By Livingston Allen, Gleaner WriterGINGER RIDGE, St. Catherine:
THIRTY-TWO STUDENTS received certificates and prizes at the Ginger Ridge All-Age School leaving and prize-giving exercises held at the school on June 30. Among the school-leavers were, 26 of the 29 who sat the GSAT examinations, while the other six had reached the required age limit and are awaiting the results of the Grade Nine Achievement Test.
The highest performers were Kerressa Scott, Racquel Cole-man and Petrese Ferron. They received prizes for their outstanding performances.
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
Newly-elected councillor for the Ginger Ridge division, Hyman Smith, lauded the improved performance of the students and promised to ask the new M.P., Dr. Kenneth Baugh, to assist students with medical examinations which would ease the burden on parents for the September school term.
Guest speaker and past student for the ceremony, Joseph Parker J.P., urged students to respect their parents and teachers, as they were the ones responsible for their education. He said that teachers did not teach because of the salary, but because of the love and commitment for their country. The guest speaker noted that nothing was wrong with any school, it was the students, he said, who give schools a good or a bad name. Mr. Parker chided parents for their behaviour, as he said that the image parents portray would impact on the students lives and behaviour.
COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
Principal, L.G. Allen, gave a comprehensive report on the school's performance and vision for the future and promised civil disobedience if the access road to the school was not repaired.
Giving the valedictory response, an emotional head girl, Kerressa Scott, promised, on behalf of her colleagues, to carry the school's name with pride. She thanked the principal and staff for the good values inculcated in them.
Reverend E. Martin Haye, of the Ginger Ridge Circuit of Baptist Churches, did the devotional exercises, while Chairman of the school board, Cherton DaCosta, extolled the virtues of the school and outlined plans for the ensuing year.
Miss Patrinia Archer was voted teacher of the year.
