BASSETERRE ST. KITTS (July 6, 2009) -- It was the end of an era Thursday July 2 afternoon, as the ten graduating students from Grade Six at the Edgar T. Morris Primary learnt from their head teacher Joycelyn Archibald-Pennyfeather that they would break from an established tradition, as the entire class would join the new Saddlers High School in September.
The primary school, situated in Tabernacle Village, has since its inception been a feeder to the Cayon High School. An old student the Hon Dr Timothy Harris assured the graduating class that while it was true that they would enjoy the most modern facilities in the new school, the curriculum would be the same as in the rest of the high schools.
Dr Harris, the Federal Minister of Finance, International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, was one of the several speakers at the school’s graduation ceremony held at the House of Deliverance New Testament Church of God in Tabernacle under the theme ‘Together We Stand And Strive For Success, Yes We Can’.
“It is a splendid occasion for all the teachers who have given tirelessly of their best to ensure that these graduands received a good education, and for all the parents who have devoted their time, energy and effort to love and care for their children,” observed Dr Harris, who is also the area Parliamentary Representative.
“Thus, it can be clearly recognised that the Edgar T. Morris Primary School’s performance is consistent with its motto which states ‘There Is No Success Without Hard Work’. Of equal significance is the theme for this ceremony which says ‘Together We Stand And Strive For Success, Yes We Can’.”
The Minister noted that he could see a sense of pride and achievement in the young scholars. He said that the source of that pride and achievement had come from the hard work and effort they had put in, as students, by their teachers, by their parents and by the Grace of God, which covered and protected them over the years they were in school.
School head teacher, Joycelyn Archibald-Pennyfeather, while delivering the school report, said that the school had achieved much through the efforts of the hard working staff and students. These included the school attaining second position in the Rotary Spelling Bee competition, and the picking of Jarin ‘The Sportsman’ Clarke to play on the St. Kitts U-13 football team.
A former head teacher at the school, Susana Lee, was the featured speaker. One of the parents, Kimoy Brathwaite gave tokens of appreciation to all the teachers who taught her son, Omar ‘The Poet’ Scarborough, in different classes from the kindergarten to grade six, and one teacher who did not teach him, but who the boy used to call her ‘Mash Potatoes’.
Present at the function included the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Osmond Petty, former head teacher at the school, now education officer, Nathan Esdaille, PTA president, Rosa Morris, widow of the former head teacher (Edgar T. Morris) for whom the school is named, Henrietta Morris, Foreign Affairs Officer, Verna Morris and a representative of LIME, Jonathan Bass.
Thursday July 2, was a special day for former head teacher now education officer Emellita Jordan, as it was her birthday. She was recognised and all sung ‘Happy Birthday’. When they got to the verse, ‘How old are you’ it appeared as if they wanted to spare her the agony of stating her age in public, but led by her former student, Dr Timothy Harris, it was sung loudly and with much gusto. She said she was 55.
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