Fellow students, the summer vacation is here. And if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we have all been looking forward to this break from school to indulge in some fun activities.
While we deserve to enjoy this much-needed break, I want to encourage us to balance our vacation well by also being involved in mentally stimulating activities. By mentally stimulating activities, I mean any kind of activities that will sharpen our cognitive skills and prepare us for the next academic year.
For those of you who are involved in summer programs, kudos to you. For those who have not yet done so, I hope it is not too late to be enrolled in one.
There are also Vacation Bible School (VBS) offered by various churches across the country, those are good to be involved in as well.
If you are unable to be enrolled in a formal program, please ensure that when you meet with your friends, you do some reading or an activity that enriches the mind.
For those who will be at grade six and form five in the upcoming academic year, there are various classes that you can participate in to prepare you for your external exams. However, some of these programs might come with a cost. If your parents do not have the means to support that, you can look online for past papers and you can meet with your peers and answer the questions. This is a good way to prepare for the new school year and your external exams. I am also aware that the primary and secondary schools may have classes for students at these levels to get the school based assessments done, please ensure that you attend your various sessions.
If you are interested in working, you can get a summer job and earn some money while on your school break. The money earned can even be used to assist your parents to prepare you for the new school year.
I am forgetting one critical thing, we are still in the Covid-19 pandemic, so please follow the established Covid-19 protocols while you are engaged in your fun-filled and mentally stimulating activities . Be safe, Happy Summer Vacation and I wish you/us a successful academic year 2002-2023.
Shaquan Sam
A student of the St.Vincent Grammar School