A week of special activities after two-year pandemic damper

 A number of awards were presented to students at Combermere School this morning to signal the start of in-school activities for Combermere Week.

The 2021 “Harry Sealy Award” was won by Tia Applewhaite and the 2022 award in this same category went to Khalia Holder. These were for outstanding performance in the junior school. These awards were donated by Williams Industries. 

The “Spirit of Combermere Awards” for 2021 and 2022 were won by Jasmine Greene and Thierry Jones respectively. These were sponsored by Consumer General Insurance (CGI) and were presented to students who rendered a good overall performance at school.

Mark Ince, president of the Old Scholars Association, making a presentation to Shania Callender.

Thirteen students were awarded Combermere Alumni Excellence Awards/scholarships of $1 200 each to assist them in paying for private tuition during Academic Year 2022-2023.

A group of teachers who normally put together the school’s Honour Roll, selected the winners – three based on 4th Form exams, five based on performance in CSEC and five who excelled in CAPE Unit 1. The funds are paid directly to the tutors. 

These awards are part of a programme run by a group of members of the Combermere School Old Scholars Association known as the Academic Development Group which was initiated in 2021. They are funded by alumni from Barbados, the USA and Canada. Major Patrick Skeete (ret’d) is the leader of this group.

The main aim is to assist students in their academic pursuits. Parents have been extremely appreciative of this much needed financial support, and they are effusive in their compliments and gratitude. 

Accompanying this Scholarship programme is a mentorship programme where an Old Scholar who is a mentor will be linked to each awardee to keep the students focused on their objectives and to provide general guidance. The joint coordinators for this group are Dr. Leah Garner-O’neale and David Straughn.

Mark Ince, Old Scholars Association president, presenting to Davion Green.

Members of the Academic Development Group and the Combermere Mentorship group sat among the students this morning. 

All of these Combermere Week awards were presented by Mark Ince, president of the Combermere Old Scholars Association. The new Principal, Julia Beckles, the deputy principal, Capt. Randolph Clarke, and the Master of Ceremonies, David Straughn, were also part of the stage party. The awardees this morning were (fifth formers) Makiyah Koeiman and Shania Callender; (lower sixth) Gabrielle Bassalat, Macaria Corbin, Danae Niles, Maleigha Roach, Lashauntea Sobers; (upper sixth) Amesha Deane-Rishbrook, Tiffany Garner, Davion Green, Nyala Harper and Sarya Lambert.

The CSOSA has, as a priority, the continuous drive to create motivation for students so that they can achieve their goals and, in the process, bring credit to their alma mater. 

The week of activities started with a church service yesterday. On Thursday, a training luncheon will be held at the school during the normal lunch time period for recently elected student leaders in order to expose them to the rudiments of leadership. This is a 2022 initiative.

The high point of the Combermere Week will be the presentation of tangible awards to the two longest serving male and female teachers and the longest serving member of the support staff at Combermere.- Staycations at a local hotel for two nights and three days. This too is a new initiative to show appreciation for the service rendered by teachers. 

On afternoons during the week, there will be sporting activities such as netball, hockey, cricket where old scholars will match their skills against current students.

The activities will climax with a grand reunion this Friday night where old scholars who have been unable to meet as a group for two years will grasp the opportunity to come out and enjoy each other’s company.

On Saturday, commencing at 4 p.m. in the Combermere School Hall, there is an event which is meant to honour one of Combermere and Barbados’ greatest youth leaders – Colonel Deighton Maynard. It is the book launch of his former Combermere student Major Patrick Skeete who has captured not only Colonel Maynard’s exemplary career as a youth leader, but also the legacy of leadership found within the history of the 327-year Combermere School. The book is titled The Maynard Way. Colonel Maynard will be present to share in this historic event. This book is a collector’s item as it features cricket, scouting, cadets and hockey at Combermere School. 

(PS)