Eighteen students of the Alwyn Allison Primary School were honoured on Thursday morning, June 23rd, as their graduation ceremony was held with pride, under the theme “Climbing Higher, Reaching Further”. It was the third in what will be a series of six events for the island’s primary schools –three schools this week, and three next week.
The seven girls and eleven marched down the aisle of the school’s auditorium to Miley Cyrus’s song, “The Climb”, sung by one of their fellow graduands, Erin Connor. The national song was played by music teachers, Gordon Hazel and Elson Richardson, and the school choir rendered the school song. Prayer was then offered by Pastor Carol Richardson.
The audience was welcomed by teacher Keri Richardson who made mention of the fact that along with family members, friends and others, the school was extremely proud of the grauands’ achievements. To the graduands themselves, she said: “You all have worked hard, and you have much to celebrate and to be proud of.”
Many presentations were issued besides academic awards and graduating certificates. Several of these were provided by goodwill partners of the school and benevolent individuals of the West End community. Such awards included: the top CPEA Award; the Valedictorian Award; the Salutatorian Award; the Teacher Urma Richardson Award; the Teacher Marriette Award; the ICT Award; the Environmental Ambassador Award; the Albert Hughes Award; Parents’ Awards; the Church of God of Prophecy Children’s Ministry Award; the Extra Mile Award by Delta Petroleum; the Sports Awards by Hon. Cardigan Connor and Teacher Travis Rouse; and Character Awards by Teacher Sarah Francis and Four Seasons Resort.
Words of Encouragement were spoken to the students by the Hon. Cardigan Connor, a resident of the West End community. He encouraged the graduands from a sports perspective, reflecting on a former deceased teacher, Teacher Art, who was an outstanding, dedicated teacher at the school.
He said, “Teacher Art was about encouragement. He was a coach from the heart and a teacher who took a great deal of interest in his students – not just in their academics, but in their overall development. If you would but a lot of time and effort into your sports, you would be taught so much about life and living.”
Following his encouragement, Mr. Connor made award presentations to the most outstanding male and female graduands in the area of sports.
Words of Encouragement were also shared by Teacher Sarah Francis, Head of Year, at Albena Lake Comprehensive School, Campus B, the institution which the graduands will begin to attend in September.
Apart from speaking to them as a teacher of discipline with whom they would soon become familiar, she addressed them as one who expects them to maintain their manners with an acceptable character and decent disposition.
She also told the graduands to prepare to change and adjust as they enter high school. “When you get into Campus B, you will change,” she said. “You have to, because you will have to adopt top a new learning and teaching environment. Whereas here at primary school you were taught by only one teacher, there you will be taught by as many as thirteen.
“Yes, there will be one teacher for each subject that you will be taking. But don’t be overwhelmed because much of the material you will be taught at Campus B is what you would have been already familiar with.”
The Valedictorian, Samantha McCormack, was introduced by Teacher Sharifa Rouse, who described her as a diligent student who continually focuses on striving for excellence – one who continues to showcase her exceptional attitude in all subject areas and possesses a quest for: “what more can I learn” – one who continues to climb higher and reach further.
Upon greeting the audience and her fellow graduands, Samantha expressed what an honour it was to stand before them as the 2021-2022 Valedictorian of the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School.
“Each one of you, fellow graduands, have proven to be very resilient. Seven years ago we came to this school not knowing what to expect. The past seven years have indeed been challenging. In September 2017, just before we were to begin grade two, Anguilla was struck by one of the worst hurricanes, keeping us out of school for almost two months. Then two-and-a-half years later, the Covid-19 pandemic forced us out of school again and challenging our education system.”
She explained how difficult the experience of online became not just for students but for the teachers, and even more difficult for parents… “But despite all the challenges,” she said, each one of us has persevered to make it to this day.”
The ceremony ended with the Vote of Thanks delivered by the Salutatorian, Nassim Connor.
