Principals have good feeling as new academic year begins

The first day of school started on a high note for secondary schools on Monday, according to principals.

Several of them told Barbados TODAY that things got off to a positive start and they were looking forward to the term.

“This morning went reasonably well; the children seem to be keen,” said principal of Grantley Adams Memorial Secondary School Major Andrew Skeete. “Since last week I felt a positive vibe among staff; the staff appeared to be ready and raring to go. It was nice.”

Wanting to do things differently at morning assembly, he decided to focus on a popular soca song released this year, Reflections by Coopa Dan.

Skeete said the themes in that song gelled well with the school theme of the year: I am unique. Let me be the best I can be.

He said he wanted to use an artist the students looked up to, to get across a positive message.

As it relates to the school term, Skeete said he wanted students to take full advantage of the various opportunities the school had to offer.

He said his focus would be on improving student behaviour and attitudes and helping them learn from their mistakes.

Over at The Lodge School in St John, principal Robin Douglas said the theme this year was Excellence In All That We Do.

Principal of The Lodge School Robin Douglas.

He said the first day was about welcoming the new students to The Lodge School family and ensuring they got acquainted with the school.

“It is really hot and so we would have made necessary modifications to how we did assembly this morning, but everything went excellent in terms of the way that we split up assembly and so on. So yeah, I would say that the year started well,” he said.

Douglas added that the school was embarking on a project, in collaboration with the Caribbean Institute for Social and Emotional Learning, to improve relationships in the school environment – the student relationship with teachers, parents and non-teaching staff.

At the Combermere School in Waterford, St Michael, principal Julia Beckles said her aim was to give the students a bright future and a good school experience.

Acknowledging that there may be some discomfort in class due to the hot climatic conditions, she said the school was doing its best to address the situation.

Barbados TODAY understands that the parent-teacher association of the school came up with the idea to donate fans to the school and some parents and guardians were seen taking them to the learning institution on Monday.

Students were also given a festive treat as they entered the school gates, as they were welcomed to a musical extravaganza.

At the Christ Church Foundation School, the newly appointed principal Stephen Jackman said his mandate would be as it always is – to ensure the students under his watch receive a good education and are able to pursue their passions.

The new principal of Christ Church Foundation School Stephen Jackman.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb