Barrouallie Government School honours past principals at Graduation Exercise

Five past principals of the Barrouallie Government School (BGS) were honoured on Monday, June 19 for their “leadership and sterling service” to the institution.

Hermia Scott, Merle Millington, Caroline Rawlins, Vedette Bulze, and Vibert Pierre were acknowledged and rewarded at the school’s graduation ceremony for serving the institution as principals of their time.

The five retired educators each received a plaque which reads, “In honour of your leadership and sterling service to the Barrouallie Government School.” They each also received a fruit basket.

A photograph of each of the principals will be hung on the walls of the school’s office.

Hermia Scott, who was the school’s principal from 1980-1986, is known for penning the words of the School’s song.

“She left to pursue studies on two occasions then returned to her love, the Barrouallie Government school. She was later transferred to the Barrouallie Secondary school in September, 1986 and continued here until 1995,” her citation noted.

Scott also taught at several other schools, including Hope Government, Clare Valley Government, Lodge Village Government, Buccament Bay Government and the Intermediate High School.

“…[She] sailed from 1959 to 1995. She also did private sessions at the Intermediate High until 2001.”

While presenting the award to Scott, principal Maxford Jones, grew emotional as he reminisced on the contribution that Scott had made to his education when he was a student.

“… She stepped in, paid my fees at Caribbean Examination Council and I’m happy today to be principal of the Barrouallie Government School,” Jones said.

The second award was presented to the principal for the years 1983-1986, Merle Millington, who started her teaching career in 1951 at the Kingstown Methodist School.

“In 1958, she was awarded a scholarship to study Home Economics at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica,” her citation read in part.

Millington spent many years teaching Home Economics at the Richmond Hill Centre and also taught at the Belair, Lodge Village and Richmond Hill Government Schools and at the Kingstown Anglican School. She spent the last years of her distinguished teaching career at the Barrouallie Infant and the Barrouallie Anglican Schools.

A “daughter of the soil”, Caroline Rawlins who served the BGS as principal from 1987-2004, began her teaching journey as a Grade three teacher in Layou on November 3, 1970. She was appointed a student teacher at the Barrouallie Anglican school on October 3, 1972.

In 1973, Rawlins attended the Teachers College and, on completion, she was appointed as a qualified assistant teacher (QAT) on transfer to Spring Village in 1975. She returned to the Barrouallie Anglican School in 1987.

Rawlins was appointed as acting-head teacher in 1988, and then principal of the Barrouallie Infant School, which is now called the Barrouallie Government School.

“Rawlins was transferred to Layou Government School in 2004 and served there until her retirement in December, 2007. We appreciate Mrs Caroline Rawlins for her 37 years of service in education,” her citation read in part.

Principal for the years 2004-2008 Vedette Bulze, who is another “daughter of the soil,” hails from Glebe Hill, Barrouallie. Bulze began her teaching career in 1970 when she was appointed as a Grade three teacher.

In 1972, she received appointment as a student teacher, and in 1983 she was appointed as a qualified assistant teacher, having completed training at the Teachers College. In 1995, she was appointed as senior qualified teacher and became the principal of the school in 2004. She spent four years in that position before she retired in 2008.

The teachers and staff of the school “appreciate Ms. Vedette Bulze for her 38 Years of service to St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” read her citation.

The school’s most recent past principal Vibert Pierre, was also recognised for his services. Pierre, a resident of Bottle and Glass, Barrouallie, served the institution from 2008-2015.

“Mr Vibert Pierre said life was a struggle for him. He commenced his teaching career in March of 1978 as a pupil teacher at Spring Village Methodist for two weeks after which he was appointed to the Barrouallie Government,” his citation read.

Pierre was appointed as a student teacher in 1980, probationary assistant teacher in 1984, and graduated from SVG Teachers College in 1993.

“….He was appointed as a qualified assistant teacher at Barrouallie Anglican School [and] graduated from UWI in 2007 with a Bachelor of Education In Educational Management.”

On August 4, 2008 Pierre became the acting headteacher at the school and was appointed as head teacher on March 2, 2009.

“…[He] graduated from University of the West England with a Master’s of Arts in Education, retired as head teacher in 2014 from BGS and has currently been working at the Windsor Primary School for the past five years.”

Pierre encouraged the students who did not attain the required standard at the 2023 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) that he was once in their shoes having failed at form at secondary school. He said, however that it was his hard work and determination that made him successful.