THE ALEXANDRA SCHOOL
ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY - PRINCIPAL’ S ADDRESS (2011)
The great British author and playwright Robert Bolt in his signal work “A Man for All Seasons” presented his iconic figure of character and virtue Sir Thomas More asking, “When you cut down all of the trees to get at the devil and then he stops and turns on you, where will you hide?” That simple question highlights the need for one to have good character and sound values, consistent with our theme for this year Building Character: The key to Success in an Uncertain World. It suggests that one should never compromise his or her values and principles to please anyone nor should ever go contrary to doing what is right simply to make a point against anyone or to make any other look worse than what he or she may actually be. Stay focussed to truth and decency, and these will eventually withstand any strong wind and any perceived or real challenge of adversity. I have seen you children live that and am now honoured to report on the year that your actions and those of your teachers fashioned here at the Alexandra School. The year began with the students having to play a significant game of catch up after losing so much teaching time during a significantly impactful time of their educational lives. This, they recognised and structured a plan of personal responsibility to supplement the efforts of many of their class teachers. Such initiative earned my admiration and respect but, even more importantly, it resulted in this graduating class attaining the second best overall CXC results in the past five years, a revised rate of 74.73%. They were topped only by the exceptional 82% results of the previous year. I commend you and implore you to continue to promote your dynamic leadership qualities and the sky is the limit for you. As our agreed mantra says, “Alexandra: The higher the challenge the greater I soar.” Schools, we accept, are about education and that means its totality. We push academics but we are also mindful of our mandate to develop the total personality. We must have a focus on presenting socially well adjusted citizens who can make meaningful contributions to our country in this shrinking global village within which we must function. As I was quite purposeful in stating on many occasions during the course of the year, we, because of our education, must be the ubiquitous counter to the wild-‐west and its approach to resolving issues of
differences or conflicts. Hence, our curriculum, our training, our disciplinary structures and our inculcation of leadership principles must define what we do here at our school. The fastest gun cannot always be the winner. True success must be fashioned by character and intellect. During the 2010-‐2011 academic year there were 1053 CXC entries with 787 passes for, as was presented before, an average of 74.73%. For these children to reach this level of success in the prevailing compromising environment speaks volumes when compared to the preceding years of 68% in 2007, 72.03% in 2008, 71.30% in 2009 and last year’s 82.09%. And for those who take pride in downplaying the exceptional efforts of some wonderful individuals who define this school and misrepresenting its progress, be informed that the pass rate for 1999, 2000 and 2001 never reached 70%. Our school stands on a very solid foundation and continues to improve and move in a positive direction. I thank my predecessors, especially Mr. Erwin Brathwaite who redirected a focus and made it easy for me to tweak its borders consistent with my vision and my unlimited imagination in order to realize the successes of the recent past. We also accept some of the recommendations from the full school inspection that we underwent. Good character never rejects good ideas! In addition to the pass rate, it must be noted that of the twenty five subjects offered, twenty three had a pass rate above fifty percent. There were also six subjects with a pass rate of between 80 and 99 percent with four others attaining perfection with a rate of 100 percent. By individual standards, 65% of these students are leaving with a minimum of four certificates and none with no qualification at all. These results speak to the good work of teachers and the defining qualities of a wonderful group of children, my children who allowed their good character and initiative to work for them! While others emphasized the industrial and ethical issues here at the school or even the rightness or wrongness of the respective positions, I focussed on my responsibilities. I saw it as a significant teachable opportunity, engaged our student leaders and they did not disappoint. You are truly the best!
As we sought to strengthen our curriculum with a focus both on national development and on giving students early exposure to what to expect in the wider world of work, we emphasized the programme known as the Real Life Solutions Option. The particulars of this programme promoted skills development, critical and creative thinking, fine-‐tuning of focus as well as providing academic support. In the initial stages, English, Business Studies (including technology use), Foreign Language, Sports and Games as well as the performing arts were the areas of choice. One off shoot of this initiative was the business development project entered into with the Small Business Association of Barbados. I thank Mrs. Pollard and Mr. Porte here at the school as well as my friend (and former student) Mr. Deighton Babb for their focus in this thrust. This year we have introduced Home Economics and General Studies with a decided plan to involve industrial arts next year through the structure of a virtual manufacturing plant. These are exciting and challenging times, and we as educational leaders have got to get away from the humdrum and boring to be more innovative and involved to present viable alternatives to the many distractions impacting the young impressionable minds of our students. It is our duty, I see it as my mission and I will involve all stakeholders to engage in the work! Of course, I understand and accept the criticisms and the doubts that the unknown, the new and the untried always invite. Make your judgment after the RLO Musical Drama group performs later in the programme Another initiative that was introduced dealt with the area of service. Every year a number of students apply for an additional year back at school after not achieving the level of CXC success they had hoped. The school with its social conscience seeks where possible to accommodate these requests. Unfortunately, over the years the reduced programme carried by these children has consistently impacted negatively on the overall school atmosphere. As my grandmother was known to say, the devil always found work for idle hands, and work he found. To counter this challenge, the year saw the introduction of engagement protocols that governed the behaviour and involvement of these returning fifth formers. In each case, the students were expected to carry at least five subjects, they were to give assistance to a teacher of choice for at least two lessons per week as well as
to work collaboratively to help develop Alexandra Study Guides. But to me, the most important protocol insisted that each of them was to give service to the community for at least four hours per week. I was pleased to see these children making contact and going off weekly to work at the different children’s homes, senior citizens’ homes, primary and nursery schools as well as service entities such as the Asthma or cancer societies. I am a firm believer in the mantra that states, you make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Students, you have started on the right course to have a very good life. This initiative will form a permanent part of our students’ experiences here at Alexandra. During the course of the year, the Student Affairs committee was launched. This had the effect of bringing the diverse student programmes under one umbrella body. Out of this structure, we saw a fine tuning in the coordination of the prefect body, the student council, inter-‐house competitions, student leadership training and exposure as well the system of academic support for the under-‐ performing students. For this I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Miss Abena Williams and her eight member team, inclusive of Mr. Clarke, Mr. Bryan, Mrs. Forde and others. Miss Williams, our Guidance Counseller, Mrs. Woods and Mr. Marshall were also in the forefront in developing our Schools’ Positive Behaviour Management Structure which includes our novel idea of a functioning Student Court run by the student leaders to help in areas such as littering, deportment and appropriateness of language. As an extension, they also worked with the Principal to coordinate a very successful service of thanks for the life of our then fallen and beloved Prime Minister the Hon. David Thompson. I take this time to publicly thank my friend Mr. Michael Carrington, Speaker of the House of Assembly for kindly consenting to be the featured speaker on that occasion. This structure also encouraged the development of our civic and caring benevolence through the Tonnzz of Smiles club that is focussed solely on raising funds and bringing a smile to the needy and less able by way of donations, visits and other impactful assistance. For this I give heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Sealy-‐
Howell, who, with Miss Williams, has been a tower of strength. I also recall with much satisfaction two of their more touching activities last year. This group undertook a food drive to give assistance to one of our past students whose family was devastated by hurricane Tomas. Last Christmas as usual they visited the Children’s Ward at the Q.E.H to take gifts and sing carols for the children. They really did bring significant smiles to those who really needed them, consistent with how others share their benevolence here as amply demonstrated by the kind generosity of the Soroptomist International of Jamestown. This organization goes a long way to ensuring that there is a level playing field for all of our children, and I give its members immense thanks and appreciation. I also commend young Dareysha Nurse who approached me for advice on ways to be of service. After realizing that I worked here at the school on Saturday mornings with the Kiwanis Club, she accepted the challenge and gave voluntarily to assist the young children of this community. That is true character. Let me also take the time to thank Mr. John Cumberbatch, Mr. Adrian Boyce, Mrs. Lorna Briggs and Miss Dawn Stevenson for their dedication as Kiwanians to work with the school in giving educational support to the primary school children who come here every Saturday morning to be prepared for their common entrance examination by way of free tuition. As an educator, I must take the time here to make a comment on this particular examination. In the face of all of the calls for it to be abolished, let me say openly that I am a supporter of the Common Entrance Examination. I am surprised to see the simplistic, surface level discussion that surrounds this topic. How can any of us object to and decry the notion of island wide standardized testing that provides data on how students at schools in St. Lucy are performing vis-‐à-‐vis students in St. Peter, St. Michael or St. Philip? Having said that, I believe strongly that there are significant faults in the process of allocation that results from the exam as well as in the weighting given to the exam itself. Why should their be daily mass movement of children from St. Michael to St. Lucy, St. Joseph and St. George or conversely, the mass movement of children from St. Philip or St. Andrew to schools in St. James or St. Michael.
This is not only taxing on the children but also a waste of our scarce national resources. This speaks to my criticism of the allocation process! Why should our children’s self worth and, in many ways, their life chances be so dependent on one day of exams for three hours? The use of this one-‐off exam with no reference to the students’ profile that was fashioned by the previous five or six years of education also makes no sense to me. This speaks to the clearly inappropriate weighting given to the actual test in the transferral process. These are not insurmountable problems. We all accept that schools for our gifted and our future leaders are appropriate (at least I do) that is why we have schools such as the Eton, Choate and Exeter and others all over the world. There needs, however, to be a marriage of ideas that can only take place if we engage in intellectual conversation free of cowardice. At this time I publicly acknowledge the support of Mr. Craig White and his staff at York University in Toronto, Canada for their continued assistance in our student leadership programme. This past year ten students benefitted from the training offered there. I also commend Mr. Lennox Price, Council General in New York for his assistance in our annual educational tour to that city. Both of those activities were undertaken with a high level of success. Additionally, Delano Small, our two-‐term Student Council President was also selected to attend the Global Youth Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. and New York. Our focus is and will always be about developing leaders to counter the many unsavoury temptations that are being presented to all youth who are prepared to follow rather than lead. Our country deserves nothing less! We have consistently promoted our disciplined organizations as crucial to achieving and maintaining high standards and good character among our students. To this end, we are pleased to report that the Cadets, the Girl Guides, the Boy Scouts and the Red Cross are still very prominently functioning here. During the year and due to the dedicated work of Mr. Boyce we have also established the Duke of Edinburgh programme at the school. The Cadets in particular, while seeking to expand their numbers, achieved much success in helping students to move from one grade to another. Kareem Agard earned Star
Three, Akeel Alleyne Star Two (with Merit) while Dominick Babb, Jamal Rhones, Daniel Moore and Rashaun Prescod all attained the Star One rank. I commend them all. As in the past, I am certainly pleased to acknowledge the excellent work of our students and their committed teachers in the area of Sports and Culture. In the fine arts and craft under the leadership of Mrs. Kim Jones our NIFCA entrants received six bronze medals, three silver (including a special award) and two gold medals won by Hasan Gibson and Aaron Austin. In singing, our dynamic Beacons Select under the committed guidance of Mrs. Shernell Clarke not only earned a NIFCA silver medal but they also copped the James Millington Award of Excellence (the pinnacle of school’s cultural success). This group was also widely sought after to perform at a multiplicity of events during the year. In addition, Tilleann Whittaker after making it to the finals of the inaugural inter-‐school singing competition, went on to win the Cheryl Hackett Memorial Inter-‐House competition with Ashawnya Bellamy (also of the Beacons) in second position. Continuing in the area of the performing arts, our drama group (with Mrs. Nyhathu being in charge for the first time) entered the national playmaking showcase and not only won first prize but was also awarded the prize for the most impactful piece. Additionally, Romario Patterson (our beloved Polly) won the award for the Most Outstanding Actress. In the area of dance, out dancers, again very well led by Mrs. Freda McCollin-‐ Forde (and I extend best wishes on her recent marriage), placed third in the National Cheerleading Competition. Further honour came our way when the captain of the dance group Nandi Yard was selected and actually represented the Barbados national team in the World Championships. Congrats to this bright and outstandingly talented and budding star. Sports continued to be a beacon for the efforts of this school. In Netball, we won our zone of the national under 13 competition. Three students also carried our school colours with much honour and distinction. Sasha Mayers won the award for the Best Goal Keeper in the national First Form Competition while Ridonna
Pilgrim-‐Ramsey and Omadaro Thompson were invited to the national Under 16 trials as a result of their outstanding play during the respective tournaments. In Track and Field, although we like all other schools in the north of the island, suffer from inadequate training facilities and have not been making the decided mark on the national stage in recent times, there is still much to speak about. Jayden Carter presented himself as a potential world beater by being the double junior sprint champion in his age group at the inter school sports. Deon Hope not only placed second in both the sprint races but was then selected to represent Barbados at Carifta as well as at the World Youth Games in Paris, France. Badminton is not one of our traditional sports, but even in this, Alexandra came to the fore with Deandre Thorpe placing third in the Caribbean Badminton Championships. Our national recognition continued in the sport of Football with Akeem Maloney being identified as the top defender in the national under 17 team and then earning further recognition by being called to the national senior trials. As a team, Alexandra finished second in the Secondary Schools’ Seven-‐a-‐ Side Soccer Rama. Lest we think that football here is only about boys, I must report that the girls’ football team played through a very successful season losing only to St. James Secondary in the finals. Their average margin of victory in their games was by four clear goals. In Cricket (least you had begun to think that I was leaving that out), we were semi-‐finalists in both the Under 13 and Under 19 competitions. Additionally, Joshua Drakes was selected as captain of the Barbados Under 15 team that competed in the regional tournament held in Trinidad. He and five others were also chosen for the Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence. It must also be noted that Alexandra was the only school team to participate in the BCA’s Iris Walker female tournament. This young team was well led by the bright, affable and effervescent Isobella Burnham. I would not end my report on cricket without acknowledging the fact that we are probably the only school in the world that can boast of two alumni in the same test cricket team (Congrats to Kirk Edwards and Kemar Roach, but even greater
kudos to the exceptional work of Mr. Peter Vaughn their mentor and coach whose absence through injury has been greatly missed here at the school). In recent times, Hockey has seemingly become the most popular sport in the school. It was no surprise therefore to realize that eleven of our players were invited to national junior trials. This followed some successful team performances that saw our Under 13 girls’ team placing second in the national competition with Nakisha Downes being selected as the overall Most Valuable Player. Congrats Nakisha and I know that the much desired scholarship awaits you! In our quest to develop the total personality and profile of our children we seek to enter as many different art, essay and poster competitions as possible. In this area our success story was consistent with the other areas. Rashanna Griffith was the national first prize winner in the Optimists’ Essay Competition; Padma Arjune won first prize in the junior category of the BARP competition with Gavin Sandiford finishing third while Xavier Phillips copped third prize in senior section. Sankara Price brought us much joy when she won the national BHTA essay writing competition in the junior section with Danika Knight placing third in the senior section. Additionally, our debating team finished third in the Crime Prevention Task Force debating competition. How can we not acknowledge the strength of Erica Cummins who, having been chosen to attend BIMAP’S seminar on Preparing for the World of Work, was not only chosen as one of the outstanding participants but was also offered a scholarship to attend any of their upcoming classes. Good work Erica and you know that you continue to make me proud! While our students were given and made the most of these significant opportunities, our teachers and non-‐teaching staff who push them and guide and mentor them have also been recognized and rewarded for these selfless acts. During the year under review Mrs. Vernell Woods was selected by democratic vote involving both teachers and students as Teacher of the Year. I give my thanks to Sandy Hotel for their continued generous support in this area that saw Mrs. Woods attending the annual conference of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in San Francisco, U.S.A.
Mrs. Maria Rock was identified as the teacher who most integrated technology into the teaching and learning process. I thank St. Peter’s Bay Development for generously supporting this and other worthy school programmes, including our annual Summer School for senior students. Through their benevolence, Mrs. Rock also attended the ASCD’s conference. Miss Antoinette Jemmott earned the affirmation of the student leaders who identified her as the teacher who most went above and beyond the call of duty in their interest. This Service and Industry award supported by the Parent Teacher Association and the school’s professional development thrust also gave Miss Jemmott the opportunity for the training at the ASCD’s conference in San Francisco. I thank the PTA and the Ministry of Education for their support and understanding. I also commend this dedicated young teacher for her work in so efficiently managing our stationery room as well as the sale of our school bands. Mr. Keith Brathwaite was selected as the Worker of the Year and was well rewarded in a manner of his choice that was no less attractive than that of the teachers. This year, Almond Beach Resort has joined with us to ensure that this year’s winner will be even happier. It is no coincidence that our school compound looks in the pristine condition in which you saw it this morning. We have good people here who work exceptionally hard and well. I give them my thanks. Mrs. Grace Thompson is no longer with us, but her name continues to be enshrined in our records. Last year, the Grace Thompson Award of Excellence went to our then Head Boy Tionne Bostic. This year the Fish Pot restaurant and Mrs. Sylvia Henry (an old scholar) have given their support to make this prize even more high profile. I thank them as well as the Old Scholars Association and the Alexandra Alumni Association for ensuring the high quality of this award. Later in the programme we will hear the names of the proud and worthy recipients of all of these awards. I congratulate them at this time. After hearing the successes of this school you could not be faulted for believing that we here are sailing through quite placid and calm waters into the port of absolute unity. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We have our faults with areas of discipline, deportment and inter-‐personal relationships like any other
school, and I continue to do my best to pilot this ship through all the rough seas and raging waves. It, however, is not my role to wash what may be seen as our dirty linen in public. Others, especially the uninformed pull-‐down artists, have spent the last few years doing that in the newspaper, on the radio and television and even in little shops and markets. I must honestly admit though that, no matter how hard I have tried to hide it, the untruths and misrepresentations have, at times, caused me much pain. I am only human with blood in my veins and not cement. They, however, cannot and will not stop this school from progressing in the best interest of these children and this country. Despite that, it would be disingenuous of me not to address one matter that I deem to be the most unprofessional and unethical that I have ever experienced in my thirty six years in the profession. I have been challenged by too many parents and students about this issue for it to go unaddressed. It was most disturbing and in many ways distressing to me to be made aware of the fact that one senior member of the teaching staff went through an entire term refusing to teach a class of fourth form students who were assigned to her. Not only did this bad precedent take place but, when I spoke to her, she also said to me on both occasions “I am not teaching them!” These children at the onset of their CXC programme were compromised in this manner. It was wrong, they did not deserve that, our school does not stand for that and our profession is not about that! As an educator and I saw it possible for me to operate in this way I would take it as a clear sign that I should leave the profession, and leave I would! We have got to be better than that, so on behalf of the school I sincerely apologize to you students and you parents who suffered this betrayal of trust. Of course, there will be some group, no doubt supported by its emboldeners, who will seek to come after me for those comments. Tell them to bring it on! I have been given a responsibility for these children and for this school and when it comes to protecting their interest and the school’s good name, there is no fear and no possibility of retreat in any bone in my body. None! These children do not deserve it, our school’s legacy should not stand for it and our profession will
never uphold it! I am not here to court friendships or avoid conflicts, if they come they come and, if they will in anyway compromise these children or this school, I will meet them head on every time! For me, the year was a particularly challenging year like no other. It began in conflict and disruption and ended in swells of happiness. We experienced the death of a people’s Prime Minister (also denying me one of my birthday calls on Christmas mornings), an impactful hurricane, a serious and debilitating injury to one of our stalwart teachers, the death of the mothers of at least three students as well as the death of one of our senior teachers and that of my mom. It ended, however, with the marriage of one of our young teachers and with me experiencing the supreme pleasure of becoming a grandfather. The Lord is great! As I look back on the year, I see myself as one of the most fortunate persons in the world and one who has been very blessed (especially so by being able interact with these wonderful children and, in the main, some exceptional work mates at all levels). For this I am eternally thankful to God Almighty who has never left my side, guiding and protecting me all the way. My heart of total thanks and appreciation goes out to my family for their loving, relentless and unfailing support. I also give thanks to my colleague for the open and, sometimes, emotional support given. This comfort has allowed me to be settled and relaxed in the performance of my duties. As we project for the future, I can only hope that our students, staff, old scholars, supporters, well wishers and friends of Alexandra will hold firmly to our two best allies, time and truth. Keep them with you, for they have never failed and they will inform our character when others would have cut down the trees in an attempt to get at what or whom they see as the devil. Finally, I congratulate Mrs. Daniel and her committee for another outstanding effort this year. I also wish all of you the very best and may God continue to richly bless The Alexandra School and the exceptionally wonderful persons who study and work here. Per Ardua Ad Astra!