Students celebrate the birthday of Dr. William Connor
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Vanta Walters presents a student with her award for perfect attendance |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-THE student body of the Dr. William Connor Primary School gathered yesterday morning (June 23rd) at the Antioch Baptist Church, on Infirmary Road, Basseterre for a ceremony to honor the June 21st, 1921 birthday of their school’s namesake founder.
The event was celebrated with dancing, scripture readings, a quiz competition about Connor’s life and the singing of several gospel tunes, such as “The Lord’s My Shepherd” by the K-6 students.
Anthony Wiltshire, Principal of the Dr. William Connor Primary School said he was pleased to see the students’ participation in the “worthwhile activity,” especially considering that the school is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Lincoln Connor, Pastor for the Antioch Baptist Church delivered words of inspiration for the children on starting the good habit of being on time at an early age. 
“There is a difference between when I grew up and what you young ones have to go through today,” said the pastor, “but I want to let you know that coming to school as often as possible is good for many reasons and being punctual will help you throughout your life.”
At the close of the ceremony thirty-six children were honored with the Vanta Walters Perfect Attendance Award for their exceptional punctuality from September to June.
Wiltshire said that the introduction of the award three years ago has had a significant impact on the students’ attendance.
“In 2006 we only had fourteen recipients and then the next year we more than doubled that number to thirty-nine. I think we would have had even more students earn it this year if it hadn’t been for so much flu and other sickness going around.”
The principal added that he was glad to have Walters, a teacher with more than twenty years of service at the St. Johnson’s Village Primary and subsequent Dr. William Connor Primary, on hand to present the awards to the children as it is “not often that teachers get their flowers while they are still alive.”
Following the service the children received ice cream treats donated by the event’s long time sponsor, Carlton Dupont, who was thanked for his continued support.
