‘‘Own the school’’ – private schools coordinator to parents of Holy Rosary School

Mr. Danso Akwamoah, Coordinator of Private Schools in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, in Ghana’s Eastern Region has charged the parents of Holy Rosary School, Donkorkrom to be more proactive in the life of the school, for the betterment of their children and Ghana.

He made this remark during the graduation ceremony of the first batches of Primary 6 and JHS 3 pupils along with the KG 2 on the Holy Rosary School compound on July 23^rd, 2024.

Speaking on behalf of Mr. Solomon Azumbilla, District Director of Education, who was unavoidably absent, the Private Schools Coordinator appreciated the parents for sending their kids to Holy Rosary school and also for collaborating with the teachers for a successful study, and aware of how demanding managing a Private school in a village setting could be, he let them see reason why they must participate fully in the life of the school.

“We should take the school as our property because looking at the infrastructure around, we can see that the school has spent a lot of money. So, I plead with the parents to help us maintain the school for the future, so that it can benefit the whole Afram Plains District and the country as a whole,” he said.

Mr. Danso congratulated all the graduands transitioning from various stages and said: “The battle has not ended; you are now going to begin a new level so you should prepare yourselves to perform better there”. He also thanked the teachers for teaching the pupils.

The need for parents to be fully part of the school was further reiterated by Sr. Cecilia Dike, a Holy Rosary Sister working at Holy Rosary Health Centre, Amankwakrom, who was representing the Regional Leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Ghana Region, Sr. Nkechi Oraebosi, at the ceremony.

She implored the support of the parents, bringing to their awareness that foreign donors have played their own part in providing the school buildings, and that the upkeep of the school lies solely in the hands of the Management; the Sisters, hence parents should support the school in the little ways they can, to help ease the burden on the School management.

Sr. Cecilia expressed joy at the fact that the dream of MSHR is being realized in the lives of the pupils: ‘‘My heart is full of joy to be present here today to witness the performance of our pupils,’’ she acclaimed.

According to her, the dream of MSHR which was to create a safe and healthy learning environment where children of Donkorkrom have equitable access to quality education, is being actualized, and the support of the parents is greatly needed for this dream to be fully actualized.

She thanked the teachers for what they are doing in the lives of the pupils and entreated them to take proper care of the children, saying that they are doing a noble job for which no one, but God can reward them.

‘‘Take the pupils as your own children,’’ she urged. ‘‘Give them the best. So that they will grow up to be the pride of their parents and the society at large,’’ she added.

Buttressing the role of the parents in their children’s educational progress, Mr. James Agrona, Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), charged the parents to take full responsibility of the educational progress of their children, saying that ‘‘the support of parents in the lives of their children can never be underestimated,’’ and as long as the parents are alive and healthy, they should support their children at every stage of their lives.

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In a welcome address, Sr. Stella Nwosu, MSHR, Headmistress of Holy Rosary School disclosed the purpose of the gathering saying that:

‘‘We have gathered here today to celebrate the success story of our Children who are graduating from KG 2 to Primary One, primary 6 to JHS 1 and JHS3 to Senior High of reputable Schools come next academic year’’.

She rendered immense gratitude to God Almighty for being with the children throughout the years they were in the school, her fellow Holy Rosary Sisters who started the school and made it what it is today, the teachers who have been and continue to be ‘God’s instruments in His work of creating our Children’, and the inestimable parents of Holy Rosary School for trusting the school and supporting the Children.

The Headmistress outlined what the school is doing for the children, the fruits of which are becoming visible, even among the graduands.

‘‘We are committed to the holistic formation of our children and this we will continue to do in their lives. We congratulate our graduands for their hard work so far and encourage them to keep living out all they have learned and will continue to learn in the school here and elsewhere,’’ she said.

She further charged the JHS pupils who were leaving for another phase to represent Holy Rosary School well, wherever they may find themselves.

‘‘Always remember who you are and where you are coming from and be good ambassadors of the school,’’ she said. ‘‘Today, you are ending and beginning another Journey in life. We believe and trust God, that the knowledge acquired here will improve your lives and that of others, thereby creating a better community for all. Our prayers and wishes are that your parents and guardians who have supported and continue to support you will always have reasons to thank God for your lives’’.

Sr. Stella further solicited for funds to assist the school purchase fans for the Assembly Hall.

‘‘Though a lot has been done in terms of structures, we still appeal to you dear Parents to support the school. Presently, we have mounted Television sets to facilitate teaching and learning in all our KG classes and the school hall. We thank the PTA chairman and all parents for their support. We need four ceiling fans in our school hall. Your help and support in this regard will go a long way to help us. No amount is too small. Know that God will always bless you for giving a helping hand for the good of others especially children,’’ she recounted.

The history–making event of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) owned school featured a number of activities including Holy Mass, Speeches, Award of Certificates to graduands, and Prize award to meriting pupils. Other activities were fundraising to purchase fans for the school Assembly Hall, Dances and Recitations by the pupils, one of the most thrilling of which was the naming of the 16 Regions of Ghana and their Capitals by a 3-year-old KG 2 boy.

Preaching during the graduation Mass, Rev. Fr. Vincent Amuzu Asafo, SVD, Bishop Secretary and assistant to the Cathedral Administrator of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral, Donkorkrom, reflected on the First Reading from the Prophet Micah (7:14-15.18-20) where the people were asking God to shepherd them, to remember the love He showed to the Israelites when he took them out of Egypt.

The Priest underlined how beautifully the Prophet Micah relates the mercy of God, saying that ‘‘God will cast our sins deep down into the sea. He will not remember our iniquities any longer’’.

He therefore urged the faithful to take consolation in the merciful and compassionate nature of God and not let their sins weigh them down.

‘‘Our sins are not bigger than God,’’ he pointed out. ‘‘Some of us allow our sins to weigh us down, even to bury us, thinking that God will not be able to forgive us. Let us take assurance in the words of the prophet Micah today that anytime we are confronted with sin, let us come to this All Powerful and All Merciful God, who is able to renew us and make us whole once again. God is faithful and his words are true,’’ the priest underpinned.

Reflecting further on Jesus’ response to the man who came to tell him in the Gospel of Mathew 12:46-50 that he was being sought after by his mother and brothers – ‘‘Anyone who does the Will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother,’’ Fr. Amuzu pointed out that, by so saying, Jesus is not repudiating his close relation, but rather giving each one the opportunity to enter into the intimacy of his family.’

‘‘He is giving those of us who are outside the circle to be part of his family, to be partakers of his intimacy,’’ the priest stressed. He however added that there is a condition attached to this close relationship with Christ – ‘‘the one who does the will of his Father’’.

The priest hence challenged each one to go into the recesses of their hearts and the privacy of their rooms and ask themselves the soul-searching question, ‘‘I’m I doing the will of God’’?

‘‘If you are doing the will of God, then of course, Jesus extends that embrace to you to be part of his close relation,’’ he added. ‘‘Today, Jesus is calling you and I to be part of his family, to be part of his brethren. And we can only do this if we open our hearts to him and then accept the will of God for us’’.

Fr. Amuzu further pointed out that the faithful need to allow God’s Will to establish in their lives, for them to be called God’s children:

‘‘Sometimes, God’s Will goes against our own desires, but unless we embrace that Will of God for our lives, we cannot be his children,’’ he said. The will of God can come in so many ways, and it can be difficult sometimes, but we need to ask for the grace to embrace it,’’ the priest added.

Chairing the graduation ceremony was Mr. Godwin Ayiku, PTA Chairman of Holy Rosary School, who termed the ceremony a “very special” one, as he thanked the school management and staff for the organization.

One of the graduands, Johnleslie Kekeli Lodonu, a JHS 3 pupil, on behalf of the other graduands thanked all who have made their educational journey worthwhile.

‘‘We stand here today proud and accomplished, as we mark the end of one journey and the beginning of another. I would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have supported us along the way,’’ he noted.

He thanked the headmistress, teaching and non-teaching staff, for their guidance, wisdom and unwavering encouragement. ‘‘Your dedication and expertise have shaped us into the individuals we are today’’ he said.

He further extended thanks to their families and friends for their ‘unconditional love, patience and support’ and to his fellow graduands, he said:

‘‘Congratulations! We did it! May our achievement be a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance and team work, and may we continue to soar to greater heights’’.

Dignitaries present at the graduation ceremony were: Mr. Danso Akwamoah, Coordinator of Private Schools in the Kwahu Afram Plains North Distict, Nana Krobea Asante, Kwahu Asabi Gyaasehene, representing Nana Otukwa Mpareko VI of Kwahu Asabi Amankwakrom, Mr. Godwin Ayiku, PTA Chairman of Holy Rosary School, Mr. James Agrona, Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Sr. Cecilia Dike, MSHR, representing the Regional Leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary – Ghana, Sr. Joy Abuh, MSHR, School Chaplain and teacher at Donkorkrom Agricultural Senior High School (DASHS). Others were some staff of Holy Rosary Health Centre, Amankwakrom, Parents of the graduands and other parents of Holy Rosary School.