KPS student wins writing competition

Hannah Williams of the Kingstown Preparatory School (KPS) is encouraging students to take reading and writing seriously.

The 11-year-old is the winner of the 2016 Hodder Ministry of Education Grade Six Writing Competition.{{more}}

Williams, who was rewarded during a ceremony at the Frenches House on Tuesday, said that she feels good about winning the competition, which proves that she is one of the best writers out of approximately 2,000 Grade Six students islandwide.

“It feels really good. I did not feel I would win, I thought that I would get one of the tiny trophies only,” said Hannah, who is the daughter of Burton and Hazel-Ann Williams of Argyle Gardens.

She said that her belief in God helped her secure the top spot with her descriptive essay, “A person who never ceases to amaze me”.

Said Hannah, “reading helps you write well, so read a lot if you want to succeed.”

Coming in second was Runel Primus of Marriaqua Government School, who wrote an essay entitled, “I pulled the pillow over my head, I did not want to get up.”

“I am surprised I came second,” said the 11-year-old, who added that students who want to do well in writing must learn to express themselves, “and just write.”

In third place was Latavia Daly of the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School. She wrote a letter on “Why someone should come to St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

“I was shocked when I got the third place, because I didn’t expect more than fourth. I am really excited to show off to my friends,” said 10-year-old Latavia, who is originally from Layou, but lives in Campden Park.

“My advice to other writers is that they should write what they feel comfortable writing, either expository or through other writing that they can express themselves,” said Latavia.

Commenting during the handing over ceremony, Marla Nanton of the Media Unit of the Ministry of Education applauded the efforts of the youths and stressed that the competition, which is seven years strong, is held to celebrate the talent of the youths.

“For seven years now, the Ministry of Education has been shining a spotlight on budding writers through the annual Grade Six writing competition,” said Nanton, adding that the competition is one of the Ministry’s literacy enrichment activities organized to complement the language arts curriculum in the primary schools.

The awards ceremony also heard from senior education officer (curriculum) Aldia Gumbs-Dyer, sales and marketing executive Hodder Education Byron Wilson, Hodder Caribbean sales executive Anna Russo and education officer with responsibility for Language, Literacy and Communication Albena Jack.

The competition had nine finalists. The other seven were Kadeem Burton (CW Prescod), Sanjay Stapleton (Buccament Government), Stanislaus Gomes (Belair Government), Ronique Glasgow (Colonarie Primary), Eleazar Matthews (Gomea Methodist) and Kyle Williams (Troumaca Government).(LC)