When you're a teenager, spare time at school is priceless, it can be used for text messaging or catching up on the gossip, but this year students at the Learning Express Academy used their spare time in a different way by helping a senior citizen with a visual impairment.

All year long, students from the Learning Express Academy, have visited 84-year-old Jean Howes, who is blind, to help her walk her retired guide dog Quana, who is now also blind.

Mrs. Howes, and Quana recently visited The Learning Express Academy in Pembroke to thank the students for their help during the school year.

"I just wanted to thank the students," said Mrs. Howes. "They have really helped me. This really is a wonderful school."

Mrs. Howes doesn't get out as much as she use to, so she finds it difficult to walk Quana every day.

Teacher Bryce Purcell organised the dog walking as a community service project for his students. Each week a different two students from the school helped to walk Quana.

Some of the students had never walked a dog before in their lives.

"Quana will be my last guide dog," said Mrs. Howes. Quana is Mrs. Howes' fourth guide dog. The others were Walnut, Moon and Mandy.

Mrs. Howes received Quana in 2001 when Walnut retired.

Mrs. Howes is well known for her work in the community. She has been very active with the Bermuda Society for the Blind. She has also been a poet, a singer and a musician.

In 2004, with Quana by her side, she led a protest march in support of local taxi drivers.