Participants in Children's Festival of the Arts Awarded for Creative Excellence
North Side Primary quadrille dancers.
Jonelle Ebanks accepts one of the many John Gray awards from Mrs. Emma Dinwiddy.
Students of John Gray and George Hicks high schools, Junior High, Wesleyan Christian Academy, Cayman Prep & High School, and John A. Cumber Primary led the performances of outstanding music, drama and other creative expression during the recent National Children's Festival of the Arts. After weeks of performances, they and representatives of 24 other schools received well-deserved accolades at the final awards evening.
A packed house enjoyed the performances and ceremony, as trophies and awards were presented to the students who were outstanding and creative performers in this 21st annual event.
Attending the function, which took place at the Harquail Theatre last week, were His Excellency the Governor Mr. Bruce Dinwiddy and his wife Emma; Education Minister the Hon. Roy Bodden, and his Permanent Secretary Joy Basdeo. Also present were Chief Education Officer Nyda Flatley, other educators and teachers from public and private schools, as well as representatives of private music and dance companies and proud family members.
During the awards evening a diverse selection of winning items were presented. These included the colourful folk song 'Shine Eye Gal' by the John A. Cumber Primary students; speech solos by Shiona Stewartson and Andrea Maffessanti; a Catalan song by Andrea Agustin; an enchanting violin solo by Will McFarland; an Arabian 'Desert Rose' dance by Tanny Onsalo; the North Side Primary Quadrille dancers; and an anti-drug skit by the John Gray Drama Group.
Mrs. Angela Martins, Director of the Quincentennial Office presented the Quincentennial Award for Creative Writing to John Gray student Eldon Parchmon; Rotarian Dr. Desiree Charles presented the Rotary Central Award for the best short story in a Caymanian setting to George Hicks student Tracey Forbes; and CNCF Deputy Chairman Mrs. Mary Rodrigues presented the CNCF Awards for storytelling to John Gray students Davine Bush and Joanna Jackson. Other awards and trophies were presented by Mrs. Dinwiddy, Mrs. Basdeo; Deputy Chief Education Officer Francine Gardener and Senior Education Officer Herbert Crawford.
Expressing pleasure at the performances and high standards in his remarks, Minister Bodden said, "The Festival has truly matured into an eagerly awaited national event of which we can all be proud."
The Chief Education Officer added that, "This Festival speaks to the fact that we are serious about the arts as a national priority. It speaks also to the preservation of culture and to one of the most important tools in curriculum delivery where children learn, appreciate and develop through the arts."
The total gold, silver and bronze awards in all categories for the respective schools and private studios are as follows: John Gray - 34 gold, 49 silver and 25 bronze; George Hicks -33 gold, 36 silver and 24 bronze; Cayman Prep -21/49/17; Wesleyan Christian Academy -17/26/6; John Cumber Primary -9/22/24; Bodden Town Primary -3/16/16; Triple C -11/20/26; Grace Christian Academy -5/7/5/; St. Ignatius High-12/11/9; First Baptist -1/14/6 Lighthouse -1/1/4; Bjorkland Studio -2/5/1; Joyce Fell Studio -1/1/0; St. Ignatius Prep -7/12/5; Red Bay -3/5/6; East End -3/9/10: Faulkner -0/3/1; Miss Chrissie's -0/1/2; Savannah -7/16/11; combined Primary Band -0/1/0; North Side Primary -1/9/3; George Town Primary -0/2/0; Creek Primary -6/14/15; West End Primary -5/12/9; Spot Bay -3/10/7; Cayman Brac High -7/20/10; Cayman Academy -1/3/3; Little Cayman Primary-0/3/4; and Miss Jackie's School -1/0/0.
The John Gray High School drama group presented their emotional skit "Reece Did Drugs."
The extent of participation in the annual event, which is often referred to by students simply as "Festival," reflects the total experiences of the school term. For instance, the George Town Primary experienced major setbacks following flooding and school closure, resulting in limited involvement in 'Festival' this year; and the fledgling Little Cayman Primary School was represented even though it has only five students and two teachers.
The organizers commented that the increasing exhibition of creative excellence, also reflected in external examinations, by students in the John Gray and George Hicks schools as the years progress is especially noticeable and commendable.
Commending the performers, as well as the teachers, organiser Education Officer-Music and Culture Stephanie Williams said, "The continued improvement in standards of musical performances, especially instrumental music, is truly remarkable." In addition to the evening's awards, hundreds of other personal awards were to be presented in enduing days at the respective schools.
The major sponsors of this year's event were Coutts (Cayman) Ltd. and Dart Management. Valuable support continued to be offered by a range of private companies, banks and individuals.