The chatter and laughter of first-form boys amid flashes of colour filled the air above St Leonard’s Boys’ School as dozens of homemade kites danced in the breeze — a lively celebration of creativity, community, and a time-honoured Easter pastime.
The pasture at St Leonard’s Boys’ School was transformed into a cultural experience. (SZB)
The end-of-term activity, driven largely by student interest, saw nearly 50 first-form boys designing, building and flying their own kites, transforming the school grounds into a showcase of craftsmanship and heritage.
Principal Peter Cox said the initiative reflected both student enthusiasm and a wider effort to maintain cultural practices that risk fading over time.
Principal Peter Cox. (SZB)
“This activity was really initiated by the students,” Cox said. “Kite flying is a pretty popular thing here in St Michael, the Black Rock area. I mean, they fly kites all year round, so this is something that the boys wanted. So we’re just facilitating their interests.”
He added that while kite flying remains closely tied to the Easter season, evolving materials and styles have begun to shift the tradition.
“Traditionally at Easter is a popular Barbadian activity as well. And while on one hand we’re seeing a shift from the traditional round kite to a square kite, from pretty paper to a plastic bag, there’s some aspects of the kite making, kite flying, skill and tradition that we want to furnish our boys with opportunities to do that.”
Cox stressed that the initiative also served a developmental purpose, giving students space for expression and hands-on learning outside the classroom.
“It also provides that avenue for them to let their hair down and come and do some boy things,” he added.
The principal revealed that discussions had already begun among staff to deepen the initiative by reintroducing more traditional methods and increasing teacher involvement.
“There was even a conversation among the staff that the kites should be made at school and flown at school and that we should go back to some trash bone kites and whatnot,” he said. “So the intention is to make sure we get the teachers involved in making kites, flying kites, and really have a family activity with the whole endeavour.”
Cox noted that the competition stemmed directly from student demand, with interest continuing to grow.
Competition coordinator and first form teacher Tracie Harris said the event formed part of efforts to engage students in meaningful, culturally grounded activities during the final week of term.
She challenged the notion that kite making has declined among younger generations, pointing to strong participation leading up to the event.
“Last week was a testament to that is not true. Last week we had so many boys here getting sticks, making kites, discussing their designs and all of that,” she said.
“So it is not a dead tradition. It is still here, alive and strong.”
Despite less-than-ideal wind conditions, Harris said the turnout and energy from students exceeded expectations.
Participants competed across more than 11 categories, with winners including Kemar Worrell for largest kite, Andre Leacock for smallest kite, Jahari Prescod for most colourful, Taylor Hardin for most creative, and Adrian Codrington for longest tail.
Jordan Taylor captured the SLB Spirit Kite award, while Jathaniel Bryant-Haynes won for loudest kite. Rakai Dowridge secured best self-made kite, Alex Jones-Ifill won longest flying kite, Malik Griffith and Aaron Howard shared the judges’ pick, and Wykayvion Gilkes earned the fan favourite title.
Wykayvion Gilkes with his mom Kelly Gamble (SZB).
Malik Griffith (second right) and Aaron Holder (right) won the judges’ pick. (SZB)
Jahari Prescod won the prize for most colourful kite. (SZB)
First form teacher and competition coordinator Tracie Harris with the winner of the SLB Spirit kite Jordan Taylor. (SZB)
Andre Leacock won the prize for smallest kite. (SZB)
(SZB)
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