The Grand Anse Roman Catholic Primary School continues to benefit from the Sir Royston Hopkin’s Scholarship Programme which is now into its 25th year, and has been described by General Manager of the Spice Island Beach Resort in Grand Anse, St. George’s, Brian Hardy as a community outreach programme of the island’s premier hotelier.
The new Sir Royston scholarship winners
Hardy believes that having a strong community outreach programme is what helps to build society.
The Spice Inn General Manager said modern technology has caused close relatives and friends to become estranged from each other.
However, he cited the need for more adults to be involved in creating community activities for the children to help them to learn and interact better.
Thirteen new scholarships have been offered to students of the Grand Anse Roman Catholic School who have been successful at the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) Exams, in addition to two students of parents who are employed at Spice Island Beach Resort.
Speaking at the annual presentation ceremony which was held at the Resort on Tuesday, school principal Gary Jones admonished the awardees to be disciplined with their school work.
Jones indicated the school’s motto is: “Discipline Brings Success,” adding that it is the ability to set goals and to work towards it irrespective of the challenges the students may encounter.
The school principal disclosed that 37 of the 40 students who wrote the CPEA Exams from the Grand Anse Roman Catholic Primary School were successful.
Hermione Griffith – given a trip to Barbados
He said the students of the school work towards becoming a recipient of the Sir Royston Hopkin Scholarship Programme.
However, he said the students cannot be an awardee, and not show that type of discipline which is synonymous with Spice Inn.
He told the assembled guests that receiving the scholarship is not just another opportunity to get some school materials, or books, but it is another opportunity to invest in their goals and apply the discipline.
“It (the programme) is well appreciated by our school and by our parents,” he said.
In his presentation, Sir Royston stated that his investment in the Grand Anse Roman Catholic School is geared at empowering the young people.
“If you don’t empower yourself with a good education, your chances of getting by are very, very slim,” he said.
The Spice Island Beach Resort Chairman and Managing Director stressed that the only reason why the resort which he bought in 1987 has become the leader in its class in the world is that it delivers service that is second to none.
The resort which, this year earned the AAA (American Automobile Association) Five Diamond Prestigious Award, prides itself in providing its staff with continuous training.
Sir Royston said the only way Spice Inn could be on the world stage and can continue to remain there is through its development process of continuous training.
He encouraged the scholarship awardees to discover their strengths and to maximise on that strength.
Scholarship Programme Co-ordinator Hermian Griffith gave an overview of the programme.
Griffith who is Spice Inn’s Front Office Manager spearheading the programme for the past 13 years indicated that Sir Royston’s investment in assisting and supporting the Grand Anse Roman Catholic School is a long-term commitment which began in 1992 with five students.
“This scholarship programme not only caters to provide assistance to the parents to equip their children with school supplies for the school year. This programme zeroes in on the whole child,” she said.
Griffith spoke of being satisfied with the progress of the students who have benefitted from the scholarship programme.
She said some of the awardees have already graduated from St. George’s University with Bachelor’s Degree.
According to Griffith, one of the students is currently enrolled in her third year, while another has just completed her first year in pre-med with a score of 4.4.
She also reported that there are about 68 students who have graduated from the T A Marryshow Community College.
A surprised presentation of a weekend for two at a top hotel of her choice in Barbados was given to Griffith.
Feature Speaker, Senator Pamela Moses praised Sir Royston and the resort for continuing to assist the students of Grand Anse Roman Catholic Primary School with their education.
Sen. Moses said government cannot do it alone, indicating that a lot depends on stakeholders to contribute to education.
She added that it is a blessing for the country to partner with Sir Royston with his scholarship programme which would help the students to better prepare for a life of tomorrow.
The programme now provides scholarships to 181 students.
A number of students who performed well academically over the past school year will be receiving tablets from Spice Island Beach Resort.
They are Jada Glean who was outstanding at this year’s CPEA Exams from the Grand Anse Roman Catholic Primary School, as well as Shekiron Smith from Wesley College, Donnisha Baptiste, Benjamin Ettienne of the Grenada Boys Secondary School and Aliyah Bishop of Happy Hill Secondary School.
Outstanding student from Form Two who were promoted to Form Three are, Kesron Moses from the J W Fletcher Catholic Secondary School, from Form Three to Four is Taherrah Roache of J W Fletcher Catholic Secondary School, and the outstanding student who has gone on to Form Five is Shade Davis from J W Fletcher Catholic Secondary School who was selected to spend a weekend for two at the Spice Island Beach Resort.