School children, who were awarded in the Sixth Annual Primary School Awards Ceremony, have been praised for their outstanding performance in Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Music and Sport.The award winners, selected from six public and two private primary schools last year, are now students at Campus B of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
The students, who were awarded at the ceremony on November 15 at the Rodney MacAuthur Rey Auditorium, numbered 68 compared with 84 in the previous year. The event was held under the theme: “Climbing The Ladder Of Success.”
The awards were sponsored by the Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) which has been sponsoring the event since its commencement in 2007. In addition, the company presented the ANGLEC Achievement Award to the top three students overall from Grades 3, 5 and 6. The recipients were DamaraiGumbs (Grade 3 Morris Vanterpool Primary School); Klein Harrigan (Grade 5 Valley Primary School); and Angela Quinto (Grade 6 Morris Vanterpool Primary School).
There was also a presentation of the Patricia J. Adams Literary Award, now in its fourth year. The award was presented to students, from the three grades, who excelled in composition writing. The awardees were Nandi Edwards (Grade 6 of the Teacher Gloria Omolulu Institute); Asaphia Connor (Grade 5 Valley Primary School); and Dumisa Webster (Grade 6 Central Christian School).
The outstanding students and ANGLEC were praised by Minister of Social Development and Education, Edison Baird, and Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Rhonda Connor.
“Education is a partnership between the home, the education system and the community,” the Minister observed. “Our students can only climb the ladder of success if all parties do everything we can to ensure that they succeed.”
In praising the students, Mr. Baird said: “The students have excelled because they consistently strived to reach higher and do better each day. They have excelled because their parents supported and encouraged their learning. Their teachers sought to improve their own practices, inspired a love for learning and properly equipped the students to reach their fullest potential. They excelled because their schools and the entire education system, through various initiatives and interventions, of the students teaching, learning and excellence. They have excelled because the community has supported the education system either through community-based programmes or financial investments.”
He congratulated the students on their remarkable success and commended the Education Department for its commitment to recognising excellence through the award ceremony. He thanked ANGLEC for being “an extraordinary corporate citizen and an exemplary partner in Education.” Mr. Baird added: “We greatly appreciate the contribution you have made once again to ensuring that this ceremony is a reality. I assure you that your contribution does not go unnoticed.”
Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Rhonda Connor, told the students that in honouring their achievements, her Department was also celebrating the promise that they represented for even greater accomplishments in the months and years ahead. “I encourage you to always aim high, set lofty goals and continue to climb your ladder of success. My heartiest congratulations to all of you.”
Mrs. Connor offered “a hearty thank you to the Anguilla Electricity Company” for its generous funding of the awards, adding: “You have been a true partner for the past six years and we are indeed grateful.”
The Chief Education Officer commended and encouraged the teachers for playing a special role in the development of the children. “Through your teaching, you have taught these precious little ones the importance of learning,” she stated. “Through your guidance and assurance, you would have given them the confidence to take risks, to learn from their mistakes and to embrace the future with courage and conviction.” She also offered words of appreciation to parents and guardians who she said, were duty bound to assist in preparing students to be well-rounded, creative, imaginative and innovative.
ANGLEC was represented at the awards ceremony by Elvin Richardson, the company’s Information Technology Manager, who spoke briefly. He was grateful to Mr. Baird and Mrs. Connor for the commendation they gave to ANGLEC for sponsorship of the Annual Primary School Awards, and pledged the company’s continued support.
Mr. Richardson encouraged the students to continue to excel in their studies and to make their parents, teachers and Anguilla proud of them.
During the ceremony there were short addresses by Tsani Rogers and Kyiv Edwards, the Most Outstanding Grade 6 students for 2011.
