‘Parents seeking out’ the Garrison

President of the Garrison Secondary School Alumni Sargeant Pedro Whitehall with first formers during the opening ceremony. (Nigel Browne)

Thu, July 12, 2012 - 12:02 AM

OUTGOING YEAR HEAD at Garrison Secondary School, Reverend Esther Willoughby, believes the school is becoming attractive to the parents of students who take the Common Entrance Examination and qualify to attend a newer secondary school.

Speaking yesterday at the school in Paddock Road, St Michael during The Garrison Alumni & The Garrison Secondary School Transitional Education Programme 2012, which targeted students who will be starting their secondary school life there next year, Willoughby said they had been receiving requests from parents to have their children accepted at the school.

“Do you know that some parents beg me and ask me to put in a word for his or her child to come to school here? Right now, we have a roll of 195 for the first years and we were asked to take eight more [Tuesday]. So, maybe we will be having 203 first formers.

“So, we believe that people really love the Garrison School because there are things we are doing here that are right, good and wholesome.”

Willoughby, a longstanding staff member who retires on September 1, urged the students to not feel down-spirited if “some people say to you: ‘you pass for the Garrison?’”

She told them that there were people who attended the school who were currently holding top jobs across Barbados.

“You know why? When they came to this school, they remained focused,” she said, reminding them to remember their Creator.

She advised them to make use of this critical stage of their lives through engaging in positive activities.

“Keep focused, choose your friends wisely. You come here to work and also to play but at the same time, I want you to keep and remain focused. Make goals and come with your heart, mind and soul opened.” (AH)