Holy Rosary School, Asikasu-Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, Eastern Ghana has celebrated the graduation of its first batches of Primary 6 and JHS 3 pupils along with the KG 2.
The July 23, 2024 maiden triple event on the school compound 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, the Bishop’s Secretary and Assistant Administrator of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, reflected on the Prophet Micah and 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, saying, “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,” he underpinned.
Fr. Asafo 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’’.
He 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.
The graduation ceremony at the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) owned School featured a number of speeches from dignitaries from various walks of life.
In a welcome address, Sr. Stella Nwosu, MSHR, Headmistress of Holy Rosary School, said the gathering was “to celebrate the success story of our Children who are graduating from KG 2 to Primary One, Primary 6 to JHS 1 and JHS 3 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.
She thanked the teachers who have been and continue to be ‘God’s instruments in His work of creating our Children and applauded 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.
She said “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 learnt and will continue to learn in the school here and elsewhere.”
She further charged the JHS pupils who were leaving for another phase to represent Holy Rosary School well, wherever they might 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. Nwosu 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.
Mr. Danso Akwamoah, Coordinator of Private Schools in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, speaking on behalf of Mr. Solomon Azumbilla, District Director of Education, congratulated all the graduands transiting from various stages.
He said “The battle has not ended; you are now going to begin a new level so you should prepare yourselves to perform better there”.
Admitting how herculean a task managing a Private owned school could be, Mr. Danso urged the parents of Holy Rosary School to “own the school,” saying, “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.
Nana Krobea Asante, Kwahu Asabi Gyaasehene, representing Nana Otukwa Mpareko VI of Kwahu Asabi Amankwakrom, extended a plea to all parents to take good care of their children especially by educating them, because “Education is very important.”
According to Nana, there is no reserve land for farming cocoa for their kids, adding that the only cocoa they will have for their kids is Education (pen).
He, therefore, urged all parents to take a vital role in their children’s Education for a better future because if their children have a better future, it will benefit the parents as well.
Buttressing the role of the parents in their children’s 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.
He said “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.
He further encouraged parents to teach their children some skills that would be beneficial to them in the future pointing out that ‘‘Education is not only formal but should also be informal’’, where children can learn skills like football playing, music, and a lot more.
The Regional Leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Ghana Region, Sr. Nkechi Oraebosi, who couldn’t be present for the occasion because she was attending the Congregation’s Chapter in Ireland, was represented by Sr. Cecilia Dike, another MSHR,
In an address on behalf of Sr. Nkechi Oraebosi, the Regional Leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Ghana Region, Sr. Cecilia Dike, MSHR 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,” she said.
According to Sr. Dike who works at Holy Rosary Health Centre, Amankwakrom, the dream of MSHR is to create a safe and healthy learning environment where children of Donkorkrom have equitable access to quality education. This she said was 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 endeared 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.
She wished well for the pupils that had finished and were going to begin another stage in life, and encouraged those of them that were still part of the school to continue to do their best.
Sr. Dike on behalf of the MSHR Regional Leader further solicited the support of the parents, saying that foreign donors had played their own part in providing the school buildings, and the upkeep of the school lies solely in the hands of the Management, hence parents should continue to support the School.
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.
Piloting the affairs of 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.
Present at the graduation ceremony were Sr. Joy Abuh, MSHR, School Chaplain and teacher at Donkorkrom Agricultural Senior High School (DASHS); some staff of Holy Rosary Health Centre, Amankwakrom, parents of the graduands and continuing pupils.
Story and Photos by Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Sister Communicator)
