School News and Events

Speech Day 2005

Speech Day 2005 was held at the Christ Church Parish Church Centre. I was late in arriving and so cannot tell you what happened in the first 45 or so minutes. Many apologies for my error. Following is what I was able to gather.

Some of the notable persons present at this year's Speech Day were Dr Allyson Leacock, General Manager of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Peter Wickham, Mrs. Cynthia Reid, former Deputy Principal of the School, Mrs. Hazel Lindo-Carrington, Mrs. June Alleyne, also a former Deputy Principal of the school, Mr. Manifold, retired Chemistry Department head and Mrs. Ruby St. John, retired acting head of the Foundation Girl's School. Missing this year was Mr. Shelton Perkins, yet another former Deputy Principal of Foundation School.

When I arrived the Principal, Mr. Robert Cumberbatch was giving his report on the performance of the school in the recent Caribbean Examination Council examinations. Overall students at Foundation in 2005 did better than in 2004. This year 79.2 % of students achieved passing grades in CXC, compared to 76.4 % last year. Information Technology (General) continues it's 100% pass rate. This would be the sixth time that all students taking that exam have returned with passing gades. IT Technical improved from 78.6 % passes to 87.5%.  This year 10.7% of students gained grade 1s and 32.8% gained grade 2s. There has not been a year since 2000 where so many students gained grade 1s or grade 2s at Foundation. As a direct result, there was a decline in the number of students gaining Grade 3s, 4s and 5s. Well done!!

Subjects continuing to do poorly were French (42.3% passes) and Technical Drawing (48.1% passes). Those were the only two subjects where less than half of the students entered did not gain passing grades. The next lowest score belongs to Physics (53.4% passes). The principal indicated that plans were in the works to address the low results in French and Spanish.

Activities this year included Caricom Day, which was a day during the second term where teachers all dressed in African garments and provided the students with a deeper understanding of the other nations in the Caribbean. Students got to see various dishes, flags and culture from the other islands. Staff also appeared on Good Morning Barbados and The Chat room.

Fourth form students in Home Economics entered the Ministry of Health Agrofest in January and won three awards Best display, Best Preserves and Creative use of fruit. There was also a tour to Trinidad in July where students attended workshops on Chinese, Creole, Indian cooking. Thanks was also made to Turtle beach for their assistance through the year.

Wellington house were the winners of the interhouse sports for 2005. The Junior Victor Ludorem was Hakeem Bell of Inniss House while the Junior Victrix was Michelle Farley. Haden Phillips was the Senior Victor Ludorem and Shakera Shepherd was the senior Victrix.

Mrs. Yvette Mayers, Deputy Principal of Foundation School	Mrs. Cynthia Reid, immediate former Deputy Principal of Foundation School.

Following that was the presentation of the scrolls. 

Some of the top performers were.

Mr. Peter Wickham then took the stand and proceeded to speak to the audience about indiscipline in the school system. Expressing the view that indiscipline in Barbadian schools is but a reflection of a wider societal problem.

However, before getting into the meat of the topic he expressed his personal view (to which I fully agree) that Foundation has distinguished itself was a school which accepts ordinary students. The ones who did not make it to Harrisons or Queens College and turns them into productive citizens of Barbados. He went further by saying that it did not take a significant effort to make an already outstanding student achieve. However for a school that accepts ordinary children and influences them and molds them so that they can achieve the awards and certifications which they do is commendable.

Children learn morals, manners, traditions and ways of life from their parents and the other adults in the area where they exist. It would also be reasonable to expect that children also learn our indiscipline.

"As I drive the street daily, I see manifestations of indiscipline among public service vehicle drivers and I am convinced that all of you seated here before me behave the way that you do largely because this is the breakfast that you eat in terms of coming to school. Indiscipline exist in some of the political parties in various Caribbean countries like St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago for instance as well as right at home here in our Democratic Labour Party. There is also rampant adultery and fornication. 

"I therefore marvel that against this background people would attempt to examine the issue of indiscipline in school in a vacuum, with a similar level of sterility, and attempt to suggest that we might have a solution in the school and not have a solution within the society. So the issue is being taken out of context," he said. "We are trying to address the symptom and not the cause".

The other issue that affected finding a solution, Wickham said, had to do with the application of the rod as the only way to effect change.

"Biblical references to the rod, in my opinion, have more to do with a mistake in translation that has resulted in an assumption that if we beat children regularly and frequently, we will essentially bring them up and we will be raising them. In my opinion, nothing can be further from the truth."

Making reference to data he collected in 2004 involving people from all over the island, Wickham said 80 per cent of Barbadians supported corporal punishment in the home and 69 per cent supported it in the schools.

The political scientist said perhaps it was time the nation to let go of a system that hadn't worked for the past ten generations and embrace a measured approach to indiscipline, which involved listening more and examining the problem to find a solution that lay "beyond the whip". 

"We are continuing to do things in the way that we have done it before and perhaps we need to try an alternative path. Perhaps instead of beating children, we should maybe listen a bit more," he said

Next, guests were treated to a most hilarious play entitled Androcles and the Lion. Those of you who have seen "The crime of Annabelle Campbelle" know what Foundation is capable of. This play features the Head Boy, Justin Seale and Head Girl, Naomi Lynton. Rather then tell you about it as I have done in plays before time. I am going to upload the movie clip, so you can have it all in full theatre surround sound. 

(Surround sound speakers required for full theatre surround sound. Speakers not included. Video clip is 51MB WMV format).

Here it is. Androcles and the Lion.

Graduation 2005

The Graduation this year was held in the Hall at the School. In attendance at the function were, among others Former Deputy Principal, Mrs. Cynthia Reid; Former Principal, Major Hugh Barker; President of the Foundation Old Scholars Association, Mrs. Wendy Darlington and Board of Management Chairman Mr. Joel Garner.

Mrs. Cynthia Reid, was given the honor of addressing the students fort he last time as some of them leave to go on to further their education or the world of work.

She admonished the students to remember Psalm 100. To recognize the creator and don't behave like some people do, who somehow believe that they have made themselves. Take time to pray and learn to enjoy silence and nature. 

After reminding students that the only successful group of drifters, was a singing group. The former Deputy told students to strive to make their mark on society and join the ranks of the successful scholars who had gone before.

Following that there were several little things Mrs. Reid wanted to leave with her former students

• Make good choices. 
• True friends were like diamonds, very rare. False friends, however, were like autumn leaves. Found everywhere once that season was in effect. 
• If you do not want something repeated, don't say it
• Be considerate
• Exercise daily
• Eat Healthy
• Learn to laugh at yourself
• Have self respect
• Plan for the long term
• Travel, it broadens your mind and helps you appreciate other people and your country
• Be prepared
• Keep God at the centre of your life.

Graduation clips

Mathew and Cassandra doing "I just can't give up now"

Polytechnic again domino champs
Published on: 11/18/05 in the Weekend Nation.

SAMUEL Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) are once again the champions of the Trophy World Schools' League Dominoes Tournament.

SJPP and Princess Margaret Secondary were the leading schools in the tournament which attracted 14 teams.

SJPP began defence of their crown with a string of impressive victories in the qualifying round and continued in this vein by beating Coleridge and Parry 47-24.

They were joined in the semi-finals by Ellerslie, who defeated Foundation 41-38 in a nail-biter; Alleyne School, who defeated St George Secondary 41-35, and the consistent Princess Margaret who toppled St Leonard's 41-33.

In the semi-finals at the Bay Primary School, the pair of Rico Rogers and Asha Barrow slammed home 15 points to lead Princess Margaret to an impressive 39-32 victory over Alleyne.

Trailing 14-24 at the half-time break, the Alleyne pair of Theo Barnett and L. Clarke tried in vain to claw their team back into the game but their 12-point effort was not enough.

In the second semi-final, SJPP trailed by one point (20-21) at the half and then produced a strong second session spurt to cruise over Ellerslie 47-27.

The final, played at Bay Primary, was a blow-out. SJPP embarked on a methodical onslaught, cruising to a 24-0 lead before ending the half at 30-6.

Princess Margaret failed to rise to the occasion, and with the score on 42-18 in SJPP's favour, the match was blown off with four sets left to play.

Top performers

Zario Cummins and Oronde Callender (Foundation)

Jefferson Lynch and Nicholas Harris (St Leonard's)

Richard Worrell and Zicomo Cozier (St George Secondary)

Master Kenneth Springer and Markley Rock (St Leonard's)

Nikkita Allain and Neil Skeete (SJPP)

Keimar Clarke and Ryan Yearwood (Princess Margaret)

Corey Lewis and Akeil Alleyne (SJPP)

Rico Skeete and Shane Bowen (St Leonard's)

Adrian Maynard and Sanaj Lewis (Alleyne)

Master Kuman Whitehead and Damario Brathwaite (Grantley Adams)

An Interview with The Deputy Principal

Mrs. Yvette Mayers the current Deputy Principal, started at Foundation School teaching Mathematics and Physics from the 1st of September 1980, having just graduated from the University of the West Indies. Since coming to Foundation she has not been idle but has added 2 more Diplomas and a Masters to her list of accomplishments. She was educated at Queens College.

When asked about her vision for the school and the students, she indicated that her vision for Foundation is to have a school which looks healthy, the buildings are clean and void of health hazards, and the surroundings are pleasant for the staff and students to work and to play in. She said she does not only want students to be good academically, but she would like them to be well rounded students who are also good in their extra curricular activities. A person who truly lives up to the motto of the school. Which says "strive to be of service to everyone".

Mrs. Mayers said that she finds her new job as a Deputy Principal, different and challenging, but she is looking forward to it. 

She has two dogs an Alsatian and a Terrier. The Terrier is the inside dog and the Alsatian is the outside dog. So beware!

The DP who likes floral arranging and reading, also has two children, both of which went to Foundation. One is now 22 and the other is 19.

Mrs. Mayers said she would like the students of Foundation School to try to be the best person they can possibly be and to pay close attention to the way that they dress because the way you dress is of utmost importance. It tells a lot about the type of person you are.

Foundation Forum for online discussions with other old scholars.

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