Students return to classrooms after long summer break

After a long summer vacation, thousands of children across the country made their way back to the classrooms yesterday.{{more}}

Many of the children SEARCHLIGHT observed seemed to be in a joyful mood, as they passed by, sporting new bags, shoes, and uniforms.

The joyous expressions, however, SEARCHLIGHT found out, was not only about returning to school, but because of the opportunity to reunite with friends and share summer vacation experiences.

“I feel happy coming back to school to see my friends and talk about what I did during my vacation. I had lots of fun and did many fun things.

“I did well last term and I want to continue and even do better this time,” said IIka Browne of the Kingstown Anglican School.

Dennique Baptiste, a grade three pupil of the St Mary’s Roman Catholic School, said she enjoyed her vacation and was happy to be back with her friends.

Justin Hadaway of the Kingstown Preparatory School said he also enjoyed his summer vacation and now looks forward to working “even harder” in his new class, grade five.

Many parents stayed with their children a little longer on the first morning back to school, helping them to get settled into their new schools and classes, especially those who were attending kindergarten or pre-school for the first time.

Meanwhile, the new school year saw some of the nation’s educational institutions benefiting from the school repairs programme, implemented by the Government.

Minister of Transport and Works Julian Francis, speaking in Parliament on August 15, said that the programme was valued at approximately $2,334,000.

Thirteen primary schools and 12 secondary schools are benefiting from the school repair programme.

These schools include the Belair Government, Belmont Government, Biabou Government, Chateaubelair Methodist, Calliaqua Primary, Clifton Primary, Dorsetshire Hill Government, Fitz Hughes Government, Kingstown Preparatory, Kingstown Anglican, Layou Government, Stubbs Primary and South Rivers Primary; Adelphi Secondary, Bequia Community High, Buccament Bay Secondary, Georgetown Secondary, St Vincent Grammar, Girls’ High, the Dr J.P. Eustace Memorial Secondary, North Union Secondary, Petit Bordel Multipurpose Centre, St Clair Dacon Secondary, Thomas Saunders Secondary and the Union Island Secondary School. (AA)