The first ever School Attendance Fun Fair was held on the grounds Saturday June 27 on the Department of Agriculture Grounds. It brought together some 700 students from public primary schools across the island.

Education Officials, parents and students at Opening Ceremony

The event was aimed at honoring and encouraging students who achieved 90 to 100 percent attendance for at least two terms in the 2008 to 2009 School Year. The event opened program the invocation by Ms. Elmie Richardson, addresses by Pastor Rosalie Greer-Wade and the Education Department’s Ms. Veda Harrigan, a poem by Road Primary School student, Francisca Langlais, and a vote of thanks by the organizer of the fair, Ms. Erica Richardson.

Education Officials, parents and students at Opening Ceremony

In her short address to the gathering, Ms. Harrigan welcomed parents and students whom, she recognized, came mainly from Stoney Ground Primary, Road Primary and Island Harbor Primary. She said, that in addition to rewarding and recognizing those children who had an attendance of 90% and over, the function sought to highlight the importance of attending school regularly and punctually.

Students and others at the Student Fair

The Education Official hoped that the activity would also serve to encourage students who did not quality for an award to improve their attendance during the next school year. She said the day was “for the children.”
Pastor Greer-Wade, in congratulating the children, encouraged them to “climb the ladder of success.” She informed them that they had “just begun…Reach for the stars…The sky is the limit.” In her ladder analogy, Greer-Wade said each subject was a ladder and there was a choice of which ones to take. She added that the choice should remain stable with the help of parents and teachers.

Education Welfare Officer Erica Richardson

Greer-Wade pointed out that past students who aimed high, and reached the top, climbed the ladder “step by step.” She remarked that at times students may want to skip a step but advised that they use every step.
Education Welfare Officer Erica Richardson, the organiser of the fair, makes weekly visits to three primary schools, the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Campus A as well as the Pupil Referral Unit to ensure students attend school daily punctually. She also makes home visits when necessary “to try to improve chronic truancy.”

Officer Richardson said she cautioned parents to send their children to school until the end of term because teachers usually used that period to recap the term’s work and to clarify any misunderstandings students might have had on their tests.

Pre & Primary Education Coordinator, Veda Harrigan

She noticed that some students stay away from school without justified reasons and “at times their parents are unaware of this because they leave home for work before their children leave for school.” Ms. Richardson congratulated the successful students for their “excellent school attendance” and encouraged them to maintain that interest. The praise was extended to the parents who ensured their children’s regular presence. She admonished members of the public to support students’ attendance at school daily and pledged to continue to work with parents, teachers and students “to ensure that our children attend school and appreciate the fact that they can receive education freely.”

Ms. Elmie Richardson

Sponsors for the School Attendance Fun Fair included the Education Department, the Department of Agriculture, Ashley and Sons, JW Proctors, Smitty’s Seaside Grill, Hibernia Restaurant, Excellence and Tee-zek ferries, Mr. Low Price, Sid and Pete, Safety Step and Tropical Distributors. Other contributors were Mingz Restaurant, Elsa Papaya Resturant, Lifestyle Café, Hungry Restaurant, Big Jim Restaurant, Malliouhana Hotel, Cirillion, Aronel, Ivor and Carmen Rentals and Titanium Sounds.

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