VI Standpoint.com: More KATS acquire new skills

More KATS acquire new skills
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Publisher  on 14/07/2010 20:09:46

The 20th annual class of BVI youngsters between the ages of 9 and 15 graduated
from the Kids And The Sea (KATS) Basic Sea Skills Programme on Saturday June 26.
Each year, the class is divided into teams that compete with each other
throughout the 12-week programme in various acquired skills in sea and boat
lore, team boat rowing, and nautical knot tying. This year, there were four
teams of six students each; team names were Red, Blue, Green and Black.

Graduation exercises for the twenty-four students consisted of:
Boat Racing Finals - The teams had all developed excellent coordinated rowing
and following coxswains´ directions but the excitement of the moment and
frantic cheering from the large crowd caused a few minor mishaps in boat
direction and momentum. Thankfully, no boat crossed the finish line stern-first.
Knot Tying Finals - The students learned a variety of knots that they will find
valuable for the rest of their lives, whether on the water or off. In the
finals, each team member successfully tied each knot before an alert judge in
the noise and bustle of the crowd and dashing of competitors to the tying
stations. In the tension and excitement there were inevitable mistakes that
required knots to be retied.
The Graduation Ceremony involved awarding of team honors, individual honors and
graduation certificates for all students that successfully completed the
programme.
Boat Racing Champions were Team Black. Members were Jioavonni Croal, Keiman
Dafoe, Raheem Jack, Kevin Jerimiah, Xaveon Pickering, Rhevaun Sprauve and Marcia
Williams.
Knot Tying and Overall Champions were Team Blue whose members were Jefferson
Joseph, DeAnna Leslie, Zareon Martin, Sabrina Perry, Dillon Quammie and Akayla
Sylvester.
Overal Merit Student with Honnors, Second place was Zareon Martin.
Overall Merit Student with Honors, First Place was Akayla Sylvester.
With this outstanding Class of students, the Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs
of the BVI have graduated a total of 500 young BVIslanders since the programme
began in 1990.
In addition, the Rotary Clubs have graduated over 2,000 students in swimming
KATSSWIM, 350 in sailing KATSAIL, and 200 in scuba diving KATSCUBA.
KATS Basic Sea Skills and other KATS programmes will run again next Spring.
Youngsters are encouraged to sign up.