The Adrian T. Hazell Primary School in South Hill paid tribute to a veteran educator, the late Dorothy Hughes, by hosting another annual Tr. Dorothy Hughes Awards Ceremony on the evening of Thursday, November 23rd. Some 113 students were recognized for their reading skills at various levels.
Teacher Dorothy began to work at the school on May 7th 1986 when it was then the Road Primary School and continued there as a teacher up to May 20, 2010 when she retired. Because she placed emphasis on equipping every child who passed through her hands with the ability to properly read, Thursday evening’s ceremony was highlighted by certificates issued to students for their reading achievements.
The ceremony was chaired by PTA Officer, Ms. Brittany Jeffers, and blessed by Teacher Jacqueline Hodge-Fleming. Teacher Alphonsene Williams delivered the welcome address and brief remarks.
Recognizing the benefits of reading, Teacher Alphonsene quoted Dr. Seuss: “The more that you read, the more things you will know; the more that you learn, the more places you will go.”
She commended the students for their reading ambitions, the parents for their commitment and guidance, and the teachers for their dedication toward the teaching of reading with patience and courage.
“To our brilliant students,” she said, “this event is a testament to your hard work and determination. Each of your achievements is a stepping stone to your future success…To the supportive parents, your role in this educational journey is invaluable. Your encouragement, guidance and partnership with us contribute significantly to the growth of these exceptional young minds… and to us, the dedicated teachers, our unwavering commitment to the nurturing of young minds is truly commendable. Our passion and dedication lay the foundation for the success we celebrate.”
Former student, Ms. Ojaelia Gumbs, gave a brief comment relative to the importance of reading. She said in part: “Reading is a very important tool that is needed in our everyday lives. If one wants to be a doctor, a lawyer or even an athlete of the future, the ability to read is vital to his or her success.”
Students from the school who benefited from the reading programme, performed a skit entitled “Why Do We Read”. It portrayed the fact that reading is beneficial in a host of ways, even when one doesn’t feel like reading.
An Overview of the Reading Performance 2023 was given by Literacy Coordinator, Karen Richardson. She said that the annual Teacher Dorothy Hughes Reading Awards Ceremony was designed to celebrate the success of students in reading and reward them for such.
“Students’ reading skills are one of the major predictors of success in school as well as in life outside of school,” she remarked. “The influx of new technologies and digital platforms are transforming the way that students and young people access reading material.”
The breakdown of the school’s 2023 reading performance covered students from Kindergarten up to Grade 6. The awards were issued to students whose reading ability was rated in three different classes. The majority of the students, numbering 56 or 49%, achieved 1st Class honours; 24 or 21% achieved 2nd Class honors; and 33 or 29% were honoured as 3rd Class readers.
