Graydon Sealy students celebrate all things Bajan

IN the lead-up to Barbados’ 50th anniversary of Independence, the whole country has been kicked into celebratory mode, and the staff and students of Graydon Sealy Secondary are no exception.

 

Throughout the month of November, the school hosted several activities to commemorate this country’s big milestone. These included an Independence Quiz – in which the first formers won in the Junior division, and the fifth years took first place in the Seniors; an exhibition featuring Barbadian ar-tefacts; a Folk Singing Contest, won by the Second formers; an Independence Parade organised by Captain Lincoln Springer and the #14 Cadet Corps of the school; and even marble cricket and road tennis competitions. Green House won the Junior Division in road tennis; while Orange House came out on top in the Seniors. Bragging rights went to Green House in marble cricket.

 

The students were particularly keen to peruse the many old-time Bajan items on display at the exhibition, many of which they would have only heard about from their grandparents. The jucking board, milk bucket, Rediffusion, and coal oven were the top attractions.

 

Revealing the reasons behind this initiative, Principal Beverly Bancroft stated: “We felt it was necessary for the students to know all things Bajan, and to be involved in wholesome activities that were Barbadian.

 

“In our planning we tried to balance the arts with sports and educational activities” to ensure that various aspects of Barbadian culture were highlighted. 

 

“The events were very well received by not only the students, but the teaching and ancillary staff and even the guards,” she added.

 

And capping off the month of activities last Friday was the Independence programme, which began with a well executed parade of cadets. After this, the students and staff – most of whom were bedecked in the national colours – assembled in the hall where they were addressed by specially invited guest Dr. Marcia Burrowes, Lecturer in Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

 

During her speech, she gave the students a brief lesson about how Bridgetown got its name, revealing that “of all the islands in the Caribbean and British countries, we are the only one who has a capital named after the indigenous people who were here…

 

“Bridgetown,” she stated, “commemorates those very thousands and thousands of people who lived here before the Europeans came. We don’t tell ourselves this, but we actually have the memory of the indigenous people.”

 

Driving home her point, she made reference to the many places and things in Barbados which point directly to the existence of the indigenous persons who occupied this island – Indian Ground, Indian River, and Indian Trail.

 

Principal Bancroft is already looking forward to next year’s events, which she anticipates will be even bigger and better than before.