Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Christmas season is here it seems, from all signs we see around, though it is only December 13, 2022. However, we are still in the season of Advent - a time to prepare for Jesus’ second coming into the world. For the Roman Catholics, we anticipate our Traditional Christmas Novena in preparation for Christmas. Let us not fail to include Jesus Christ in all our activities. “The Advent season invites us to step away from what can be a frenzied time of parties and shopping to consider how we commemorate the birth of Jesus, one of the holiest times in Christian faith. It is also a time to reflect on the triumphant return of Jesus at the second coming”. {Pope Francis} As we anticipate the second coming of Christ, we live in hope, and pray for faith, joy and reconciliation with self, others and Jesus.
I want to thank you for your participation in the parent-teacher meetings, and our PTA sponsored Family Day, and Christmas Concert. Congratulations to the PTA Executive Body, Class Representatives and Teachers who managed a successful Family Day and Concert. I wish to thank you also for your generosity in donating gifts and food items, which will be distributed to those less fortunate. We value our partnership with you and look forward to your continued support.
We had our students engaged in many activities during the past term. Such activities included Basketball and Football tournaments, among the older students, and a successful Pee Wee Football tournament where our junior students gained a fourth place and earned two Footballs, one 40-inch television set and a trophy. Our students also entered National Track and Field Athletics and Swimming. We also had participants in the Inter Guiana Games.
The Spelling B sponsored by the Dental Association saw Maleah Blackman of Grade 3-2 gaining a second place. From the Secondary Department eight students entered the Spell It competition sponsored by NCERD. There were six rounds. Three students were knocked out in the first round. Of the five remaining, one student made it to the fourth round, two students managed to reach the fifth round, while Mayas Khan and Tramain Clarke were in the sixth round and emerged in the top ten. All five students received a medal and certificate. Additionally, Tramain and Mayas received a tablet each. Three Sixth Form students, Renika Anand, Anjali Maharaj and Saskia Lalgie, managed successfully to gain a second place, from 100 registered groups, in the Ideathon. We also celebrate Renika’s success in gaining second place in the Youth Research paper. She presented on the topic, “A Guyanese perspective on education in the Post-Covid environment”. The University of the West Indies sponsored this. Their topic was on Mental Health. We had three groups of Secondary students who entered the Speed Painting on the theme of Climate Action, sponsored by Policy Forum. Our Teams scored first and second places, except one that was unable to complete painting. The school had their annual Spelling B competition. In the Primary Department, Our Lady of Lourdes House emerged Champion and Our Lady of Fatima House in the Secondary Department. Congratulations to all the students who participated in these co-curricula competitions, and to everyone who assisted.
Please be assured of my prayerful support for all our Marian Family members who would have lost loved ones especially over the past year. May our dear Lord continue to strengthen you as you face 2023 without them.
Please be reminded of additional classes for some CSEC student (Physics, Mathematics, and Theatre Arts) already mentioned in a previous letter. On behalf of the academic and clerical staff at Marian Academy, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for all you do and for the gift that you are to our school. Our wish is that you may know the joy, hope, and peace of the Nativity this Christmas Season. We share with you the words of St. Luke, and hope you find strength in the words of the angel:
Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.