For 25 students of the Albion Mountain Primary School, the curtains came down on a historic period in their lives as they closed one chapter of their academic journey on Tuesday, July 4.
This symbolic closure was done at the school’s annual graduation/school leaving and awards ceremony held at the St Mary Anglican Church Hall in Port Maria in the parish.
The processional of the graduates and school leavers in their stunning gold gowns represented a triumph in their primary education studies.
This was followed by the devotional exercise conducted by Reverend Carlton Beckford. The welcome, introduction and opening remarks were done by the chairman of the Albion Mountain Primary School, the Very Reverend Canon Charles Manderson. He also took on the mantle as the chairperson for the evening’s ceremony.
The head students’ report was delivered by Maronda Beckford and Claudray Reid.
In her report, acting principal Judith Campbell gave an outline of the several extra-curricular and academic programmes at the school throughout the 2016/2017 academic year.
In the area of sports, the school’s girls football team won all their matches in the Oracabessa Foundation Girls Football Competition and progressed to the finals, where they were suffered defeat and finished in second place on Thursday, July 6. The team is coached by Dane Vassell, who also coached the cricket team and was awarded the chairman’s award at the graduation ceremony. The school also finished fourth in the St Mary District Association Sports Competition.
Other events throughout the school year included inter-house quiz, Read Across Jamaica Day, career day and field trips.
In the area of academics, Mrs Campbell explained that 21 students sat the GSAT examinations and only four students received an average of 70 percent and over. She pointed out that areas of concerns have been identified and will be addressed.
Mrs Campbell also acknowledged several persons, who assisted the Albion Mountain Primary School throughout the academic year. Among those were retired principal Leroy Marshall.
To the graduates, Mrs Campbell said: “As you leave through the gates of Albion Mountain Primary School, I want to implore you to remember all the values and attitudes that you were taught at school.”
Mrs Campbell also explained that she believed that going forward the school had students with the necessary potentials and she encouraged the parents to “step up” and take their responsibility seriously.
In an interactive address, guest speaker, Angella Murphy, guidance counsellor of the Marymount High School, told the graduates not to give up when they are losing in the game of life.
The newly appointed principal of Albion Mountain Primary School, Shellian Simpson, who will be taking over duties in September, was introduced at the ceremony. Her advice to the graduates was to “dream of ambitious things” and move in the direction of kindness and love.
The charge to the graduates and school leavers was done by Lynneve Flemmings. She encouraged them to put God first and in everything that they did they should ask for his guidance. “Trust him and he will guide your path,” she urged.
The awards section of the graduation not only recognized the graduates and school leavers, but also the students from grades one to five, who displayed excellence in their attendance throughout the school year and also those who attained academic certificates of distinctions, credits and merits. Students from grades one to five also received trophies for their attainment in each class, from first to third places.
The other awards included: champion boy, Xevourio Marhsall; champion girl, Britalia McKenzie; most improved student, Alicia Thomas; most disciplined student, Maronda Beckford; the Nirea Rusell award for top academic performance from the graduating class, Xevourio Marshall and most outstanding student, Claudray Reid.
Following the presentations of the certificates of graduates, the spotlight was then turned on those who excelled in GSAT. One name dominated that list of awardees and it was Xevourio Marshall, who stepped proudly each time his name was called, with loud cheers from the audience.
Marshall took home certificate of excellence awards for Language Arts, Social Studies and Mathematics. However, Alicia Thomas took the certificate of excellence award for science.
The four top performers in GSAT, who received trophies for their attainment of 70 percent average and above were: Xevourio Marshall, Claudray Reid, Alicia Thomas and Tiyanna Wiltshaw.
The first place in GSAT 2017 at the Albion Mountain Primary School, was presented to no other but little Xevourio Marshall.
A special presentation of the chairman’s plaque was made to the girls’ football coach Dane Vassell by the board chairman.
