or a recent tattoo. For these reasons, we need to have as many individuals of all blood types on our donor list as possible. Often, in an emergency, large volumes of blood are required.

If you plan to be on Ascension for at least one year and are willing to be added to our donor list, please contact the US Base Dispensary at 2224.

For those kind people who donated this past week, thank you. You truly gave the "Gift of Life".

Shari Parkhill CLS(NCA)
Base Dispensary
USAAF Base
Ascension Island

ASCENSION ISLAND GOVERNMENT

VACANCY FOR TEMPORARY SECONDARY TEACHER - TWO BOATS SCHOOL

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the post of temporary Secondary teacher for one term at the Two Boats School. We are seeking a teacher is able to work collaboratively with a small group of teachers, and who will be prepared to use his/her skills for the benefit of not only the school pupils but also members of the wider community.

The successful applicant will be responsible to the Head Teacher and will be required to a full timetable in the secondary sector of the school. He/she will be expected to teach some or all of History at Key Stage 4 and Geography at Key Stages 3 and 4 and/or English at Key Stage 3.

A job description is available on request but the main duties of the post are:

  • To undertake the education of all Key Stage 4 pupils
  • To have due regard for the school's aims, objectives and ethos.
  • To teach a timetable to include some or all of Key Stage 3 and 4 Geography, Key Stage 4 History and Key Stage 3 English.
  • To work as a collaborative member of the secondary staff.
  • To be responsible for the monitoring, assessment and reporting of the students' progress and standards through individual records and to parents.
  • To be responsible for the pastoral care and PHSE programme for the assigned tutor group.


The successful applicant should have experience of the UK National Curriculum and have at least three years teaching experience. The ability to work as one of a small Secondary team of teachers is essential.

The salary for the post will obviously depend on qualifications and experience but as a guide the successful applicant could receive between £9,000 to £11,000 per annum (before tax). In addition to the salary, rent free accommodation will be provided and a married allowance of £4600 pa (before tax) or single allowance of £2460 per annum (before tax) will be paid.

The successful candidate will be expected to take up post in April 2003 for one term.

Interested persons can obtain further information from the Head Teacher at Two Boats School. The telephone and fax number is (00 247) 6155 and the e-mail address is TBS.Education@atlantis.co.ac .

Application forms are available from Administration, Ascension Island Government by telephoning 00 247 7000 extension 100 or email alberta.knipe@ascension.gov.ac

Completed forms should be submitted to the Administration Manager on fax number 00 247 6152 or email cathy.cranfield@ascension.gov.ac by no later than 4pm on Friday 21st February 2003.

A Kettlewell
Administrator


Ascension Island Government
Ascension Island
10th February 2003

PUBLIC NOTICE

COUNTERPART TO THE ASSISTANT
SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE

The Government of St Helena is seeking to appoint a Counterpart to the Assistant Superintendent of Police with the intention that the position be localised after a suitable period of training and job experience.

The challenging position requires a high quality candidate, able to assist in managing a Department with a number of diverse responsibilities. The Department is committed to developing partnerships with the aim of reducing Crime and Disorder and making St Helena a better place to live, work or visit.

To be successful in the job you will need to have had significant experience as a Police Commander. A good record in Managing People, Strategic & Financial Planning, Service Delivery and Managing Change is essential. You will be unlikely to be suitable if you have not worked in a senior position of responsibility, the equivalent of level 5 or above. A high level of commitment to the Island will be expected of the Counterpart and you must be comfortable with the concept of investing at least five years of your career.

The post of Counterpart is initially targeted at level 7, and pending upon an initial satisfactory training period will progress to level 8. The duties of this post are attached. The interview will require candidates to make a presentation outlining their vision of the Departments future in order to demonstrate that they are in tune with modern policing.

Application forms may be obtained from the Police or Personnel Department. Applications should be submitted to the Secretary, Public Service Commission not later than 4pm on 28 February 2003.

 

BA George
Chief Personnel Officer
No.3 Main Street, Jamestown, St Helena
10 February 2003



The Met Office Weather Report

  

Statistics for the week ending Monday

 
Max (deg C)
Min (deg C)
Rainfall (mm)
AIRHEAD
30.1
23.0
Tr
TRAVELLERS
29.0
19.8
0.1
RESIDENCY
27.2
19.4
0.4
GEORGETOWN
31.5
22.0
0.0
ST. HELENA 24.4 18.3 7.0
FALKLANDS
19.7
4.6
24.0
UK
14.0
-11.0
23.4


ASCENSION ISLAND: Generally fine and sunny by day with just a few light showers and these mostly fell in the dark hours. Lowest day time maximum temperature was 29.5 on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th. Highest overnight minimum was 24.9 early on Thursday 6th.

UK: At the start of the week a complex area of Low pressure with centres near Shetland and in central North Sea fed a cold NW-N flow across the UK with snow affecting parts of Scotland and eastern England. In Scotland Loch Glascarnoch had a day maximum temperature on Monday and Tuesday of Minus 1 Celsius. During Tuesday evening/night the beginnings of a change with a ridge of high pressure crossing the country. Frontal troughs then followed during Wednesday , Thursday and finally Sunday . This introduced milder Atlantic air to all parts though by Sunday night a ridge of high pressure had returned bringing overnight frost and freezing fog to many parts of England and Southern Scotland. Penzance took daily "honours" as the warmest place in the country from Tuesday through to Saturday. Highest maximum temperature was 14 Celsius on Friday 7th. Lowest night-time minimum temperature was minus 11 Celsius at Tulloch Bridge (Highlands of Scotland) in the early hours of Wednesday 5th. Sunniest place in the UK was Tenby ( Pembrokeshire )with 9.4 hours on Sunday 9th . Wettest was Capel Curig (Gwynedd) with 23.4 mm (0.92 ins) falling in the 24 hour period ending at 1800 hours on Sunday 9th.

FALKLANDS: A changeable week with frontal troughs crossing the islands. Between these troughs periods of drier weather. Wettest day was Thursday with 12.5 mm recorded Just a trace (less than 0.1 mm) reported on Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th. Lowest day maximum temperature 16.2 Celsius on Wednesday 5th.

“METCHAT” ************************ “METCHAT” ************************ “METCHAT” ************************“METCHAT”

Taking the Teacher Trade

Teacher shortage remains a problem for the Education Department as employees leave their jobs for offshore employment, or to take up work elsewhere on the Island. In many cases the department finds it difficult to fill vacant posts.

This is unfortunate because staff shortages can put extra pressure on teachers and it can also be of a disadvantage to pupils. This is why the Education Department is doing everything it can to retain staff; to encourage others to take up the profession and to ensure classes are covered.

Pamela Lawrence, Chief Education Officer said that whilst the Department is not advertising for teachers on a daily basis, they would take on suitably qualified people immediately, particularly those with relevant teaching experience as there are a number of teacher vacancies to be filled. She said "At this point there are 11 vacancies in the teaching profession which need to be filled on a permanent basis" and added that the department would especially encourage its current temporary employees to apply for these posts.

The department understandably prefers posts to be filled on a full time, permanent basis but sometimes, people prefer to remain temporary. At this point in time, the department has little choice other than to accept this because with the current staff attrition problem, turning down someone who prefers to be temporary could mean a class of pupils being left without a teacher.

There are also temporary positions which arise periodically, on account of staff absence or temporary staff movements. Persons filling temporary positions have time-bound appointments which they agree to on appointment.

When full time permanent posts have to be filled, taking the person on full time is the preference of any Government department because it gives them some reassurance that the employee is intending to stay with them. Certainly full time employees also resign, but it can be difficult for the Education Department to plan a school year when permanent posts are being filled by temporary employees who for various reasons are unable to make a long term commitment. Said Pamela: "These people, do however, even in their temporary capacity, do a good job for the department which is much appreciated." Pamela's advice is that when the opportunity arises, it is advantageous to the employee to take the permanent option. She said: "Similarly, if personal circumstances change whilst a person is temporarily employed, it is for the employee to make this known to the employer should they wish to apply for a permanent post."

The Education Department has to put the pupils' best interest first and this means that if they are approached by a qualified, experienced teacher who is prepared to be taken on permanently, any established posts which are being filled on a temporary basis would have to be re-advertised so as to secure a full time teacher. Any temporary employee would have equal opportunity to apply if they are prepared to be taken on permanently. They may or may not be successful. Said Pamela: "It should be noted, however, that the department fulfils contractual obligations to any person temporarily employed for a stated period of time."

It is hoped that the teacher workforce will eventually return to full establishment and remain this way as SHG considers education to be of paramount importance to the people of the Island.

Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
6 February 2003



www.the-islander.org.ac

EDITORS : Julia
The New Islander Office, Fort Hayes, Georgetown, Ascension Island.
Tel/Fax 00 + 247 6327

E-Mail: editors@the-islander.org.ac

Internet Team: Alan George, Rob Dunstan, Richard White and Gavin Yon

Deadline for all contributions is 6.00pm on Monday


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