‘Called to Serve’
December 17, 2018
Moving away from the death penalty
December 17, 2018
The Trinidad and Tobago Reading Association hosted its Annual Festival of Reading and Books at City Hall in Port of Spain on the morning of Thursday, November 8.
City Hall was alive with a sea of excited faces of students from schools in and around Port of Spain, even as far as St Joseph in the east and St Mary’s in the west. These students were there to spend the morning performing their favourite poems, monologues, stories, choral reading, even rap, all based on the theme Natural Disasters—Are We Ready?
The schools represented were: St Xavier’s Private School; Sacred Heart Girls’ RC; St Mary’s RC; Trinity Junior School; St Joseph’s Convent, St Joseph; Gloster Lodge Primary School, and St Mary’s College.
Students from three schools dramatised their performances using a variety of reading strategies to the delight of the audience.
St Mary’s RC performed ‘Happy Harry’ as a choral speaking item. This stimulating performance took us through the trauma people experienced in the recent flood. They advised listeners what to do when a natural disaster occurs.
St Xavier’s also performed several pieces eloquently, during which they advised the audience what to do when natural disaster strikes.
Sacred Heart Girls’ RC delighted listeners with a choral rendition entitled ‘The Earthquake’ which was reminiscent of the earthquake experienced by citizens in late August and September.
The children who did not perform were there to lend support to fellow students who demonstrated their literacy skills in an outstanding manner, as well as to enjoy the occasion. These were children from the Princess Elizabeth School, Newtown Girls’ RC and Eastern Girls’ Government Primary.
Emmanuel Joseph, a Sixth Form student of St Mary’s College was fabulous with his rendition entitled ‘The Creation’. In this monologue, he spoke of the pains the earth experiences because of people’s abuse. He presented this item at two other literacy events, where he placed first on each occasion.
To enhance the occasion, Zahra Ali of Hodder Educational Co, supplied all the children present with stationery kits and note pads. The Reading Association also supplied books, maps and other literacy paraphernalia, much to their delight.
After an interesting and enjoyable morning, the children returned to their schools with happy faces, delighted at having been part of this wonderful experience. The Trinidad and Tobago Reading Association looks forward to the 2019 presentation of Festival of Reading and Books.
