The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham was in Bimini yesterday to officially rename the Bimini All-Age School the Louise McDonald High School. Recognising the late Mrs McDonald as a dedicated educator of nearly 50 years, Mr Ingraham said she touched the "hearts and lives" of her students, teaching the importance of character and citizenship. He said: "In her many roles, Mrs McDonald played a pivotal role shared by so many of our dedicated educators through the years - that of nation builder." The Louise McDonald High School was the second school to be honoured in the month-long renaming schedule for several public schools. The first renaming ceremony was held last week, when the prime minister flew to Andros to officially rename the Red Bay Primary School the Bertram A Newton Primary School, honouring Rev Bertram Newton. Greatness often emerges from small communities, Mr Ingraham said. He said it is often one's ambition, character and conviction that determine success in life. "In the Bahamas, it is the largeness of one's spirit, not the size of the island, cay, or settlement where you are born or live that determines the contributions one can make to the broader Commonwealth of the Bahamas," said Mr Ingraham, "Louise McDonald is such an example." Mr Ingraham said the Bahamas is in need of more teachers like Mrs McDonald, who are both competent and passionate. He said: "I am told that Mrs McDonald was truly a woman for all seasons. Wherever she saw a need, she responded. She imparted knowledge even while taking special care to develop the whole person in her charge. "By her example, Louise McDonald taught us many life lessons in character and citizenship," said Mr Ingraham. "We owe her and generations of dedicated educators our gratitude." Three more schools are slated for rededication in the coming weeks: Cabbage Hill Primary School on Crooked Island which will become the Ulric H Ferguson Primary School, the new Anatol Rodgers High School, and the new T G Glover Primary School.