We at Sharon are a happy lot and try our very best to learn the lessons we are taught, to stand up to the test . . . . With our motto ever before us we’ll always try to ensure that whatsoever we say or do we love God; aim high; keep pure. – Sharon Primary’s school song.
The words were bellowed by the 300 plus smiling pupils gathered in Sharon Primary School hall on Tuesday morning.
And listening with rapt attention were their teachers, ancillary staff, past students, parents and well-wishers who had come together to celebrate the school’s recent successes. All faces were aglow as pupils were presented with their respective awards and trophies.
Last Friday at the National Stadium, Sharon’s athletes recorded their best performance to date at the NAPSAC meet, gaining 16 medals. They placed third in the Boys’ and sixth in the Girls’. Then two days later, Sunday, Sharon Primary was adjudged winner of the 2011 Schools Choir Competition at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Complex.
The student body was given a few words of advice from former teacher of the school, Member of Parliament Cynthia Forde, and principal Ronald Bradshaw.
Forde admonished the pupils to put their best foot forward always, making do with whatever was available to them.
“Work hard and make sure Sharon Primary is known as the best rural school in Barbados,” she said to resounding applause.
The school’s first male principal urged likewise.
“I can if I am given an opportunity,” he asked the students to recite about three times.
Bradshaw said it was his desire to make Sharon the best in every field, when he later shared his vision for the school with the Weekend Nation.
“I want in the near future to sit down with all our partners: old scholars, the church, the community leaders and the corporate society near us, so we can pool all of our resources and chart a positive course for the school.
Giving credit to some of the past principals “who would have paved the way”, he added that he felt “great” to be a part of an institution marking its 25th anniversary this year.
Choir director Ronald Bullen, who lead Sharon Primary to victory last Sunday, said hardwork and dedication had finally paid off.
The school entered the NIFCA performing arts competition last year, winning a bronze medal. But Bullen, determined to do better, entered the schools choir competition with his sights set on gold.
“I used the disappointment at NIFCA?as my motivation. I had the full support of the principal and staff. The students too were very keen. I chose the Spiritual Medley because of the music components in all of the songs.
“A lot of people have turned their backs on gospel and on God, but I?want to keep it alive and well,” he explained.
Bullen himself won the Choir Director Award, while the choir won Best Rendition, Best Solo, Best Arranged Song and Most Dynamic Choir.
Physical education teacher Nikisha Maynard added her voice on the school’s track accomplishments. Acknowledging that times had changed, she said students now looked to school athletes as role models, and that in most cases the successful athlete was among the more popular students.
“There is a lot of raw athletic talent here at Sharon, and I want to harness it. I am working towards all [athletes] performing at their full potential. When the infants see the older athletes win, they are energized by them. Then they too believeit is possible for them to succeed.”
She declared: “The future of Sharon Primary is bright. And with hard work and focus we will continue to be dominant in certain areas for many years to come.”
