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The Annual Commonwealth Day celebrations by the Ivan Dawson Primary School this year took on a different tone.
In addition to all the regular excitement of marching, chanting, cultural games and fun activities, the school remembered its principal, Elaine Penn, who is currently on sick leave. The students dedicated the Tug-O-War competition in her honour.
According to Acting Principal, Keturah Smith, the school has improved because of the hard work and dedication of the Principal.
“A lot of the things that has happened here is through the hard work of Ms. Penn. We recognize her for all that she has done. She is a stalwart when it comes to building the school to where it is presently,” said the acting principal.
The day’s event started with the children singing the national anthem and several local songs. Before the games started, the two houses, Dawson House and Rhymer House, chanted through the streets of Cane Garden Bay to Quitos and then back to the Callwood Distillery.
This year, they did not have the drum corp to support their chants, but the voices of the children nevertheless echoed through the streets, creating a lively ambience in the community.
The rain threatened briefly, but it held up nicely and the games got off with several fun races including bucket races, late for school, shoe races and relays, among others.
Defending champions, Dawson House, claimed victory with 698 points with Rhymer House settling for second with 600 points.
The Acting Principal explained that the event is a fundraiser for the school and helps to provide funds for trophies and prizes for graduation.
Smith noted that in previous years, the event had attracted greater support from parents and the community, but this year it had diminished.
“It was a great community effort that happens every year. The parents pool together and stand behind the school and the community in general,” said Smith.
She also commended the Second District Committee for their collaboration with the BVI Diabetes Association to hold Free Health Screenings at the Clinic, which also helped to bring out persons to the event. Persons were screened for cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure while free literature was distributed.
The acting principal explained that everything that is done by the school is through its mission of fostering academic, spiritual, physical, cultural and social development based on the curriculum.
“We try our best to see our children and work with them so that at the end of their time here, they can go on to live a successful life. And we do that through all the help we can get,” said the acting Principal.
The Ivan Dawson Primary School currently has an enrollment of 114 students.
The students along with their seven teachers strive on the motto “Not just for school but for Life”.
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