BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts Teacher’s Union (SKTU) Annual Teachers Week of activities will be observed during the period October 2 to October 9.
For the first time in the history of these celebrations, the union has organized and will host a Teachers’ Pageant in which five teachers will compete.
The pageant will be held at Carnival Village on October 8 under the theme ‘Building Strategic Partnerships Investing in Teachers Now’.
According to the organizer of the pageant, Jennifer Belle, the vision of the Union which will be realized through the hosting of the pageant is to promote the teaching profession, market the concept of the teachers union and to raise revenue for the projects and the programmes of the SKTU.
“One of the major projects is to acquire land and building for our (SKTU) headquarters,” Miss Belle said.
The contestants in this year’s pageant are Miss Science & Technology, Alaynique Thompson who will represent the Beach Allen Primary, Miss Physical Education, Michelle Taylor of the Washington Archibald High; Miss Languages, Tassanna Kelly of the Irish Town Primary; Miss Music, G. Deslyn Richards , contestant representing the Ministry of Education; Miss Arts, Nicola Thompson of the Basseterre High School; Miss Business Claire Ottley of the Sandy Point High School and Miss Home Management, Asha Jones-Woodley, also of the(Sandy Point HighSchool.
The contestants will be compete for the top position in a number of categories including, Disciplined Speech, Professional Wear, Performing Talent, Evening Wear and Onstage Interview.
Contestants have started training sessions with several facilitators including Carlene Henry-Morton who is in preparing the ladies in public speaking and answering questions for the onstage interview, Jason Amory is facilitating training in modeling and deportment and Julie Martin, is conducting training sessions in budgeting ,skin care and providing guidelines in an effort to ensure that the pageant is produced at the highest possible standard.
Other members of the pageant committee are Yvette Herbert, Valarie Mason and Jennifer Williams.
There will also be a calypso segment on the night of the show which is being coordinated by Violet Gordon.
The other activities for the week are church service at the Basseterre Seventh Day Adventist church along with Radio & Television Addresses for opening of the week on October 2.
A church service will be held at the Zion Moravian church and radio station request programme for teachers on October 3.
October 4 will be observed as Teachers’ Appreciation Day & Tag Day along with a groundbreaking ceremony of proposed SKTU Headquarters.
A solidarity March & Rally will take place on October 5 in honor of World Teachers Day.
A conference on ‘Building Strategic Partnership for Education and a radio call in programme on the ‘Challenges & Demands in Teaching’ will be held on October 6.
On October 7, there will be Zonal Visits to Retired Teachers along with a SKTU Awards Dinner while on October 9 there will be a Community Outreach Project.
The SKTU is an organization responsible for the enhancement and protection of the economic welfare, professional development and personal well being of its members and promotion of the educational interest in St. Kitts.
