by Collin CA$H Haywood 15.FEB.11

The future of Park Hill was energetically showcased by the pupils of the Park Hill Government School last Friday. The occasion was the school’s version of the Ministry of Education-initiated reading enrichment programme, ‘Hats off to Reading’.{{more}}

The march from the Park Hill entrance to the school attracted a fair amount of parents and well-wishers. Marching to the rhythm of the school’s drummers, the students treated onlookers to an impressive display of literacy on the move.

The pivotal role of reading was highlighted by former educator and guest speaker Ida Thomas, who treated the mixed audience to a vintage display of teaching delivery. Thomas effectively illustrated real life scenarios to underscore the importance of reading. The long-serving infant educator further highlighted the role of creative teaching methods to stimulate interest and capture the imagination of the students, especially at the early childhood level. Emphasis was placed on reading readiness, phonetic awareness and word recognition/attacking skills.

Reading Specialist attached to the Curriculum Unit Albena Samuel-Jack emphasized the importance of good reading skills in order to enhance pupils’ performance in other subject areas. Samuel opined that students’ reading skills would be more effectively developed in a student-centred classroom culture. In so doing, she stressed the need for teachers to embrace inventive teaching strategies and divorce from the chalk/talk, “I’m the boss” approach.

Decked in creatively designed hats, the students treated the audience to a variety of reading performances which included phonetic chants, raps and dramatisations. Among the highlights was fourth grader Kelesha Thomas’ delivery of Election Time in SVG, with impressive impersonations of the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader adding to the spectacle. Dressed in national wear, a craftily written feature of the Park Hill community was presented by Common Entrance hopeful Whitney Humphrey.

In his remarks, Principal Sydney Pereira expressed satisfaction in the school’s general standard of literacy. He, like previous speakers, lauded the school’s Education Committee for successfully staging such an impressive programme. The programme was chaired by dramatist and accomplished Primary School song writer, Danoval Da Souza