The staff and student body of the two campuses of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School spent half of the day on Tuesday this week, November 7, paying glowing tribute to their well-respected former Principal, Darwin Hazel, as he went into retirement. The same day was his 55th birthday.

Mr & Mrs. Darwin Hazel

Seated with his wife, Louise, Mr. Hazel listened attentively and laughed occasionally during the long programme of tributes on the grounds at Campus A.The programme organised by the staff and students to bid him farewell and happy retirement from what had been a very challenging and stressful job. But, according to Permanent Secretary for Education, Rodney Rey, a former principal of the school, Mr. Hazel was among some nine persons who held the appointment over the years. He was however, the only one who remained in the post until his retirement thus indicating that despite the difficulties, he must have enjoyed the position.

The programme began with welcome remarks from Ingrid Lake, the new principal, followed by religious perspectives by Pastor Cecil Richardson of the Central Baptist Church and a member of the school’s Board of Governors.

Some of the performing students

An outline of Mr. Hazel’s professional background was given by Rita Carty, a teacher at the school. He began his teaching career in 1971 at the Valley Primary School. He attended the St. Lucia Teachers’ College from 1972-1974 and the Teachers’ Technical College there from 1975-1976. He taught at the Road Primary School from1976-1977 and then left to attend the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados. There he achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Mathematics. Following that he began teaching at the Valley Secondary School, now the Albena lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, in 1982. In 1989 he obtained his Bachelor of Education Degree from Nippising University in Canada.

A round of applause

Permanent Secretary, Rodney Rey, speaking on behalf of the Ministry, said: “Our profound gratitude to Mr. Darwin Hazel for his more than 35 years of service to education in Anguilla. That is indeed selfless service. Anyone who decides to spend that long in education deserves our greatest gratitude; and no word here today can express the gratitude of all Anguillians, parents and guardians, Government and people, to Mr. Hazel for his dedicated service to the people of Anguilla.”

Mr. Rey went on: “I want to say a personal thank you to him too because during my tenure here, he served as a Senior Teacher and as a Deputy and I think he gave me great service and made by task a lot easier. So Mr. Hazel, a personal thank you for your contribution to my success here at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.”

Presentation of gifts to Mr. Hazel

Avon Carty, Corporate Marketing Manager at Cable & Wireless, spoke on behalf of the Management and Staff of the company. She congratulated and thanked Mr. Hazel for his years of service. She told the students that with the advancement of communication technology they were getting access to more and more fancy and modern equipment and that a lot of it could be used in more productive and positive ways.

“We want you to try and use all that is available to you in the most positive way,” she advised the students. “Many of you have mobile phones. We are asking you please to use them responsibly. Do not keep them on in your bags in the classroom and, whatever the rules at your school, use the phones in accordance with those rules. With regard to internet access…take advantage of it. You don’t have to go to the Library and leaf through volumes of dusty dictionaries and encyclopaedias… You now have internet access. Use it wisely. Don’t spend hours and hours on chat and other negative things that you can get involved in. Make Anguilla and your teachers proud.”

The 32-item programme included various songs, musical renditions and poetry by the school’s choir, other student groups, individual students and the ALHCS Musical Ensemble and Steel Orchestra.

Towards the end of the programme, Mr. Hazel was presented with a cake by Cable and Wireless. His birthday presents from the school included a cake, a large and mounted staff photograph and a flat screen television set.
Responding, Mr. Hazel thanked the staff and students for the rousing programme and for their support over the years. He called on the student body to continue to be involved in the activities of the school and always to aim at achieving success.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News