St Philip Schools display culture and creativity

By Sheria Brathwaite

At least two St Philip schools held a number of activities for students and their parents to commemorate Independence Day and the island’s first anniversary of being a republic.

At Reynold Weekes Primary School in Four Roads, Infants A teacher and co-ordinator of the school’s activities Keshia Haynes said it was important to show children various aspects of their culture in a fun way.

The school hosted a photography and arts competition and on Tuesday, students dressed up as popular characters such as King Dyal, a nut vendor, Shaggy Bear, Mother Sally and the king and queen of the crop.

They also got the opportunity to learn about traditional Barbadian games.

Jianna Mondsier with her winning painting

Nia Greenidge with her winning characters poster.

Reynold Weekes Primary’s tuk band and Mother Sallies.

Amauri Trotman

Blessing Toby

This student showed off her spectacular hat in honour of our Prime Minister.

Principal of St Mark’s Primary School, Wayne Bryan, looking at some of the hats students created with the help of their parents. From left is Blessing Toby, Amauri Trotman, Keishanna Graham and Neta’nel Jones.

Principal of St Marks Primary Wayne Bryan (centre) flanked by Arianna Codrington (right) and Jahzarra Belgrave (left).

Some of the students at St Mark’s Primary who participated in the hats and t-shirts competition.

“We wanted to show the children the Barbadian culture we celebrate. For the last three years, the children were stuck at home and usually, for this time of the year, school is the place where students are exposed to things that are Barbadian. As we were restricted to online school there were a lot of students who were not able to experience those things that are Barbadian so this was our way of bridging that gap and showing them some of the places of interest, games and iconic people and characters of Barbados.

“It went beyond the classroom. The students had to do research and that would have cemented learning for them,” she said.

Over at St Mark’s Primary in Blades Hill, principal Wayne Bryan said the students had a hats and t-shirt competition where each class would depict an aspect of the island’s history from slavery to republicanism. 

He said it was important to teach the students how far Barbados came in terms of its development, adding that it was also a good opportunity for them to show off their knowledge of the key figures who contributed significantly in building the nation.

Students and their parents decorated and designed hats depicting national heroes, important symbols and other aspects of local culture. They were required to model their hats and colourful t-shirts. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb