Grand Anse Praslin primary school marks 73rd anniversary |04 June 2022
This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the Grand Anse Praslin primary school and a small ceremony was organised on site to celebrate the occasion.
It was on May 28, 1949, that Dr Selwyn Selwyn Clarke, the Governor of Seychelles at the time, inaugurated the first building of the Grand Anse primary school, known as the Modern School back then. The premises has gone through much transformation with the addition of new buildings and have played a key role in the education and formation of many professionals from Praslin.
The ceremony to mark the 73rd anniversary celebrations was animated by the students and teachers of the school and attended by past teachers who had the opportunity of reviving their teaching days at the school, chairperson and members of the school council and Parent Teachers Association and other officials.
The highlight of the ceremony was the burial of a time capsule which contained the aspirations of pupils for the school in the next ten years in terms of teaching, learning, resources, infrastructure and the environment. Each class contributed to the capsule which was buried by the school’s pupil’s committee chairperson Leandro Labiche assisted by his vice-chairperson Gais Lesperance, chairperson of the school’s council, Farida Camille, and head teacher Lina Lesperance.
Nadege Medor, a past student and also a teacher who has taught for many years at the school, shared the school’s physical history, explaining the transformation from the time that she was a student to date.
She retraced the addition of new buildings, location of the school meal centre which prepared meals for all schools on the island and the spot which consisted of orange trees ‘zoranz lapo fin’.
“I particularly remember how much respect we all had for the orange trees. You would never have seen students plucking oranges or vandalising the trees. During the headship of Mrs Monica Hoareau, the oranges were harvested on Fridays and shared with the school community. We all had an orange to go home with, although some could not wait to get home to devour it and that was very heartwarming, especially for the children.”
In her address to the attendees, head teacher Lesperance shared her satisfaction of how far the school has come from 1949 and thanked all those who have contributed to its success over the years.
“Today is a very special day and we are grateful to witness it. As a school we have had many accomplishments on different levels; studies, sports, environment and many more. Today we can stand proudly with much dynamism to work even harder for more success.”
“I would also like to seize this opportunity to thank all the members of staff who have brought their valuable contribution towards the transformation and progress of Grand Anse primary school in one way or another.”
The ceremony ended with the commemorative planting of a coconut tree in the school entrance by students Chad Hoareau, Tiana Esther, Ezekiel Sophola, Keith Volcère, the headteacher and several teachers and viewing of an exhibition especially set up to depict the school’s transformation and accomplishments over the years.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the ceremony to celebrate the school’s 73rd anniversary.
Text : Nadia Bedier
Photos: Romano Laurence
