Move the RC Primary School, Build Modern Vocational Training, Reroute Middle Street: Mind Blowing Plans (And Action!) for Ambergris Caye
Yesterday I sat down with Mr Vernon Wilson – the co-founder of Holy Cross School with his wife Francis – and a pretty incredible guy. Their work in Belize – first in Belize City with the Anglican Church and the Central Prison and then as the visionary who brought a school to the island – blows my mind.
But here’s what also blows my mind – their plans – in conjunction and partnership with the big plans of the Roman Catholic Church in San Pedro – to bring incredible INCREDIBLE updates and advances to this island.
Let me tell you what they are and then get into the details:
- Move the huge Roman Catholic Primary School that is in the center of San Pedro to a location south of town
- To build and open that new school (with a cafeteria!) in about 2 years
- To build and open a Vocational Training Center on that campus – covering subjects that are tailored to island’s businesses’ needs and requests…like Culinary Arts, Hotel Management Skills, Construction, Website design etc.
See what I mean? Life changing for San Pedro.
Here are the details. But first, I suggest that you watch this 6-minute video about the vision and the formation of the Holy Cross School in the San Mateo neighborhood (just north of the bridge on Ambergris Caye). I watched it yesterday with Mr Vernon and…it’s just so incredibly impressive what he and Francis and hundreds and hundreds of volunteers have accomplished.
You can take a quick look around the school and learn about volunteer opportunities in my Jan 2024 post – just when I started learning about his amazing spot that I pass every day. I love that they have solar panels that provide about 60% of the power for the school and her facilities. There is a lot to love at this school.
So, the plans. The RC Church has sold the land that the RC School in town is located – and is moving the school to a large piece of property south of town. Near to the planned location of the new public hospital. (A good overhead shot and map of the hospital location in this post) This will be the school’s 5th location!
About 1 1/2 to 2 miles south of town, just across the street from Royal Palms.
The RC Primary School is the oldest on the island – operating since the 1920s! (See these fantastic pictures from way back when!)
This campus and location were completed in 1963. But this central location no longer makes sense for the hundreds and hundreds of students and the very very busy town – it’s just getting too crowded! And the traffic wrapping around the school’s colorful walls…oy very.
The school will be relocated south of town.
When the new location is complete and the school moved, Middle Street will be straightened. No more curve around the school – you guys know that colorful wall! Middle Street will remain one-way and Back Street will also be made a one-way street for better traffic flow.
And the VOCATIONAL SCHOOL! The plan is to build a Vocational Training School for high school aged kids – with the help of the island. They will ask hotels and restaurants and businesses to help fund the schools (and, of course, everyone who can help!) and to inform them – in the planning process and once the school is open – what the island needs.
Do you need skilled construction workers, specific hotel management skills, culinary skills, carpentry, AC repair, graphic designers, website designers…(this is my own dream team…but input is wanted and needed). SO that the new schools can be sure to have available training and certification.
How amazing is this? A joint venture between the churches to serve the community in SUCH an amazing way.
What an excellent Easter surprise. I hope you all have an amazing lonnnng Easter weekend. Go slow and stay safe and enjoy.
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We stayed just North of San Pedro last September and we’re coming back in June this year. My question. Since my wife loves to walk on the beach can you offer area or rental suggestions. Seems like most places have bulkheads. Many thanks..
This is pretty crazy to say but I don’t do enough walkign on the beach! A great area is between Indigo (about 4 miles north) and Mata Chica (about 5.5 miles north) – it such a great walk…
look south to lighthouse beach or pelican reef- great beach to walk until your walked out !
both have great bars pelican has restaurant also
Great News! Hopefully there will be a multi-story parking garage on one side of the street. This is the perfect location for walking to almost anywhere in town. Otherwise, , it will be nearly impossible to park in SanPedro 5 years from now.
The Vocational Training Center is a start on what could become a college level education in the future. Not so long ago a local Hospittality Association began by sponsoring a few courses at the nearby college, The program now provides hotels, restaurants, and tourism busnesses with professionals who majored in Tourism. https://www.coastal.edu/business/hrtm/
I’m not sure i want to see a multi-story parking garage in san pedro! There’s got to be a better way!
Good morning Rebecca, I had heard back in January that the school moving was a possibility. Nice to hear it officially. This is a good move. Is there any more news on the hospital? Seems nothing noticeable has happened.
We recently bought South, so even though traffic will increase in our area, both of these projects are great for the Island. I’ve been coming to Ambergris since 1988, and although I loved the island more back then, it’s still good to see this for the awesome people of our community!
The new school sounds terrific. And Vocational Training – awesome! Any recent word on the new school far up north? They already cleared land, right?
THe land was clearing and filled…at least 5 years ago!
Wow if there would be a much needed vocational school here in San Pedro Town, please, please, please add a sewing class for women or men who would love to learn sewing. I would be highly interested or cosmetology classes. It would be amazing open also for older people not only high school kids. Thanks so much.
Both fantastic ideas!
the location for a trade school… is totally ridiculous….
the GOB should take back the ownership..[since they haven’t paid taxes…like-ever]…from the church…and sell it for millions, to a greedy foreigner, in order to fund a trade school in a suitable location… as-in… away from the stupidness of congested downtown San Pedro.
an educational complex with all educational facilities…make more sense [to me]…and hopefully, away from any future congestion. [obtained via intelligent research and decision making].
It’s almost 1.5 miles south of town – at the entrance to DFC. You don’t like that?