Parental Support Key at Vide Bouteille Sports

Eschewing more established venues for the third year in a row, Vide Bouteille Primary School got the 2025 schools’ track and field season underway last Friday at the La Clery Playing Field, adjacent to the school grounds. Scores of parents and family members braved the rains to cheer the children on, as Egret House emerged victorious over Vireo, Quail, and Carib Grackle.

In terms of individual accomplishment, the victors owed much to the performances of Nathan St Rose in the Under-11 boys. The young speedster took gold in the 80m (12.44 seconds), 150m (25.53 seconds), and 300m (1:08.9) to win victor ludorum in his division. Housemate Aiden Joseph took silver in the 80 and 150.

Deandre James came back from losing his footing in the Under-13 150m to power to first place in the 80m, running 11.50 seconds. He took third in the 300m as well.

In his only solo outing, Jashawn Leonty led an Egret 1-2 in the 60m Under-9 boys, running 10.37 seconds to best housemate Joshua Williams (10.79).

Amelia Willie was the leading Under-9 girl, with wins in the 60m and 150m. She ran 10.66 in the 60, and her effort of 27.88 in the 200 was enough to hold off fellow Egret speedster Nefatari Matthew (30.84).

Kaylyn Joseph topped the 600m Under-11 girls in 3:45.35, whilst Hope Aimable ran 3:59.62 for third. 

Namika Bellas and Nellia Matthew did the Egret quinella in the 80m Under-13 girls. Bellas ran 12.75 for gold, and Matthew 12.87 for silver. 

Perhaps the biggest factor in Egret’s success, however, was their sweep of the relays. They won the 4x100m Under-9, Under-11, and Under-13, boys and girls. Egret ended with 328 points, Vireo 279, Quail 224, and Carib Grackle 220.

A Vireo trio turned in strong runs as they challenged for the title. Amiya Khodra captured the Under-11 girls 80m, 150m, and 300m. Giovanni Henry copped gold in the 150m and 1200m Under-13 boys, and silver in the 600m. 

And Dania Antoine took Under-13 victrix ludorum with 300m, 600m, and 1000m gold. 

Principal Lyrill Arthur-Stanislaus was pleased with the outcome of the day’s activities, despite earlier concerns about the readiness of the field, due to persistent rains. But with many of the parents coming from the immediate vicinity, she said she was pleased with the proceedings.

“The most important thing for us is school and community and togetherness,” she declared. “So it’s easier for us to be right there, and the parents send their children out in full force, and this is what we appreciate.

“One of the things we’ve been pushing is parental support and parental involvement, so any activity such as this, we encourage the parents to come out and be a part, be a family with us. And for the most part, they usually come out in droves. And it was so wonderful today to see the parents in their colours representing their children’s houses, they have their coloured pom poms, and they’re cheering their children on.

“And that just gave me a sense of gratitude. Because it shows that they are with us, they’re supporting us, and they want to support and push their children forward,” she added.

The principal cited sports as being a key aspect of developing the whole child, noting that whereas some children struggle in class, they excel on the track. For many, she said, this can be the gateway to helping unlock their academic potential.