THE 12th Annual District II / Camille Henry Memorial School Fun Walk, under the theme “Building Bodies to Sustain Energetic Minds” was hailed a huge success by District Education Officer for the above mentioned district, Martha Foster.
With six Mobile Discos trying to outdo each other playing at their loudest, the music could heard in the distance as students, teachers, principals and parents, chipped along the route to some of their favourite songs such as ‘Bay Pat’ sung by local artiste, Subance.
The route supervised by four outriders from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) traffic department took the students from the Camille Henry Memorial School grounds, left onto L’Anse road; right onto Desir Avenue; left at Serenity Park; right onto Mc Vane Avenue; left by First Baptiste Church; left on Julian Charles Drive; right onto Desir Avenue; left onto Morris Mason Avenue; right onto Carnation Drive; left onto Hibiscus Crescent; left onto L’Anse Road and then back to the Camille Henry Memorial School.
Education Officer for District II Martha Foster who spoke to the VOICE at the end of the 3 Kilometre Fun Walk noted, ‘This is our 12th annual fun walk to commence the sports term. We had a number of organizations onboard including the Diabetic Association and the School Feeding Department of the Student Support Service Unit from the Ministry of Education who shared good nutrition habits to the children. We also had our main sponsor Massy on the ground distributing their products to the students.”
This year a record 1500 plus students participated in the event Foster described as “really important.”
“We want our children to understand the importance of having an active lifestyle,” she explained. “District II is a strong academic district; we have placed first in national examinations year after year. We are building capacity in terms of our sports, but we want the children to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating; the two go hand in hand in terms of academic performance as well. We’re hoping this activity will encourage them to live an active lifestyle and perform well.”
Foster commented on the next sporting event for students, which was track and field.
“The track and field competition for the individual schools within the district will start early February and the district championship will be held later that same month where we bring all our top athletes from the various schools together for the final showdown at the Daren Sammy Cricket Grounds (DSCG)”.
She added that there were also other events leadings up to that, including a table tennis championship and a physical education activity at the core of which was an aim to develop various skills and techniques with students.
Redirecting her focus to the most recent event, a hugely successful fun walk, the education office noted, “I am pleased! My physical education teachers, my district office and principals have worked exceedingly hard to pull off this event today and I am very pleased with the performance.”
The VOICE also spoke to the Principal of the Vide Boutielle Primary School, Lyrill Arthur – Stanislaus about the event.
“Today’s event was one with a difference,” the school principal noted. “It is phenomenal to see all 13 schools within the district come together as one with a sense of unity and that sense of pride to accomplish such an endeavour and to have all principals, teachers and parents come onboard to celebrate being healthy and exercising and getting the children to see the importance of not remaining stagnant, but to keep moving forward to be energized.”
As stated by District II Sports Coordinator Dyke Francis, “It was a huge success. We had record numbers in terms of student participation and parent attendance. There were no injuries, everything went according to plan.”
Francis thanked the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Saint Lucia Red Cross Society, the National Emergency Organization (NEMO), the St Lucia Diabetes & Hypertension Association, sponsors, principals, parents and owners of the various Mobile Discos for their support.
