Left: Top graduating student of 2019 for Ivan Dawson Primary School, Mr Sterling Stout, is seen here with Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull. Photo: Facebook. Right: The top graduating student of 2019 for Leonora Delville Primary School, Amani Brown, is seen here flanked by his proud parents, Aliaza Brown and Gemi Evans. Photo: VINO

Graduates of the Leonora Delville Primary School on June 25, 2019. Photo: VINO

The 2019 Exit Ceremony for the Leonora Delville Primary School and Ivan Dawson Primary School was jointly held at the Zion Hill Methodist Church on Tuesday June 25, 2019. Photo: VINO

Graduating students of the Leonora Delville Primary School and Ivan Dawson Primary School sing ‘Legend’ by Jamaican reggae artiste Jamar R. McNaughton aka ‘Chronixx’ at the Zion Hill Methodist Church on Tuesday 25th June, 2019. Photo: VINO

After the destructive hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, many students from the Ivan Dawson Primary School in Cane Garden Bay attended the Leonora Delville Primary School in Capoons Bay on the western end of Tortola. Consequently, the two institutions integrated due to the acute shortage of facility resulting from the devastating hurricanes.

Approximately a year and a half after Hurricane Irma, the students originating from the Ivan Dawson Primary school were able to return to their new and upgraded school building in Cane Garden Bay. However, the strong bond of the two schools could still be seen at the partnered Exit Ceremony.

Brown & Stoutt top graduating students

In total, there were 24 graduates across the two schools; 18 from the Leonora Delville Primary School and 6 from the Ivan Dawson Primary School.

The top student from the Leonora Delville Primary School was Amani A. Brown and the top student from the Ivan Dawson Primary School was Sterling Stoutt.

Mr Brown told Virgin Islands News Online that studying hard was the major contributor to his success at primary school. His proud mother, Gemi Evans, said "repetition, staying involved and keeping a good parent-teacher relationship," are what propelled her son to his success.

'Sharpen & Prepare'

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7); Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5); Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon Sharie B. De Castro (AL); Deputy Speaker and At Large Representative, Hon Neville A. Smith and Second District Representative and Opposition Member, Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull were all in attendance.

Hon De Castro was the Guest Speaker of the ceremony and delivered a powerful five point speech on the importance of a pencil. She encouraged the students to "sharpen and prepare" themselves so they could be ready for the greater challenges that are to come.

The Education Minister, Dr Wheatley, in his message to the graduating class, said “discipline yourself to study, to balance work and recreation, and to make wise choices.” He continued, “with every new phase, you will experience hindrances or obstacles, but arm yourselves with strength and persistence and with the values you learned at school and at home.”

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, Second District Representative, Hon Turnbull encouraged all the graduates to stay focused, in spite of all the distractions that are and will be present. He also urged the graduates to remember the acronym ‘REPOH’ which stands for Repetition, Easy, Pleasure, Often, Habit. This, he said, will help the students to create positive habits that will lead them to future success.

Hon Turnbull also acknowledged the contribututions of teacher Jacqueline Smith from the Leonora Delville Primary School, who is retiring after 38 years in the profession.

Dedicated & determined

Much praise was given to principals, Mrs Tonya M. Bertie-Phillip of Ivan Dawson Primary School and Mrs Pearlette Frazer-Smith of Leonora Delville Primary School and their staff for their hard work in preparing the students for the next step of their academic journey.

The principals took time to commend their students for being "dedicated and determined", and wished them well in their secondary schooling and beyond.

It is clear these two institutions have come a long way since the 2017 hurricanes, including from being housed in tents that flooded and were even uprooted by strong winds. But the merger, and the experience that came with it, had inspired new relationships between students as well as the staff of the two schools. Though now separate institutions again, the relationships that were built can still be seen and have resulted in a beautiful and well-attended joint Exit Ceremony.