Krysten wins local leg of Courts reading competition

The St Mary’s Roman Catholic School had double reason to celebrate last week, after winning the local leg of the Courts OECS reading competition for the second year in a row.{{more}}

Following in the footsteps of Zanique Daize, nine-year-old Krysten Barbour topped her counterparts from six other primary schools to earn the right to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at the regional finals in St Lucia later this month.

Barbour also took home EC$2,000, a Samsung galaxy tablet, a grocery gift voucher, and cash to go towards a savings account, among other prizes. She also earned EC$2,000 for her school, and the opportunity to read a news segment on SVG TV.

The grade four pupil was at a loss for words after winning the competition, for which she was adjudged to have read the news item better than the other students. The news item, which was taken from SEARCHLIGHT, was captioned: “Grenada and St Vincent get training in capturing and handling the lion fish.”

After regaining her composure, she said that she was very happy to take the first place and was excited to be participating in the regional competition, where she intends to do her best.

“I am very confident and because I love to read, I think I will do very well,” she beamed with excitement after the event, which was held on October 18 at the Frenches House.

Barbour thanked her mother and father, as well as her teacher Mrs Fergusson and others, for their encouragement before, during and after the competition.

Coming in second place was a pupil of the Kingstown Preparatory School, Bhokeem Henville, who also won the award for best narrative (“The Miserly Old Woman”).

Henville earned EC$1,000, a Kindle Fire tablet sponsored by SEARCHLIGHT, a grocery voucher and cash towards a savings account and other items for placing second.

Third place went to Milicia Quashie of the Layou Government School. She received EC$750, a grocery gift voucher and cash towards a savings account, among other prizes.

The top three students, along with the other students: Jaynese Providence of the Bequia Anglican Primary School, Anya Quashie of the Calliaqua Anglican School, Danielle Quashie of the Gomea Methodist School, Saviola Blake of the Diamonds Government School, also received trophies, certificates of participation, gift baskets, Vitamalt and books for being in the finals.

This year’s competition was once again hailed a success by Courts’ senior marketing officer Alexis John, who said that the event would not have been possible without the input of the corporate sponsors, as well the Ministry of Education and other contributors.

Sponsors included SEARCHLIGHT, Jujube bookstore, Coreas and Hazells Inc, St Vincent Brewery Ltd, Digicel, C.K. Greaves and Co. Ltd, Multigraphics, Rochelle A Forde Law Firm and SVG TV.