96 graduate at C.W. Prescod Primary

Ninety-six pupils of the C.W. Prescod Primary School graduated on Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the Kingstown Methodist Church under the theme “Lighting Our Pathway With Hope.”{{more}}

Congratulating the students on their achievements, Senior Education Officer Sylvia Sayers urged the students to put God first in all that they do, and as they go into their secondary education to start thinking seriously about what they plan to do with their future. “It’s never too early to think about what kind of person you want to be,” Sayers said. She also commended the teachers for the hard work they did and continue to do with the students. She added that teachers should constantly try to improve themselves so that their students can “be the best they can be.”

Words of advice also came from Past Headteacher, Milford Samuel. Samuel, who served as a teacher for forty years, urged the teachers to be dedicated to their jobs for the sake of the children. Samuel also urged the graduates to use every opportunity presented to them to excel, to always remain hopeful, and push through all the obstacles that may block them from their dreams. He also urged parents to be their children’s guide and to give them hope and to help them fulfill their dreams.

Headteacher Hyacinth Harry also called upon parents to play an active part in their children’s education. Presenting a report on the school’s performance during the past year, Harry said that there is not enough parent participation. Some parents, she said, are only seen at the beginning of term when students are enrolled in kindergarten and never show up again until the Common Entrance results are released.

Harry, who described the 2008-2009 school year as a “challenging and rewarding” one, stated that improvements are needed in the area of literacy and numeracy, as it has been identified that many students cannot read at their respective levels. As a result, summer programmes are being organized to assist students in this area, Harry said.

The veteran teacher praised the school for its accomplishments in the Primary School Dance Festival and the Public Speaking competition. She further urged the students to put God first in every thing that they do and to allow God to guide them throughout their lives in Secondary School.

In her Valedictorian speech, Akieda St. Hillaire thanked her teachers and classmates for a wonderful year and wished them all the best in the future. Akieda received a prize for the school’s third best performance in Common Entrance Examinations (CEE). She placed 116th for girls and 187th overall with 78.92 per cent. Certificates were also awarded to Kadmiel Peters for the best average in English, 86.97 per cent and second in terms of the school’s performance: placing 57th for boys and 147th overall. Colchia Phillips placed first for the school in the CEE, placing 69th for girls and 113th overall with a percentage of 82.47 per cent. Phillips also received a certificate for the best percentage in General Paper, 80 per cent. Romario Peters was the best performer in mathematics, receiving 90 per cent. (OS)