Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology presented the award for Highest Academic Achievement in BGCSE to Taniesha Swann of R.M. Bailey Senior High School at the Southeastern District Awards and Recognition Service.
The Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Jerome Fitzgerald, brought remarks at the Southeastern District of New Providence Schools’ Annual Awards and Recognition Service under the theme: “Celebrating Outstanding Performance in Pursuit of Excellence”.
Pastor Trent Davis of Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries was the guest speaker for the service. Students and teachers received certificates and awards in various categories. The awards for the Most Outstanding Schools in Overall Academic Performance in the Primary, Junior and Senior categories were won by Sadie Curtis Primary School, C.H. Reeves Junior High School and C.V. Bethel Senior High School respectively.
Minister Fitzgerald expressed appreciation to District Superintendent Eulease Beneby, the administrators and the teachers of the district for their collaborative effort with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in providing quality education for students. He thanked community partners for supporting the work of educators. He asked parents to be vigilant and very involved in the education of their children and to guide and encourage their children to make excellence the hallmark of everything that they undertake.
Minister Fitzgerald encouraged the students to continue to pursue excellence, demonstrate a commitment to the task of achieving greatness and maintain or even surpass the high standard that has been set. “All of you present here today have dreams and aspirations that you believe will come into fruition in the future. I encourage you to make plans to accomplish those dreams and follow the plan until you complete it,” he said.
Pastor Davis stressed to the students “You’re Going to Get Your Chance”. He charged the students to recognize that they must have a plan before the chance comes to them. He told the students to embrace the opportunity when they are recognized for their achievements and prepare to move up to the next level of success. Pastor Davis encouraged the students to “Use your chance on the stage to be creative.”
Awards for the 2011-2012 school year were given to students for attaining the highest G.P.A; academic achievement in GLAT, BJC and BGCSE; good citizenship; school involvement; national sports, music, or creative arts and for academic improvement. Teachers received awards for best practice initiatives and going beyond the call of duty.
Schools in the Southeastern District performed well in quite a few areas in the past school year. C.V. Bethel Senior High School achieved the Best BGCSE Results among public high schools. Carlton Francis Primary School won 1st and 2nd place in the National Primary Principals’ Association General Knowledge Competition. Ridgeland Primary School won the National Speech Competition. The C.H. Reeves Junior High School captured 1st place in the Career and Technical Education Unit Poetry Competition and emerged as the Junior Girls GSSSA Softball Champions.
By Nerissa Hamilton
