As interest in the soon-to-be launched Chapman Challenge builds among young Barbadians, students expressed eagerness to join the initiative during President Jeffrey Bostic’s visit to St Winifred’s School — the first private school on his nationwide tour — on Wednesday.
President Bostic interacting with Prep Department students.
The chorale formed by students and teachers.
(Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
The visit was the latest in a commitment he made during his inaugural address to see all primary, secondary, private and special needs schools.
During the interaction with students, a teacher relayed a question from one student who had recently signed up for the school’s own mentorship programme and wanted to know how they could become involved in the Chapman challenge.
President Bostic said: “After the first few visits, I started to receive some calls from persons inquiring whether or not I would have been visiting private schools…. When I said all, I meant all.”
The Chapman Challenge has five guiding principles: Community as a classroom, Discipline before privilege, Mentorship as currency, Service as identity and Destination through journey. Operating on a three-tier structure, the first tier involves 11 distinguished community leaders, appointed by the President, one from each parish, to identify the youth who are in need and the mentors who can assist them.
The head of state said the main reason for his schools visit was a sense of low self-esteem, despair, hopelessness, desperation and lack of discipline seen in the individuals leaving educational, technical or vocational institutions.
He said: “These root causes are manifesting themselves in a way today that we really do not like as a nation, and as a country, I believe that regrettably, despite all of the efforts, we have not dealt with this situation adequately… But now is the time to do something about it and that is my purpose.”
Aware that this initiative will take time to get results, Bostic said: “It will take a few years… but it is something that we must do because if we fail, whatever we see happening today will continue and it will get worse.”
St Winifred’s principal Kim Lewis highlighted academic accomplishments of the Junior Department for Common Entrance, saying “our students frequently place in the national top ten” and for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificates, the Senior Department, “maintain an average pass rate of approximately 97 per cent”.
Kim Lewis, principal of the St Winifred’s School. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
The 105-year-old school has a diverse culture, with teachers from “more than 30 countries”, she boasted.
Principal Lewis acknowledged the leadership already started in the school: “Student leadership is another important aspect of our culture. From our senior student leaders to a vibrant and active Student Council, our students are encouraged to take responsibility and develop their voices. This extends into our primary department where we have installed Junior School prefects.”
In a showcase of the school’s musical talent, students and teachers formed a chorale and performed an original composition by music teacher Michelle Armstrong, We Are Barbados.
Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla
The students from age three to Infants B in the Prep Departments also performed a surprise song for the President.
(LE)
The post President begins private school visits at St Winifred’s appeared first on Barbados Today.
