BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALEZEA BURROUGHS of the George Moody Stuart School has done herself, family, friends and school proud when she captured the National Courts Reading Competition yesterday (Oct. 10) at Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI).
Burroughs, who only one week ago led her school to victory in the Private School Zone of the Courts Reading Competition, amassed 277 points to walk away with the championship trophy, a cash prize of EC$2 000 for herself and a similar amount of money for her school.
In second position was Josseleyne Bardales-Esseien of the Lynn Jeffers Primary School with 242 points and cash prize of EC$750 for herself and the same amount for her school, while third place went to Jakie Peets of the Tyrell Williams Primary who received a cash prize of EC$500 and the same amount for her school.
In fourth place was Dr. William Connor’s Saleena Williams with 224 points and a cash prize of EC$300 and likewise for her school, while Cayon Primary’s Koryn Jeffers placed fifth with 201 points and a cash prize of EC$300 for herself and school
The participants were between the ages of eight and nine.
Theresia Pemberton, Marketing Officer for Courts St. Kitts-Nevis said that she felt the competition went well and the readers did an excellent job as the level of reading was high.
She said the competition began in Dominica in 2009 and six countries throughout the OECS would be competing this year - Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and St. Kitts-Nevis.
The OECS finals will be held in Dominica on November 22.
In the first round, the participants read a narrative which they had five minutes to prepare before reading in front of the audience, and in round two they read a news article which they were given five minutes to complete.
Before the competition began, Minister of Education Nigel Carty commended Courts for sponsoring the event.
“Our people have to be educated in a way that is global, and we are happy that we have so many partners coming on board assisting us in giving that quality education to the young people.
“The Ministry recognises that the quality of education and kind of exposure our children need to go into fully functioning individuals is not to operate in the local environment, but on the global stage. Our young people are going to be leaders in the region and further afield,” he said.
One of the judges of the competition, Jocelyn Archibald-Pennyfeather who announced the winner, said that the students did exceptionally well and are moving forward in an exceptional manner.
“We want to encourage them to keep reading. When they do it, they did it exceptionally. With their eye contact and level of reading, we found that was very good. So we want to commend you and your parents and teachers who have been working with you,” she said.
