Students told not to take anything for granted

The principal of one of Barbados’ secondary schools has reminded students across the island to appreciate the sacrifices others make in order to provide them with items that they need.

Speaking at the presentation of face masks and Beep travel size disinfectant sprays to five primary and secondary schools recently, principal of Queens College, Dr. David Browne, said: “The reason I wanted to do this presentation today is so the children can understand that things don’t just fall out of the sky.

When people give you something you should appreciate it, so that is why when anybody gives anything to Queen’s College, I insist that they come at full assembly in the morning so that all 1,024 students can see and understand people make sacrifices on their behalf.”

He lauded the Power of Choice programme for its efforts to teach fundamental values that helped to build students’ character.

“We have been part of the Power of Choice programme since its inception, and it is part of our values-based education strategy. When we turn out graduates, we must ensure that a person does not only have academic papers but also the requisite soft skills that will help them throughout their lives.”

In commending McBride (Caribbean) Limited for their donation, he urged more corporate citizens to come on board, noting that while it was becoming more difficult for schools to meet some of their basic needs owing to the current economic climate, they still had to ensure their students performed well across the board.

Sales and Marketing Manager with McBride (Caribbean) Limited, Shari Green, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had provided new opportunities for the company. “This pandemic has been a learning experience for us all and has demonstrated our resilience as well.

McBride was one of the few companies that was allowed to continue its operations throughout the lockdowns and curfew periods, and through our Beep disinfectant spray, which has been US EPA certified to kill viruses on surfaces, we managed to get into the Central American market, which was something we had been trying to do for a long time.”

Two hundred face masks with “The Power Of Choice” messages were shared among Daryll Jordan Secondary, Grazettes Primary, Queen’s College, St. Bartholomew’s Primary and St. Leonard’s Boys School.

McBride also donated cans of their new convenient Beep Travel Size Disinfectant Spray to all teaching and non-teaching staff at the five schools.

This is for each school’s member to keep on his or her person to sanitize surfaces while moving around school campuses to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. Beep Disinfectant Spray was recently certified by an accredited, US EPA compliant lab to kill the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Founder and People Development Specialist of the Power of Choice, Errol Griffith, stated that it was a chance encounter at his home that led to the production of the masks, which feature two of the ten Power of Choice messages that have been displayed in some of the island’s secondary and primary schools over the past seven years.

“Some time last year, during one of our lockdowns, Charles Pilgrim of Charles Watersports turned up at our home and said his wife, Ann Sofie, who works at the Grantley Adams International Airport, was making masks and that he felt led to bring two for my wife and me.

We in turn took them to the makers of our company shirts, WOW Displays Ltd., to see whether they could mass manufacture masks for the Pilgrims’.

“We had no idea that we would end up having WOW design, print and sew face masks using the Power of Choice logo and messages, and co-branded with Beep for the benefit of children and adults!”

Griffith also reminded the students: “No matter what is happening in your life, you can be at peace, and even happy, at all times.

We all have the power to choose our emotions – understand that you are responsible for who you are; not your parents, teachers, community, friends, etc.”

“All that we and they can do, is seek to be an influence on your life and hopefully a positive one.

None of us can control anyone or anything outside of ourselves. However, when we are at peace, we are able to make the best choices in our lives.

Learn from now how to choose peace in all circumstances and at all times and make making wise choices a habit.”