Students told: This nation is depending on you!

The years ahead are not for you alone, but also for your country and this nation is depending on you.{{more}}

This was the message from lawyer and feature speaker Rochelle Forde during the Belair Government School’s graduation ceremony which was held last Wednesday, June 15.

“There must be a thirst for learning, a want for knowledge everyday; read and do not be afraid to express your opinion, although it may go against what is accepted,” she said.

“The fact that you have made it here today, tells me that you have worked hard,” she continued, urging the graduates to allow their untapped talents to soar.

“You have various talents and the country needs talents.”

Finally, there was the reminder by Forde that there existed in our society good and bad and that the temptation to get into criminal activity later on in life was one of the harsh realities of the society in which we lived.

Forde challenged the 22 graduates to remain focussed on the goals which they had set for themselves and to safeguard the talents that they have been given.

But there was also much to celebrate.

An overall pass rate in the 2010 Common Entrance Examination of 77.2 percent, up from 56 percent in 2009 and a place in the top 20 performers in this year’s Common Entrance Examination are some of the major achievements of the school in the present academic year.

It was also mentioned that the school has also seen a slight improvement in reading levels.

But there is still a lot of work to be done, this according to Joy Matthews, Headteacher of the school.

Nevertheless, she congratulated the class of 2010 for an outstanding job, but warned them that they were not to sit on their laurels, but must constantly aim for the top.

“There are variable abilities among the group; you don’t have to be a genius, you just need to persevere,” Matthews said.

“You are at the end of a big journey of the first phase of your educational journey.”

Alicia Browne, the school’s top performer in the Common Entrance Exam received the “Student of the Year” award.

Browne also copped the awards for Best in Mathematics, English and General Paper, the “Principal’s Award” and the award for the student who best portrays the ideals of the Belair Government School.

The “Most Improved Student” award went to Kelisha Wright; Rownesha Spencer copped the “Outstanding Attendance” award and Zacharie Bascombe took the “Sports” award.