On December 2nd, the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) held its annual Speech Night and Awards Ceremony.
Mr. Worrel Brooks, Deputy Principal, Curriculum, delivered the Principal’s Report. He noted that the school currently offers 32 Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) courses and 48 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Units.
At the CSEC level – 76% of students from the institution, who sat the 2015 May – June examinations, obtained grades 1-3. There were also 100% passes in 17 subject areas. At the CAPE level – 85% of students who sat the 2015 May – June examinations passed with acceptable grades – 36% of whom obtained grades 1-3. There were also 48 Associate Degrees obtained by students of the school.
Mr. Brooks highlighted that there are still a number of constraints which the school faced, especially as they relate to space and accommodating all subjects offered. While this is true, he lauded the efforts by staff to establish a space for the Theatre Arts Department.
In the school year 2014-2015, the 5th Form population comprised 180 students of whom 92% satisfied the graduation criteria representing the largest graduating class. The 6th Form student population for the same period stood at 129 students: 64 in 6B and 65 in 6A of whom 45 graduated.
This year the school distributed a total of 219 awards in academics, sports, music and other extra curricula activities. A total of 155 were awarded for outstanding academic performance; 26 for outstanding athletic performance; and 28 for music. Also, six awards were given to the debaters from the ALHCS Literary and Debating Society, who participated in the 2015 Leeward Islands Debating Competition, and four awards to students for their involvement in the school’s Environmental Club.
In a surprise twist the school announced two special awards to: Mrs. Ingrid Lake, former Principal, and to Mrs. Yasmini Lloyd in honor and acknowledgement of their sterling contribution to secondary education in Anguilla. Both Mrs. Lake and Mrs. Lloyd recently retired from the teaching service. Mrs. Lake taught from 1986 – 2015 and Mrs. Lloyd from 1988 – 2015.
As usual, the school treated the audience by showcasing its musical talents via a number of performances by the ALHCS Recorder Ensemble, the ALHCS Combined Choir and the ALHCS Steel Pan Orchestra.