Excellence in education, but Bishop’s appeals for funds

PRINCIPAL of the Bishop Anstey High School (BAHS) yesterday made a plea for more funding to run the affairs of the school. In her report at the school’s annual awards function at Queen’s Hall, principal Patsy-Ann Rudder pleaded for “generous donations as $1.5 million is required annually for the day-to-day running of the school.” Rudder said the Ministry of Education gives the school a grant of $600,000 a year, and millions more were needed for the physical upgrade of the school. She said during this year, “funds permitting,” the school hall will be refurbished and more classroom space created. She said the school also planned to create multi-media studies and equip all classrooms with facilities to enhance delivery of the curriculum.

Rudder added that the school’s aim will be to maintain its high standard and retain the tradition of creating well-rounded leaders. During the academic year 2004/2005, Rudder said the students excelled both academically and in extra-curricular activities. In the 2005 CXC exams, students attained 100 percent pass rates in several subjects, with an overall pass rate of 96 percent. The overall distinction pass rate was 48 percent. At the CAPE level exams, there was a 100 percent pass rate in eight subjects with an overall distinction rate of 74.7 percent. At the GCE Advanced Level exams, Rudder said there was also a 100 percent pass rate in several of the 15 subjects written, with an increase in the distinction rate from 51 percent last year, to 55 percent this year. She said it was the highest rate in the last six years. Ten of the school’s students received scholarships, and two received world rankings for Geography.

In the extra-curricular activities, Rudder said several trophies and medals were won by the school’s clubs, including the swim and track and field teams. A member of the latter team, Rhonda Watkins, won a sports scholarship to UCLA where she is pursuing Biology. Delivering the feature address was former Hiliarian Dr Dianne Douglas. She is a clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine in the US. She urged students to value themselves, parents/family, community and God. She said during these times of violence against women, “if you want to attract a good bush man, you have to love and respect who you are.” Douglas also told parents to respect and love their children.

Among the winners were Sonel Rowley, daughter of Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Sonel was recognised for her outstanding academic achievement and was selected class Hiliarian by her Lower Six classmates. The BAHS Hiliarian award was given to Danielle Williams. Scholarship winner Megan Nunes was also a big winner, receiving certificates for academic achievement and good citizenship, and the Catherine Scoon Memorial trophy and prize for Maths, the Watson family award for excellence in Chemistry, and the Hilda Atherly Cup for Science. Nunes plans to study radiology or forensic science at a Houston University.