St. Paul’s Primary and Infant School in Manchester celebrated the academic achievements of 24 students at its inaugural prize-giving ceremony held on Wednesday (September 30) on the school compound.
The ceremony marked a significant milestone for the institution, which has introduced the annual event to recognise students who have demonstrated excellence, commitment, perseverance and outstanding performance in internal examinations.
It provided an opportunity for the school community to publicly acknowledge the students’ accomplishments, while encouraging other pupils to strive for excellence.
The school also celebrated commendable results in the national assessments, with grade-four students attaining 100 per cent in Literacy and 66.7 per cent in Numeracy, while grade-five students achieved 100 per cent in Language Arts and 66.7 per cent in Mathematics.
Principal, Garfre Robinson, said the ceremony was designed to ensure that students are recognised and appreciated for their accomplishments.
“What we are doing here at St. Paul’s Primary and Infant is to ensure that our students are given the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to glow,” he said, noting that the prize-giving ceremony will become an annual event.
He also encouraged students who did not receive awards to use the achievements of their peers as motivation to work harder and aspire to be recognised in the future.
Mr. Robinson said the school would continue providing opportunities to help students improve academically, including extra classes for students in grades two to six. He urged parents to support their children by providing the necessary resources and encouragement.
The Principal also emphasised the importance of recognising achievement of students while they are present, rather than waiting until after they have left the institution.
Top grade-three student, Theonika Williams, who received a Principal’s Award, said she felt grateful and appreciated by the recognition.
She attributed her achievement to studying and working hard, while expressing gratitude to her teachers, and her parents for their support and guidance.
Theonika said she hopes to attend the St. Elizabeth Technical High School, or Manchester High School and, in the future, become a teacher, as she wants to make learning enjoyable for others.
Meanwhile, Education Officer with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Kerry-Ann Carty-Miller, congratulated the recipients, while describing the occasion as an opportunity to celebrate their hard work, dedication and achievements. She encouraged the students to remain resilient, determined and willing to learn, while reminding those who did not receive prizes that “a prize does not define your worth or your ability to succeed”.
She urged students to set realistic goals, make good choices, listen to their teachers and parents, practise their skills and never give up.
Mrs. Carty-Miller also encouraged parents to continue guiding, nurturing and supporting their children as they pursue their educational goals.
During the ceremony, students repeated the school’s CORE values – Respect, Industrious, Courtesy and Honesty
