Double celebration for PIN students

By Lindsey Turnbull

Last year’s lockdown due to the pandemic meant that students who had completed the Positive Intervention Now (PIN) programme were unable to enjoy the closing ceremony for this important programme, but thankfully last Thursday they managed to join with this year’s class to participate in the closing event.

The PIN programme is run by St George’s Anglican Church and is an afterschool programme for students mainly from George Town Primary School who are in their last year of primary school. The intention of the programme is to help guide the students onto a positive path before they begin to navigate high school. The brainchild of former rector Rev Mary Graham, PIN is led by PIN Coordinator Marlene Ricketts and supported by dozens of volunteers and sponsors who work together to ensure students are helped spiritually, emotionally, academically and socially.

At this year’s closing ceremony, there were 12 students from the 2019 - 2020 term and six students (five in attendance at the event) who managed to complete the 2020 - 2021 term. At the ceremony, which was attended by family and friends of the students as well as sponsors and volunteers, awards were given for all students who completed the programme, as well as categories such as most helpful, most enthusiastic and most improved. Janesia Brown took the award this year for PIN Student of the Year. Students and parents performed a song and students also performed a dance which they had choreographed themselves.

Sharon Danvers-Campbell, Principal, at George Town Primary gave an address and gave some background to the importance of the programme to the school:

“Within our school, we recognise our children face challenges from time to time; they will fall and they want to get up, and so the PIN programme is that bridge, that support, that anchor that is embedded in our school for these children,” she explained.

She said that the PIN programme definitely made a positive impact on her students.

“Teachers have indicated that in those children who have come to the PIN programme, they see a difference in their behaviour, their values and their attitudes. Long live PIN programme!” she stated.

Ms Danvers-Campbell talked about the commitment the young people had shown to the programme, the integrity they had demonstrated in following it through and the commitment shown by their parents to ensuring their children continued their participation. She made particular mention of the PIN programme Coordinator Ms Marlene Ricketts who, she said, had shown tremendous energy in keeping the programme going since its inception 13 years ago. She also mentioned how closely entwined the PIN programme and George Town Primary School was with St George’s Anglican Church.

Chairman of the Board of Directors for the PIN programme, Pat Bynoe-Clarke, said:

“The members of the Board of Directors of PIN are pleased that we were able to host this closing ceremony for the PIN students. It was challenging school year but, through it all, the children, their parents, the volunteers and our sponsors persevered and we were able to hold the event and celebrate the children.”

Ms Bynoe-Clark said it was also great to have those students who did not have a leaving event last year due to the pandemic come back to receive their certificates.

“PIN is in its thirteenth year now,” she confirmed. “We remain committed to the development of our islands’ young people and we hope we are making a positive difference in the lives of those who participate in the PIN programme. We look forward to welcoming 15 new children in the 2021-2022 school year.”