Teacher bids farewell after 40 years of service

Students and staff at the Barrouallie Government School (BGS) on Monday bid farewell to Syd Bartholomew as she ended her teaching career at the institution after decades of service.

After 40 years of serving St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in education, Bartholomew said her last and emotional goodbye on November 11 at the Barrouallie Government School at the weekly general assembly.

And her colleagues made it their business to send her away in style, by laying a catwalk beneath her feet, giving her a throne, presenting her with a gift bag, serenading her with a special a song, honouring her work with a reading of a short biography by the Principal of the School Joy Davis-Haynes, and allowing her to share the momentous occasion with 5,400 of her loved ones and well wishers via a Facebook livestream.

Barrouallie Government School teacher Syd Bartholomew receives a gift from students and colleagues.

Davis-Haynes said that Bartholomew, who “is a daughter of this soil” began her teaching career on October 2, 1983 in Coulls Hill, North Leeward.

“Some of you teachers, you were not born yet. I can remember catching trucks…[and] vehicles. Some of them when you go in, there were no floors, I could’ve seen the ground, but I travelled. Sometimes, I had to walk from Spring Village to Coulls Hill; sometimes when I get to school, I was wet. But there was this family…that took me in, and they said ‘you don’t have to be going home every evening, you could stay with us,” Bartholomew reminisced, as she spoke to the students on the evolution of her teaching career.

In 1986, Bartholomew was transferred to the Barrouallie Anglican School and later completed her education at Teacher’s College in 1992. She was then placed at the Barrouallie Government School where she served for 28 years, amounting to a total of 40 years of service to education in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Davis-Haynes said that Bartholomew spent most of her career teaching the grade three and four classes, and is always willing to work, whether cleaning the garden and in the kitchen; or cooking at picnics and at culture events.

“What will career day be without her?” Davis-Haynes added.

Bartholomew told the staff and students that she has “no regrets” during her tenure at the school.

“I want to thank God for being so good to me, for strengthening me. My

family supported me and here I am. I’m going to miss school to be honest, I’m going to miss school. I’m going to miss the kitchen with those wonderful girls. I’m going to miss all of you and I wish you all the best.”

Bartholomew, who is well known by her colleagues and students to be a God-fearing woman, also used the opportunity to encourage the student body that “If you do not know Jesus Christ as saviour…give your life to Jesus before it is too late…”