Encourage a child to read during this Education Month and you are making a valuable investment in the future of that child.  This view expressed by Principal of the St. Mary’s Primary School, Jennifer Robinson, came recently as she graciously accepted a gift of books compliments of the Goddard Enterprises Ltd (GEL) Sports Club.

The books were presented on October 2nd by delegates participating in the Goddard’s Sports Club’s inaugural Inter-company pageant which comes off on October 18th, 2008 at Solidarity House, Hindsbury Road, St. Michael.

It was a fun morning for teachers, students and pageant delegates who spent some time after the presentation, reading with students from the Reception, Infants “A”, and Infants “B” classes and inspiring them to have fun while reading and learning.

While it was the little readers who had the most fun on the morning of the event, the presentation of books will serve the entire school, and Principal Robinson expressed her gratitude on behalf of the students, parents, management and staff of St. Mary’s to the Goddards Sports Club and pageant delegates.

The Principal said she believed the time spent with the children would augur well for their future development in reading and education in general, noting she was pleased to see how they responded and participated as pageant delegates read to them.

Acknowledging books as the building blocks of every good education, Sports Club Vice-president, Valencia Cumberbatch, said the book presentation and reading session was the Club’s way of having the delegates prepare for the upcoming pageant by not only having fun, but also giving something of value back to the community.

Cumberbatch added it was especially rewarding to see how the children had enjoyed themselves, particularly during interactive reading sessions complete with actions and imitating sounds such as was done by Delphine Bute of Purity Bakeries.

Barbadians will have a chance to interact with the 14 pageant delegates this Saturday, October 11th, when a motorcade will take the contestants through Bridgetown for their last public appearance before the big night on Saturday, October 18.

(10 October 2008)