Aunt Madge Graduates and parents
‘Moving Up’, is the title of Aunt Madge Child Care Graduation ceremony. This of the popular child care service that mottos, “Providing Quality Care & Learning Through Play.” The centre cares for children ranging from babies at three months to four years or until ready for Grade K.
In the middle of the month dedicated to Early Childhood, on June 16 at the Arts and Education Centre, Brades, at 4.00 p.m. Madge Donoghue was first this year to hold a graduation ceremony that has become the norm now for every accredited education centre on the island.
Fr. George Agger of the R C Church opened the packed ceremony with prayers for children ranging from two to four years of age performing for their parents, guardians and friends. Ms Wendy Aymer introduced the chairperson Dr. Ingrid Buffonge, who praised the Aunt Madge centre, but was different in her approach to the smooth flow of the program.
Teachers and children
Admitting possible bias, she said, “Aunt Madge Child Care is the best child care centre in Montserrat, (to applause) all of my children (three) have been to Aunt Madge Child Care and we couldn’t want for anything different…”
In quick order the guest speaker in senior nurse Mrs. Joan Moinnodeen gave a feature address in which she opened by encouraging, “parents, guardians, friends and community at large, in ensuring that children have a role to play in ensuring that they (children) have their rightful places in society.”
She offered to share some 13 tips to carry out her suggestion, among them:
We need to pray with and for our children daily, and teach them to pray.
Give them the proper nutrition starting with breast-milk only at birth and continue exclusively for 6 months.
Let them have plenty of fruits, vegetables and water.
Don’t let our Children live your past time dreams, but allow them with guidance to follow their heart.
Allow them to be themselves and enjoy childhood. Don’t rush them into becoming adults too fast too soon.
It’s not always taking 1st place.
Remember all of our children will not be academically inclined…Some will have natural ability to perform task that many learned men will find it hard to do.
Teach them the golden rule. i.e. do unto others as we would have them do to us.
Let them know it is still ok to have manners and show respect.
We need to show them love and encourage them.
Take them exercising outdoors;
She closed by wishing, “that all these little ones and those who will come behind them will grow up and find their rightful place in society, ably assisted by not only their parents, but by relatives, family members, friends, teachers, and society at large,” reminding, “”Let us remember it takes a village to raise one child.”
Then came the performances of the children: a welcome, a gospel segment where they recited performed to passages of scripture, in medley and song and acting; Poems by the 4 year plus, with added skits and a little musical interlude; presentation of numbers, rounded off with an outstanding guest performance with the girls by Mrs. Sujue Davis.
Mrs. Davis performance was the signing of what she said was a Chinese folk song about young girls. The song, ‘Xian qi ni de gai tou lai’ (Lift up your veil). “It admires the beauty of young girls in Xin Jiang, who are supposed to keep their faces covered with veils,” she described. As she sang the pretty dressed little girls danced and acted out the song
Aunt Madge (Donoghue) followed up with her report on the centre she said, is subsidised by her, and is a non-profitable private institution located in Woodlands. She described the beliefs upon which the centre is run, with a staff of seven to include a cleaner and a relief, and a roll of 30. She described all the activities in which the children participate. Acknowledgements, thanks and appreciation to parents, grandparents, friends and well-wishers were published in the program.
The program continued with the procession of 11 graduates, six girls and five boys, presentation where the children described their adult career aspirations; and a song in honour Fathers Day. There were the presentations of gifts and certificates, (Mrs. Nadine Smith and Ms. Michelle White; honouring of parents by Mrs. Donoghue, and staff by Mrs. Gwendolyn Wade; followed by one more show, a Fancy Dress parade.
A vote of thanks delivered by Mrs. Paulette Silcott, ended the program.
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