St George’s Sec. ‘a breath of fresh air’ in 3rd District – Hon Fraser
This was further solidified by Hon Fraser as he took to the stage to make brief remarks of congratulations to the school’s management, staff and student population. He said, “As you were told already, the St George's Secondary School is located in Palestina, which places it smack in my District. And that alone is reason for me to celebrate this event, but more importantly, they are my physical neighbours, so I see them first as neighbours."
“I am aware of your shortcomings as a result of money. The school still lacks amenities such as a gymnasium and a cafeteria, things I consider to be well within your grasp for the next ten years. This school has been a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood, literally and figuratively,” Hon Fraser told the gathering.
He further stated that at aged ten St George’s Secondary School has made its mark on the Education Landscape of the Virgin Islands (VI) as the records are there to show. “The academic achievements of its students are exceptional. The school is at the top of the most sought after in enrollment, despite not being free.”
The senior legislator said that speaks to a Board that is committed to delivering excellence, despite the circumstances. “It speaks to a staff that take their obligations seriously and honour their responsibility to the Board, the parents, and most importantly, to the students. It speaks to students who understand that St George's Secondary is an institution for learning at the highest possible standards, and not a Disney Game-park,” said Hon Fraser.
He recalled that it was just last week that he was driving past a group of students on their Physical Education walk when they shared with him that among them were students who commute daily from Virgin Gorda to attend school there.
“I am also aware that at least one other student commutes from Jost Van Dyke daily as well, a true testament to your popularity. I visit the school regularly and attend their functions as well,” he noted.
“Thank you St George’s for choosing the Third District. Thank you for choosing my neighbourhood, and most importantly, thank you for your re-entry into education. Your over $2 million in investments to transform two abandoned workshop buildings into arguably the most sought after high school in the territory has been worth it,” added Hon Fraser.
A decade of excellence in education
“This is a signal achievement - a significant milestone- in the relatively short history of the school and in our quest to towards achieving excellence in education, which has been our mantra from the inception of the school,” said Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr Gerard C. Farara, QC.
He noted that over the past 9-plus years the school has achieved much. “We have weathered many storms, including the continued fall-out from the worldwide recession and its impact on enrolment and our sustainability. We have overcomed many obstacles, some financial, some imposed upon us, some of our own creation, some unexpected and for which we were ill prepared as a school community.”
He described their journey as one to have been a learning process and one in which their faith and tenacity are being regularly tested. “This all, notwithstanding, we have persevered and soldiered on with a renewed sense of commitment to making a difference in the lives of our students, their families and indeed the wider community.”
“In so doing, we have relied on our perceived strengths and have tried to address our weaknesses within the margins of our financial resources and human capital. In this regard we are most grateful to all those who have been supporters of St George’s Secondary School and who have given of their time and resources, both financial and otherwise,” he added.
CXC shunned and de-emphasized in the territory – “We will continue to make our mark”
“And so, it is with a great sense of pride, humility and optimism, that we, collectively, as the St George’s School Community, stand here today proud of our achievements, of which there are many, and committed to face the next 10 years with the degree of faith, commitment and determination that our future is and will be secure here,” said Mr Farara has he spoke to one of their most significant undertakings in the education system of the VI- CXC.
“We are first and foremost a well established and credible secondary educational institution, one which has made its mark and will continue to make its mark on the BVI landscape. We have, in several areas, been at the forefront of strategic decision-making, particularly as it relates to the appropriate curriculum to be taught and the preparation and testing students for graduation,” he said.
An important example of this, according to Mr Farara, was the decision from very early in the life of the school, to go the route of the CXC examinations. This was made at a time when the entire territory had, for many years, shunned and de-emphasized CXC, in favour of the poorly recognised and accepted national examinations, as a means of graduating students.
“We as a Board recognised very early, that the only sensible and internationally recognised option available to us for assessing the level and competence of our students in the various subjects, was the CXC Regional Examinations,” he said
He said that they led in that regard when others, including some parents, not only thought differently, but were critical of the decision. “Time has of course proven us correct, and it is notable that the Government and the Education Department have recently come around to this realisation and mandated that all students must be prepared for and take the CXC examinations,” said Mr Farara.
The ceremony was held at the Eileene Parson’s Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on Sunday January 25, 2015. Students of both the secondary and primary divisions were present. Among them were several dignitaries, including Primer and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D Orlando Smith, Honourable J. Alvin Christopher and Ms Eileene L. Parsons, OBE among others.
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