Dozens of Grade Six students are now better prepared to make a transition from primary school to secondary school in September, after successfully participating in the 16th annual Republic Bank summer camp of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club. The four- week camp started on July 8 at the Rose Hall Town Primary School, and ended on Friday last with a whopping 95 students graduating at a very impressive closing ceremony. A total of approximately $700,000 worth of prizes and gifts were distributed to the top 11 awardees and other 84 students. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has said the summer camp commenced in 2008 with 60 students in attendance.
The main aims of the academy are to prepare students to make a successful transition from primary to secondary school; to get students to see the difference between the two levels; and to assist students with what is needed for success at the higher level. Supervised by members of the Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Under 21 and first division teams, the camp saw students being taught Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Integrated Science and basic Spanish.
Foster also disclosed that students were involved in several health and family life education sessions on peer pressure, drugs, suicide, personal hygiene, importance of education, personal discipline, and family bonding.
Graduates of the RHYSC 2024 Republic Bank summer camp
Additionally, the students were involved in career and culture days during the camp. The long- time secretary has said that close to 1400 youths have passed through the Republic Bank summer camp during the last 16 years, and the programme is now the most popular summer holiday event. Foster extended thanks to the management of Republic Bank for their support of the summer camp and the promotion of education to youths. Manager of the bank’s Williamsburg branch, Sattie Cox, has said she was very impressed with the high standard of the four-week camp.
Miss Cox hailed the outstanding work of the club’s executives and the two tutors as a job well done. She said the bank was very delighted to always be involved in promotion of education among youths. The veteran banking executive urged the 95 youths to remain focused and to always maintain a culture of discipline, hard work, and dedication. Also present at the impressive closing ceremony, which included several culture items by the students, were Rose Hall Town Mayor Dave Budhu and Town Clerk Natasha Griffith.
Head tutor Vish Kissama, a former CSEC and CAPE student, disclosed that all of the 95 students were fully prepared for entry into secondary school, and stated that all of the students had displayed an aptitude for hard work and to improve themselves. He praised the NAMILCO Thunderbolt flour teams and the Republic Bank for assisting the youths to make the transition to the higher level of schooling.
The RHTYSC under Basil Butcher Trust Program presented close to $700,000 worth of prizes and gifts. The outstanding students of the 16th annual summer camp were
1. Most Disciplined – Ovando Sandwell
2. Most Cooperative – Jayden Browne
3. Most Determined – Dakshesh Sanicharra
4. Most Committed – Seon Marimutoo
5. Most Improved – Catalaya Grimmond
6. Outstanding Leader – Liam Ram
7. Best Social Studies Student – Calecia Narain
8. Best English Student – Jonathan Gomes
9. Best Science Student – Adele Ramdial
10. Best Math Student – Sanarita Satrohan
11. Runner-up Student of the Camp – Calecia Narain
12. Student of the Camp – Jonathan Gomes
Each of the graduating students received an educational package worth $3000, while the top student received a variety of prizes including an electric bike, electric tablet, bicycles, household items, kitchen equipment, designer watches, designer clothing, cosmetics hampers among other things. The student of the camp, Jonathan Gomes, carried home $300,000 worth of prizes, including an electric bike donated by K.C Singh of the United States.
The Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour teams are the top teams at the respective levels in Berbice, and include players like Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Sharmaine Campbell, Shanita Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Clinton Pestano, Eon Hooper, Jonathan Rampersaud, Jeremy Sandia and Matthew Pottaya. The teams are sponsored by the National Milling Company of Guyana, located at Agricola, East Bank Demerara.
