The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

HUNDREDS of Centreville Primary School students, teachers and parents walked the streets of Collins Avenue to march in honour of their educational system.

Holding signs such as Build Better Aim High, “Parents Get Involved, and Parents Unite, the students walked in their school uniforms to make a statement.

Deborah E Stuart, principal at Centreville Primary School, told Tribune Woman the idea of the school march was to sensitize the businesses in the area as well as the parents to the needs of the education system.

“We want them to know that we are serious about education and we need both entities to be on board to develop an holistic child as well as an holistic school.”

“The turn out was good for the first march and being a new principal. I feel that it was good. We started out with a few parents and as the community came out to watch, parents joined in on the march,” she said.

Ms Stuart said the following week after the march, the school played host to a prayer breakfast. “The good turnout for that event strengthens the relationship between the school and the parents,” she said.

During the school march, Ms Stuart said the participants took the route to head west onto 5th Terrace, north on Collins avenue, west on Gibbs Corner, south on East Street, east on Fritz Lane and back to the school.

She said as they walked, they all gave out flyers in the community, inviting corporate businesses to partner with the school. Ms Stuart said the main goal was to have more involvement with parents, and also partnership with the community.

“The children were excited to participate in the march. It gives them a positive self image when they are doing something positive and also publicly showing their talents of playing musical instruments. They feel proud to have done this event, not just with their schoolmates, but also their parents. I think Bahamian students need to feel that cohesiveness with the community,” said Ms Stuart.

She said parents and corporate sponsors play a major role in the development of schools. Children would perform better with more participation.

“We are not looking just for financial support, we are also looking for volunteers to speak to the children, or participate in afternoon reading programmes. As well as making provisions to come into the school during school hours to speak with the children about life skills and also motivational talks. This act of giving back to our students will empower them and prepare them for a bright future,” said Ms Stuart.