June 14, 2013

Dear Parents,

As you know, the academic year ends on July 05, 2013 and many of you have already planned your vacation.  Your daughters would have a fair amount of free time and you are faced with the formidable task of keeping them occupied.   I urge you to sit with your daughters and schedule how they should spend this time in a productive manner.  This is the opportunity for them to get involved in their community and to learn new skills. It is important that you know about your child’s daily activities, especially their choice of entertainment.

Funeral Arrangements

I wish to inform you that the funeral for the twins, Khadijah and Khertima Taylor will take place at the Revival Time Assembly at King’s Wharf on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.  The funeral for Kafiya Gill will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at St. Paul’s Anglican at 10:00 a.m.  We have extended condolences to the families on your behalf.

Examinations

The NCSE examinations and end of term examinations have begun.  The entire school will have exams from Tuesday, June 18 to Friday, June 28, 2013.

I am asking parents to refrain from collecting your daughters during the day.  School starts at 8:00 am and ends at 2:30 pm.  The office staff cannot function properly when they are frequently distracted by unnecessary visits to the office.

Walkathon

Our walkathon was a success and on behalf of the school community, I wish to thank you parents for the many ways you have supported this venture.  Your presence on the day was greatly appreciated.  As you know, funds raised will go towards refurbishing our IT laboratory.

There will be structured activities during the final week of the term.  The following have been arranged:

Monday , July 01, 2013

 Friendly Badminton Tournament with Naparima Girls’High school and San Fernando Central Secondary.

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

 Emancipation Day Programme

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

 Field Trip

Thursday, July 04, 2013

 Form 2s Field Trip.  Tentative SEA registration

Friday, July 05, 2013

School closing  Mass 

Class Party and distribution of reports. Dismissal at 1:00 p.m.

Retirement

Mrs. Rasheena Mohammed retired from the Teaching Service effective May 31, 2013.  We thank Mrs. Mohammed for her outstanding contribution to our school and in honour of her, the staff will be hosting a farewell  on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 1:00 pm.  No exams are scheduled for the afternoon,  so I am asking parents to kindly make arrangements to collect your daughters promptly.

As your daughters may have told you, I have decided to proceed on pre-retirement leave at the end of this term.  I will officially retire in October 2013.  This is then a letter of thanks to you, and by extension all parents and stakeholders who have collaborated with me for the twenty - five years that I have served in this school but  especially for the last nine years when I assumed the leadership of the school.  Together, we have had significant accomplishments and we have helped to produce fine young women who continue the tradition of excellent service that is synonymous with St. Joseph’s Convent San Fernando.  We must admit we have not been completely successful, since human freedom allows each person to decide how far she will accept and live by the values set before her here.  We can only continue to offer our time, talent and treasures to the young women entrusted to our care and trust that they will see the value of what we set before them and grow into women of worth.

The school continues according to the traditions of St. Joseph’s Convent.  The Mission Statement remains unchanged.  The structures and customs that have served us well for the past several years, that have in fact shaped me, and many staff members here, and I expect that this will remain in force.

The Board of Management of the St. Joseph’s Convents remains in charge of the school according to the provisions of the Education act.  The Vice Principal, Mrs. Jennifer Manwaring will automatically act as Principal on my retirement.  The passing of the baton will take place in the new academic year and I expect that the Chair of the Board and the School Supervisor II will preside. 

Over the years, the curriculum has been broadened and so I expect your continued support and loyalty to this school as we work to implement on a gradual basis some Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) subjects.  The first to be implemented in the new academic year is Food and Nutrition.  We have a full complement of staff and we pray that it will remain like this as the problem of finding suitable staff is a real one in education, as in many other fields.

Let me say once more how grateful I am for all that I have experienced here at SJC San Fernando.  I deeply appreciate the sense of belonging and the opportunity to contribute to the development of what is, without a doubt, one of the finest educational communities in our nation.

May God continue to prosper all our efforts and thanks to all.

Yours sincerely,

Dinna M. Bainey

Principal (Secondary)