Saturday School

Annual Prize Giving 2007

This year’s Prize Giving Event kicked off in grandeur celebrating the project’s 25 years of providing a Supplementary Educational Service to the Croydon’s BME community.

The Presenters were two of the Projects Mentors Mr. Dale Burton and Ms Sonia Miekle, who did an outstanding job of keeping the nights order of events flowing and keeping to time to an audiences of two hundred students, former students parents, former parents, friends, families and dignitaries from across London and especially the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Brain Udell and his lovely wife Mrs. Jo Udell.

The Guest Speakers for this joyous occasion were Ms. Florence Wilson an Executive Head Teacher from Lambeth and Mr. Audley Anderson, a renowned singer, songwiriter, mentor and former student of the project. The project was very fortunate to have such graceful and edifying speakers for this particular event. Both speakers shared with the audience their stories and their involvement with Croydon Supplementary Educational Project and the role of the community to ensure that the children today are taught good values as well as having the experience of a good education.

In Ms. Wilson’s speech she spoke of the African belief that it takes a village to raise a child which was confirmed by all who attended the Prize Giving event and Mr. Anderson ended his speech with a medley of songs ending with “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” to sum up this year’s Prize Giving theme of HERE SO LONG….. STILL GOING STRONG…… THE FUTURE IS CSEP!!!!!

The events began with the singing of the Project’s theme song “THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL” song by former students Ms Sybil Mahalyn- Baiden and Ms Dominique Lewis which lead nicely to theintroduction of the project’s new Chair of the Management Committee Ms. Allison Lammy who spoke eloquently about her journey in the project as a parent, a volunteer and her membership to the management committee which she now chairs. Along with Mr. Sasha Rhoden, the Project Director, who welcomed everyone with a heart felt inspired address reflecting on the years’ events at a glance.

The presentation of prizes to the children of Key Stage 1 and 2 were made and the children rejoiced in receiving their prizes and walked across the stage with pride.

Next to come was the introduction of the African drumming and dancing performed by the children in Years 1 to 4. The audience showed their appreciation with cheers as the young children enjoyed themselves in their African garments and danced to the African rhythms as part of the celebrations.

As part of the Heritage Lottery funded project NEWSFLASH: Heritage Chronicles, the songs “Amazing Grace” written by John Newton a former slave ship captain and the song “Oh Freedom” (which was sung by slaves in America who were dreaming of a time when they would be free from slavery) were sung by years 5 & 6.

Also as part of NEWSFLASH: Heritage Chronicles the packed audience experienced a polished presentation by years 9 & 10 on the Great African Empires pre – slavery which were:-

• Ghana
• Mali
• Sonhghai

The night’s events continued to wow the audience with the presentation of the prizes to the Key Stage 3 and 4 students and the presentation of the Special Prizes for:

• Cynthia Graham Creative Writing Prize :awarded for the best creative and imaginative writing
• Parents Association Maths Prize: awarded to students who have shown excellence in Problem solving skills
• Science Prize: This award is made by the Irish Community to the highest achieving students in Years 9 and 11.
• The Andy Johnson’s Students of the Year: awarded to the most outstanding student for their academic progress, effort and attendance at CSEP
• The Bishop’s Prize: awarded to the student who has achieved the best GCSE results in the previous academic year.

The night’s performances ended with a stunning jaw dropping sketch by Kyle Walcott-professional Stilts Walker who danced a short “JONKONNU” routine which is a carnival like musical celebration which can be traced back to West Africa. This provided an introductory taster prelude to the NEWSFLASH: Heritage Chronicles Stilts Walking Performance 10 week workshop.

Prize Giving 2007 was a night for Past Present and Future CELEBRATIONS!