BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Charles E. Mills Secondary School (CEMSS) was abuzz with familiar scholastic activity on Tuesday (Feb. 24), as parents, teachers and students participated in the institution’s 2015 Open Day exercise.
In various classrooms across the compound were displays of projects and tools which the students created and, in some instances, their use and application were demonstrated for the visiting parents.
Mathematics, Clothing and Textiles, Social Studies, English Language, Science and Home Economics were just some of the areas for which displays were craftily assembled.
Mathematics
The use of manipulatives, as explained by one of the visiting parents, is beneficial to primary school children but often their benefit to secondary schools students is underestimated.
After observing the solving of an equation with the use of cardboard pieces on which were brawn algebraic symbols, the parent said she appreciated the fact that they were being used even at the high school level.
Home Economics
From table settings to napkin folding to food and beverage preparation to the art of paring textures and tastes, the Home Economics display featured a number of impressive displays of various napkin-folding techniques and several delectable items which the students had prepared. These included doughnuts, lentil balls and cupcakes and, from their preservatives line, golden apple chutney.
Clothing and Textiles
The popular skater skirt was a dominant feature in the Clothing and Textiles display. Not limited to that however, it featured various stitching techniques, a tie-dye section and even a mas’ costume, the headpiece of which is made of feathers dyed blue and orange.
One of the students, realising the importance of having a first aid kit in every home, thought it was a good idea to arrange a display of the items which one should have in their home to deal with minor injuries and sickness.
English Language
A variety of stringed instruments were the main feature of a particular section of the English Language display.
The students, as a requirement for an expository project, were required to make something of their choice – most chose stringed instruments – and write a piece explaining the process of making the item.
The Open Day and the specific sections mentioned above also had many other displays, including one of the items which is no longer being used in modern society. The ‘Goose’ stands among the lot and many would recall when sodas or ‘bryson’ as they were called, were packaged in tall glass bottles.
Principal of the CEMSS Carla Diamond explained to SKNVibes that the purpose of the day was to give parents a practical snapshot of their children’s application of the knowledge they would have gained.
“Sometimes we feel that the students get demotivated because they work but they don’t see the application, their parents don’t get a chance to appreciate it. And we felt that we should give the parents a snapshot to see exactly what their children can produce and what their children can do.
“Sometimes school is the environment where the children get to shine and they may not have the same opportunity at home. The time has come to get the parents more involved and more appreciative of what the children do.”
Tug-of-War anyone?
On the field next to the school one could have heard boisterous cheers from students who were observing the tug-of-war battle that took place as part of the CEMSS pre-Sports Day activities.
Diamond said both the Open Day and the Tug-of-War battle had to be done on the same day because the last week was short and it forced the rescheduling. And since their Sports Day would be held tomorrow (Feb. 27), there was not much of an option.
Conclusively, the Principal said the exercise was a success as she observed quite a bit of parents popping up to participate in the Open Day.
