Children at preschool, primary and secondary levels were given some useful advice at a Back to School Service at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on Sunday, September 4, the eve of the reopening of schools.
The moderator was Mrs. Ingrid Lake, a Sunday School Teacher, Treasurer of the Vestry (the governing body of the Anglican Church) and formerly Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
The message was delivered by Mr. Winston Duncan, a Senior Server at St. Mary’s Church, and Education Officer with responsibility for Science. “You must be goal oriented,” he told the older children in particular. “Have something in mind that you want to achieve. If you are in primary school, aim for the Test of Standard Award. If you are not in one of those classes, work hard on becoming the best student that you can. If you are at secondary school, do not wait until the day before exams to study. Keep working at it and have your goal in mind. Some of you may want to be engineers, nurses, teachers or plumbers. Whatever your goal is, in life, start working on it from now and, remember, good behaviour will get you very far.”
Mr. Duncan, who sought and obtained interactions from some of the children, continued: “Practice your math and read. Reading expands your vocabulary and horizons. It enables you to express yourself a lot better. Besides working hard, you must learn to listen. Listening not only has to do with hearing, but also with interpreting and helps you to understand. You cannot understand if you decide to have a conversation when the teachers are teaching. You can also learn quite a bit on You Tube. You can go there and find free information on any topic that is being taught – whether it be math, science or any other subject. These are valuable resources that will help you to improve and to become a better student. We want you to learn not only for yourselves but so that you can be the leaders of tomorrow.”
Mr. Duncan stressed the importance of discipline and positive attitudes among students as well as their careful choice of friends in order to be good achievers. “Earlier on I mentioned that your attitude plays a significant role in terms of the height of your altitude,” he went on. “Good behaviour is very important. If you are not behaving yourselves you are going to spend more time in places that you don’t really need to be. Adults, teachers, parents and guardians – in fact everyone present: If you recognise a certain pattern of behaviour, have a conversation with your children. Initially, there may be some resentment but eventually they may open up to you or someone else. It may not be today or tomorrow, but eventually they will come around.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Lake also took the opportunity to offer words of encouragement and advice to parents, guardians and their children – and to wish them much success in the new school year.
Various school supplies, provided by the parishioners were distributed to the children by Mrs. Rosena Brooks, wife of the Right Rev. Errol Brooks, and Mrs. Hazel Brooks, Principal of St. Mary’s Preschool. So generous were the donations, that there were more gifts than children resulting in a second round of presentations to them.
Bishop Brooks, who gave the benediction, thanked all who were involved in the Back to School Service and expressed thanks and appreciation to the parishioners for the school supplies.
