Freelance Correspondent
The Grant Memorial Presbyterian School in San Fernando hosted a day of love - themed Love is The Answer - at the school’s 26th annual walk-a-thon yesterday.
More than three-quarters of the school’s 700-plus population, wearing white and pink, took to the streets of San Fernando to spread love and kindness just two days after Valentine’s Day.
Along with the pupils, siblings, parents, grandparents, and teachers carried posters and banners promoting love. Some read: “Love is Being Kind”, “Love Makes the World Go Round”, “Love is the Answer”, “Love Never Gives Up”, and “Love the Lord with All Your Heart.”
The school’s Parent Teacher Association president Giselle Hampton said the procession was a way to foster the biblical teaching of love thy neighbour.
She said a lot of emphasis went into the project, which will motivate the pupils to be responsible for the way they treat themselves and each other.
Hampton said, “We let the children know that there are different kinds of love, not just romantic but friendship. We are a Presbyterian school so we believe in the scriptures Love Thy Neighbour, given the crime rate, and what is done against each other and our children, love is the only thing we have that won’t hurt, and as we take into consideration other people.”
Hampton said serious thought went into planning the event, and the pupils had in-class sessions to solidify the meaning behind the walk.
“They had to make banners and brainstorm what love is and the types of love. Every standard had to do an aspect of it (love) and was taught before in the classroom. So they would have gotten the messages they wish to convey even before this morning,” she said.
Acting principal Gillian Mahabir said the procession was also aligned with the Education Ministry’s recently launched Cultural Transformation Policy Programme.