Mr. Alkins Rogers, Director of Sports, chaired an opening ceremony on Wednesday, June 11 at the James Ronald Webster Park to initiate a three-day workshop dedicated to sports educators in the public schools. The professional development opportunity is being done through the collaborative efforts of the Sports Directorate, the Education Department and the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE).

Education Officers, Sports Officials and workshop facilitators

The workshop is geared towards establishing a sound Physical Education curriculum and improving the current programmes, according to Mr. Rogers. Alkins also highlighted the fact that Mr. Rodney Rey, PS Sports and Education, and Mr. Rollins Richardson, Sports Officer, worked very hard to make this happen and without their proactive energy they would not be where they are today.

Before the proceedings began, Mr. John Martin was asked to give the invocation. In doing so, he asked everyone to hold a moment of silence in honour of Teacher Art Egel, Principal of the Alwyn Allison Primary School, who just passed away. All the education officers, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Rey expressed their sympathies to the family of Teacher Art and publicly recognized him as being one of the most loved and extraordinary educators Anguilla has ever seen. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Sandra Fahie, Curriculum Officer, made remarks in which she said that PE plays a critical role in the whole child. It is imperative that there be a structured PE programme as a fit child simply performs better and this Game On approach is the way we will go.

Mr. Rodney Rey was also invited to speak in which he thanked all those who made the workshop happen. He spoke about how Anguilla is currently very busy on many levels of sports development and this Game On approach will give a boost to sports at the programme level. Mr. Rey is a strong proponent of sports and he personally wants to see Anguilla develop sports-centred schools. Mr. Rogers said that TTASPE has assisted Anguilla, and the greater Caribbean, over the years and Verna Edwards, the new table tennis coach, is here as a direct result of their programme. Kerish Maharaj from TTASPE made remarks as well. He reiterated that his organization is an NGO that is all about positive vibes and building good human beings. He recognized that Anguilla is thirsty for sports, ready and organized. Joining Mr. Maharaj is Kate Cowah from Canada and Arturo Sánchez from Monterrey, México.

To close the ceremony, Veda Harrigan gave a vote of thanks and Mr. Rogers gave highlights of summer programmes about to take place. The children will certainly benefit from the team leading the workshop and all those present seemed eager to learn how to better serve the children.

-Jason Allen

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News