Newton Ground Primary celebrates 50-year milestone

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

PM Douglas congratulates school on 50 years of service

The school, located at the western end of Newton Ground, has a population of 120 students and a small staff of eight with an auxiliary staff of five. The school has educated thousands of students from the village and surrounding communities and has produced many scholars.

During its 50th Anniversary Programme celebrated today (Jan. 14), students sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in celebration of their school’s accomplishments and chronicled the school’s journey to the present through drama and folklore songs.

 The event attracted many past students, teachers and government officials including Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor, to reminisce on the many contributions of the school to the nearby communities.

In addressing the student body, Prime Minister Douglas said the school’s opening presented a significant statement was made not only by the government of the day but also by the representative of the constituency at that time, F. T. Williams.

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary, I am pleased to celebrate with you as the [Parliamentary] Representative of the people of Newton Ground. 

The leaders of formers years cherished the support of the people of Newton Ground as the government recognized the importance of education and establishing the school in the rural parts of St. Kitts in a time when it seemed dark and gloomy,” Douglas said.   

He congratulated the school’s faculty upon reaching the significant milestone and encouraged them to continue striving for academic and moral excellence.

Principal of the school Violet Jones-Mawnlaude told SKNVibes that she is very pleased to be a part of the celebrations although she has only been a member of staff for a few years.

“We are very happy; it is a great sense of achievement for the institution and the students and staff are all excited about it. I would like to thank all previous headteachers and teachers and anybody who worked along with the school to set the foundation for us to now build upon. We must acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and sacrifices made in the past as it has helped us to reach where we are today.  ~~Adz:Left~~
 
“We have accomplished much over the last 50 years as we have seen improvement in both athletics and academics. Our netball team won the national tournament last year, the first time in the history of the school and we have witnessed 95% our students enter secondary school in the mainstream.”

Mawnlaude thanked the community for working closely along with the school as she said “without the closely knitted and supportive village of Newton Ground this school would not be able to fully function”, adding that both the school and community were parts of an interdependent relationship.

The Principal further stated that the school expects to increase reading programmes and ensure that 100% of its students enter the secondary school in the mainstream.