Convent and CIC past students raise funds for primary school principals

Last November, the two past student bodies staged a memorable benefit concert from which a profit of just over $83,000.

This entire sum has been handed over to the School Leadership Centre, a local organisation that has as its main objective, that of developing leadership skills among school principals at both the primary and secondary levels.

Using some very stringent criteria, officials of the Leadership Centre selected three principals to attend the Harvard workshop. Those selected are Tara Lalgee of San Francique Presbyterian, Thora Best of Rose Hill RC Laventille and Heather Pierre of Maraval RC In attendance at the simple ceremony at which cheques were handed over to the three principals were Fr Ron Mendes, Principal of St Mary’s College, Dr Theresa Yorke-Metzger, President of the St Joseph’s Convent Past Pupils’ Association and Richard Joseph, President of the St Mary’s College Past Students’ Union.

Elizabeth Crouch, Principal of St Joseph’s Convent and also the Director of the School Leadership Centre who outlined the work of the organisation and the many benefits derived by its members since its formation in 2000.

Newly-appointed Schools Supervisor Judith Pierre representing the Minister of Education, Senator Hazel Manning, lauded the work of the Leadership Centre and its contribution to education in Trinidad and Tobago. She also thanked the past students for their unselfish act of raising funds to assist schools other than those which they had attended. Dr Yorke-Metzger spoke on behalf of the two past student bodies and thanked the artistes who performed at last year’s concert. Among the artistes were the world-renowned Eddie Cumberbatch, Debbie Nahous, Gillian Seecharan-Scott, Richard Pierre, Derek Patience, calypsonian Black Stalin, the St Joseph’s Convent choir and the combined Convent/CIC steel orchestra. The singers were accompanied by pianist.

Lindy-Ann Bodden-Ritch and two of this country’s leading steel orchestras, WITCO Desperadoes and Excellent Stores Silver Stars.

Yorke-Metzger pointed out that the proceeds of the annual benefit concerts are donated to causes related to education.

The profits from the 2004 concert were used to assist schools that were damaged by Hurricane Ivan in Haiti, Tobago and Grenada. This year’s concert is carded for Saturday November 4 at the St Mary’s College Centenary Hall.