Nelson Street Boys' RC School in Port-of-Spain hosted its Graduation and Awards Ceremony 2010 at the school's compound, on June 24. It was also a triple celebration since the children had gotten their Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results. On that auspicious day, the school honoured Port-of-Spain Community stalwart the late Leon Phillip, proprietor of Chee Mooke bakery. Phillip succumbed to a malignant brain tumour and a battle with prostate cancer on June 9 at the Living Water Community Centre, Port-of-Spain.
Phillip, fondly known as Chee Mooke and DJ Baking Powder, was also a past student of the school in the 40s and 50s, and his son Stokely accepted the token on behalf of his father. "My father would have been pleased Nelson Street Boys was returning to its former grandeur. He said back then the school was like a university," Stokely said. He expressed gratitude to principal Avril Orr-Johnson. Among Nelson Street Boys' outstanding students are calypsonians Hollis Liverpool, Edwin Ayoung and Kenroy Smith, fondly known as Black Prince.
The school boasts a pan side, chess club and drummers. "The drummers topped the country in drumming and they would be representing T&T in a local drumming competition. There are all good signs of a top school. The students are being given a wide variety of exposure. This year, they reduced the number of repeaters (SEA) from 27 to 12," Stokely boasted. He said his father always made contributions to the school and was proud to be associated with it. He said his family appreciated the recognition the school gave the patriarch. The programme featured motivational songs such I believe I Can Fly, We Are The World, and Wind Beneath My Wings. Standard Five teacher Rienzi Shah addressed the graduates and urged them to remember that, "education is the most powerful weapon to change the world." She urged the young men to never give up on their dreams.
