There were bright smiles for the 2014 graduating class at Society Primary School yesterday, but for most it was bittersweet.
The 13 students represented the last set from Class 4 to leave the St John school, which will close its doors permanently when the school year ends next week.
The 100-year-old school had been beset with a number of structural and environmental problems over the years, and the Ministry of Education recently decided it was time to shut it down.
Parliamentary representative Mara Thompson was among those to express her feelings over the closure at the graduation ceremony held at Messiah’s House Wesleyan Holiness Church, Massiah Street, St John.
Stating she was “saddened” at the closure, Thompson however encouraged people to embrace the change, and to look to the future and the promise of what was to happen. She said one of the positive things they could look forward to was a move to a healthier building.
Principal Shirley Thomas also shared her views on the closure of the school she headed for the past year.
“Change is not usually embraced right away, but based on the reasons that are given, while people have apprehensions of it closing, then I think people still understand why it is closing at this time,” she said.
It was also the end of the road for the 11 teachers and ancillary staff, but they will not be left in the lurch.
“We’ve been assured that everyone will be placed,” Thomas said.
Parents were given option forms to indicate where they would prefer their children to go when school resumes in September. Thomas said the choices in St John were St Margaret’s and St Mark’s, but parents also had “outside” alternatives. (YB)
