The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

HIGH SCHOOL students will take the stage at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday for an event dubbed "Celebrating the Talents of Youth".

The event seeks to use music, dance, drama, and poetry to unite and encourage positively amongst high school students in the private and public sector. It will also serve as a fundraiser for the event creator, the CI Gibson Information Technology Committee.

"As an educational institution, CI Gibson wants to encourage all youth from all walks of life to unite through the performing arts. We wanted to provide an annual platform where students can network, learn, grow and cultivate the spirit of excellence within performing arts and, so our desires gave birth to this event," said Sharnelle Cox, a teacher at CI Gibson.

Proceeds will go towards funding literacy and numeracy software. The IT Committee said the new technology will play a valuable role in classroom instruction; it will empower teachers and help them to present information in a more appealing way, said Ms Cox.

"The CI Gibson faculty are happy that some of our students are making incremental progress towards achieving better grades. However, we are not pleased with the overall achievements that we see collectively. While we do believe that the students and parents can do more to contribute to the success of each student academically, we believe that as teachers we can do more," said Ms Cox.

"While research proves that technology is not the savior for education it can make the difference in terms of student achievements once in the right hands. Enhancing and improving CI Gibson's technological integration program is not an easy task that comes at no cost. Nonetheless, we will ensure that our goals are met," she said.

Students from private schools and public in Nassau will compete in several categories, including: single vocal, group vocal, single dance, monologue, single instrumental, choir and band. Participating schools include St John's, Mount Carmel, St Andrew's School, CV Bethel, R M Bailey CI Gibson, Government High School and CR Walker.

During the event there will be performances by Sammie Starr and a surprise female artist.

The red carpet will also be rolled out for special guests, including Forever 1, the all girls Bahamian pop group; gospel artist Mr J; Bodine Johnson, Dyson Knight; host Mdeez; Sammi Starr; Ms Daisy; Aguape; Mckell Jackson and Beyonte Knowles; Anku Sa Ra, founder of Thought Catcher Enterprise; Radel Parks; Patricia Bazard, senior officer for Culture; Eddie Dames, assistant director of culture; Emanji Circus founders Jarvis and Dereka Grant, and civic organisations.

With other fundraising projects, the committee hopes to do much more.

"We intend to ensure that educators receive much needed professional development with productivity software, and technological devices to enhance educational instruction making it more engaging for students. We also anticipate futuristically erecting an actual math, reading and science lab filled with computers and smart software technologies that will assist educators in achieving their instructional goals," Ms Cox said.