School Year Ends With Jameeka Smith’s Graduation

The school year ended June 30, 2005 with the graduation party of Jameeka Smith. Jameeka will now attend school on Grand Turk. She received much praise and numerous awards and gifts.

The balance of the class had to stay in school for the week following Jameeka’s graduation ceremony on Grand Turk the weekend before.

Your intrepid reporter stopped by the school, set up the cameras and let them roll. The class, sans Jameeka sat for a class picture and individual pictures as well. The class, together, sang the Salt Cay anthem. Individually, the children were given the opportunity to perform for the video camera, whether a song, song and dance or poem. We all had a fun time.

Meanwhile, the Mary Robinson Primary School was getting a much needed new roof. The entire roof structure was removed to the stone walls and new rafters were being raised upon my departure.

LeMel Selver is now the "senior" student in the school and all the responsibility of being such falls to him. Speeches at the end of school ceremony were pretty weighty, and the sense of pride and responsibility that is instilled in these young people is clearly NOT a mixed message at these events. There is no doubt a lot is expected of these children and that classes past, despite all adversity, have succeeded in life.

Let us hope that the Mary Robinson Primary School does not become a thing of the past. That children are on Salt Cay and living with their families, not shipped to Grand Turk. The question may be is 7th grade too soon for these children to suddenly be transported from Salt Cay to Grand Turk. This is much like leaving Mayberry for Chicago with nothing in between at 12 years of age.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the kids could stay on Salt Cay until they were high school freshmen at least? I spoke with Miss Wilson about this and there has been talk, especially with two talented teachers such as herself and Miss Lowe on island.

When I take pictures of Trey and LeMel, best buddies in the world, and the girls, Elronique, Ashley and Lexie...I cannot imagine never having a picture of yourself, your friends or your family taken. At first I think of the picture I LIKE, then I think, I need to chose the PICTURES THEY WANT and posed for...and print them all. A few of these pictures are included here.....