Special children celebrate

The School for Children with Special Needs held its 30th Anniversary Celebration and Thanksgiving Service on Wednesday 1st June, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at the New Testament Church of God at Wilson Hill, Kingstown.

The theme for this year’s celebration, ‘30 years Striving, Teaching, Learning, Achieving’ was chosen by Terrance Davis, an outstanding past-student and a present teacher at the school. Davis’ opening prayer at this celebration was fluent and inspirational. He is indeed a blessing to this school which clearly values his continued contributions.{{more}}

Trevor Thompson, Chairman of the Advisory Board, welcomed everyone to the celebration and made special mention of the contribution of the late Harding Lawrence, an early donor to the SCSN, whose widow raised US$10,000 of his death by asking well-wishers to send money instead of wreaths and flowers. The new resource centre to be built at the school will be called the Harding Lawrence Resource Centre.

The School’s Principal, Esther Carr Weithers, in her address, expressed pride in the fact that eight (8) members of staff were past students of the school. Five of these persons are on the YES programme. Weithers appealed to the members of the audience and the business community to offer job opportunities to the graduates of this school. She noted that persons tended to support the students while they were at school, but this same support was not as forthcoming when students graduate.

Six students graduated from the school. Dian Lyttle who already has sewing skills and a hair-dressing attachment; Okira Wilson who records details with great facility; William Smith, the National Youth Council’s 2004 Special Awardee and one of the school’s Special Olympians; La Fleece Rose, a very good reader; Latisha Jack, a student who has displayed great business aptitude and the Valedictorian Vaughn Alicia Edwards. Edwards, an excellent writer and the Secretary of the school’s Senior Club, delivered her Valedictory Speech in sign language. A teacher, Williams verbalized for the audience. Edwards movingly thanked all her teachers for their encouragement and dedication.