Winner of the Prestigious T.A. Marryshow Memorial Award Cup 17 ...

30 BARNACLE DECEMBER 2009Jr. BarnacleInterview with Ms. Cheryl Bernabe- Principal of The Beacon Highfrom page 24What is your focus for theschool?My focus for the school year is developinga learning culture, when allour children understand the learningculture of our school they willknow what is expected at all timesand in every area of learning. So myfocus is on ‘learning culture’ and I’mhoping to finish it by this term.How do you propose to addresscharacter building?In many of the simple, little storieslike Grimm’s fairy tales there are alot of character building traits thatcame out from those stories that wejust leave alone. If we look at thecharacter traits and we start questioningthe students about the story,it will open up their imagination.Through that, their self confidencewill increase, their self esteem willcontinue to grow and then they willbe able to apply what they havelearnt to their own lives.The Ministry is now really trying tofuse virtues and values into the curriculum,it is not that it is new per sebut the need to reinforce those virtuesis urgent. Every opportunity weget, we must include them.A lot of social responsibility and citizenshiphas to be taught at school,the home must do its part as well butI am not a teacher who says that thehome is not doing it so why should I.School must and should be a place oflearning and the atmosphere mustbe conducive to this.We have personal development forour students, one period a week,where they learn about social responsibility,virtues and values andso forth.At Beacon we’ve become not just aschool but a family, and the parentalsupport is awesome.We teach the children to be determined,no matter what obstacle maypresent itself; they must have thecourage to overcome.What has been your greatestachievement?One of my other greatest achievementsI must say, is that I’ve alwaysbelieved in creative arts, I believe ithas a tremendous role to play.In 2005, the Minster of Educationasked me to join some foreign personnelwho were doing summer programsfor teachers; they wanted anindividual to demonstrate how extracurriculum activity enhances classroomwork.I felt that I wasn’t competent enoughto do it at the time, but I finallyagreed because I believe despite allthe academics that we’re doing, wecontinues on page 34