Hardbargain RC graduates leave armed with academic, spiritual foundation

We at Hardbargain (St Paul’s) RC School are celebrating our industrious students and dedicated teachers and principal.

Our graduating class of 2022 were in Standard Three in 2020 when we first went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was quite an interesting adventure with many ups and downs, twists, and turns but we diligently persevered to reach SEA 2022.

Our graduation ceremony was held July 1, which coincided with the release of the SEA results. We were overjoyed to celebrate the graduates’ achievement as the majority of our students were indeed successful, passing for either their first or second choice schools.

God is so good! He rewarded the hard work of the teachers, the diligence of the children and the unwavering support of their parents.

The graduation theme was taken from 1 Timothy 4:12, Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to all believers in the way you speak and behave and in your love, your faith and your purity of life.

This year we were privileged to have Fr Ian Taylor, Parish Priest of New Grant, as our special guest and featured speaker. Bunnie Tajudeen, one of our Vicariate Managers, was also in attendance.

Fr Taylor’s address emphasised that our benchmark of success is not SEA results only; it is our students’ relationship with Jesus. What is the point of sending the kids out into the world with only intellect? We would have failed them if we only did that.

In addition to their stationery packages, certificates, and trophies, each student was also given a New Jerusalem Bible and a rosary presented to them by Fr Taylor and Tajudeen respectively.

We are proud to say that when our students leave our establishment, they are armed with both a strong academic and spiritual foundation. In fact, during this year’s valedictory speech the students were also able to reminisce about their seven years spent at Hardbargain RC which included attending Holy Mass, singing praise and worship songs, praying the rosary, and singing the Divine Mercy. The graduates leave the school with Jesus as their friend and to remember the saying by Minor Meyers Jr: “Go into the world and do well.” But more importantly go into the world and do good.

—Genevieve Baljour and Katrina Ali-Tuitt