Students flock the security entrance of the Elmore Stoutt High School on Tuesday January 8, 2013 as they were late in arriving on day one. Photo: VINO

These students had to put there uniform in order before being allowed to enter the compound. Photo: VINO

Even at school some students maintain their swag. It's after the first period of the day and these young ladies are heading to their next class session. Photo: VINO

Eager to get to class on the first day of school. Photo: VINO

Mr. Tobin said that he is optimistic that students’ performance will improve tremendously given their dedication and teachers' enthusiasm to give of their best. "Our students are excited and we anticipate that our fifth formers are back and we are having meetings with our students and parents that we can let them know that exams are coming up and to encourage students to be hard working and diligent."

He highlighted that they are some new initiatives that they are working on, specific to the full use of the resource centre, of which they intend to make full use of beginning this New Year. In the past the use of the library was limited just to the hours that school was in session, however, commencing today, January 8, 2013, the hours has been extended to 6 P.M. "So we'll have a good opportunity for students to come in and use the resources so that they can advance in their studies," noted Tobin. 

On Monday January 7, 2013, teachers and the school's administration were engaged in an accreditation meeting. "Accreditation is a big, big thing now in the schools, even in the school at Virgin Gorda, we are all excited and we look forward to the process," said an obviously excited Acting Principal Tobin. 

He said that his team of teachers is eagerly in preparation for the accreditation programme. The school has a student population of a little over thirteen hundred students and with a teacher population of over one hundred and forty. "Our teacher population is adequate in every subject area and we are also looking forward to having, down the road, students coming in from the community college."
He explained that there is a programme that would allow students that are being trained at the community college enter the secondary schools for first hand teaching experience in actual classrooms.

At the Elmore Stoutt High School, after the stroke of 9 A.M., batches of students and a few staff members were see hustling to get into the gates as they eagerly pursued reconnecting with the school environment at the long Christmas holiday.

Security guards were alert and very rigid in executing their duties of metal swiping kids and ensuring that they were equipped with their identification passes. Though somewhat tough with the students, the negotiating skills of some errant students got them into the gates but not with strict warnings against future defaults.

Over the school's public address system the voice of a male, welcomed the students and teachers back to school for the New Year. They were being advised of some changes and given the necessary guidance.

A walk down one of the corridors that led to the Principal's office, it was evident that teachers and students alike were all ready to continue the academic year 2012-2013. The level of camaraderie and bond between teacher and students was very evident in one classroom as a teacher, tall and slender, sat in the middle of the room to discuss the first subject of the day.

One couldn't help but notice the glee on the teacher's face as she engaged her attentive students.

At the office of the Acting Principal Mr. Wade W. Tobin, it was somewhat a long wait to have a moment of discussion with him. Then in came the first two young men, who apparently were in trouble. It was revealed that one of the students tried to trick the security staff by using the other's identification pass to enter the school compound.

The matter was quickly resolved but not before the defaulting student was given a stern warning.

Meanwhile, the Acting Principal had this to say to in his welcome back to school message to his student population, "be hard working, be very diligent with your studies and once you are educated, education can take you places that you have never imagine. So I will encourage all students to have a positive attitude, a positive mind set about things and you'll be surprised at where you might end up in the future."