Email

Print

Today Monica Bodden visited two different city schools where the study of patriotism was on rich display - here's her report:

Monica Bodden Reporting:

The theme for the September celebrations is - honoring our history, celebrating our cultures, uniting for peace.

As Belize comes to celebrate its 30 years of independence, students across the country have been displaying their patriotism in the most creative ways you can imagine.

These students of James Garbutt Primary School, have spent the last 2 weeks decorating their classrooms - as their school held its first ever Class Patriotic competition - as a part of the September festivities.

Jerilyn Seguro - Acting Principal, James Garbutt Primary School
"It's a patriotic classroom competition. What we had were 3 classes representing the infant, the middle, and the lower divisions. Teachers and students got together, and they decided that they were going to work together as a team, and they were going to decorate the classrooms. So, the tour that you went on was actually the tour of the 3 classrooms representing these divisions."

Monica Bodden
"Is this a first?"

Jerilyn Seguro
"Yes, for the school, it's a first. So, it's something that we're learning now, as we go along, we know that we really need to get into this thing, and show that we have a love for God and country."

It is a first for the students of James Garbutt School to compete in a class patriotic competition. The acting principal told us why they decided to decorate inside instead of outside.

Jerilyn Seguro
"Actually, we have been decorating our schools prior to this, but what happened was that over weekends, people would come and destroy everything that we did. So one of the teachers said, 'You know, let's decorate the class, not just regularly how we would decorate, but let's add something more. Let's be more patriotic.' So instead of the classroom's outside, we left that a bit; we down-played that, and we decorated each division. We had certain criteria that they were supposed to be following."

And after going from classroom to classroom to check out the work of the students, they all assembled outside to be entertained by a group of students who are called Pathfinders.

In the end the lower division of the school was named the first place winners for the patriotic class competition. They got to enjoy cupcakes covered in red white and blue.

And then it was off to Saint Catherine's Academy - where the girls took part in what they called a Belizean Cake Boss Competition - beautiful cakes on display - all decorated in red, white and blue… which tell the story of this 30 year old nation.

Kerry Ann Mason - Head of the Social Studies Department, SCA
"As part of the celebrations, we decided to engaged the students in a number of activities. And one of them was the Belizean Cake Boss Competition. So each form was supposed to present a cake that reflects the theme of the celebrations this year. They were not limited in terms of their creativity. We just expected a beautiful cake that would say Belize. And they did well; we've had a lot of support. They've been very excited about it, and so we decided that we would love to share it with the rest of Belize."

Monica Bodden
"So far, has a winner been chosen?"

Kerry Ann Mason - Head of the Social Studies Department, SCA
"The judges are still making their decision; we've not decided on a winner just yet. Taste is a part of if too, because you make a cake, you want it to look good, but you want it to be edible also. So we are yet to taste the cakes."

Student #1
"Our class, 4 Science, did the cake. It was 15 of us. We put the theme which is honoring our history, celebrating our cultures, uniting for peace. We decided to put the blue, white and red that represents Belize."

Student #2
"If you notice, we have cookies - these are cookies with fondant over them. Each and every single one was hand painted by someone in our group. Each represents parts of Belize. Back here we have a little toucan, there is an orchid, a tapir, and many little flowers, and a little Maya woman - representing or culture, along with the peace sign here representing peace."

Student #3
"Our cake, on the top we have the Belizean flag, and then, on top of that, we have George Cadle Price - because without him, we wouldn't have independence or anything like that. Then, on the second piece of the cake, we have Belize at 30, and then we have the theme for Belize this year."

Student #4
"Honoring our history, celebrating our culture, united for peace."

Student #3
"We also have Saint George's Caye."

Student #4
"And the men of the coat of arms."

Student #3
We have the men, and then the Belize map to the back here. Then, on the sides, you have the Belizean flags, and to the front, you have the theme for Belize."

Student #5
"This first we have the theme which is honoring our history, celebrating our cultures, uniting for peace. The second layer has different patterns of the coat of arms, and the 3rd basically represents an assembly area, where each and everyone of us unites as one Belize together to sing the national anthem."

Student #6
"We wanted to show our theme for this year, which is honoring our history, celebrating our cultures, uniting for peace, and we wanted to celebrate that we're celebrating the 30th anniversary of Belize. We did here like a flag; it's all the colors of the Belizean flag. We have here the coat of arms, but we did a little twist. Inside, we put a bird which is like dove which represents peace. Everything is just about celebrating Belize."