Belle Vue School Named After Stalwart Principal Joyce Samuel

The Belle Vue Primary School has been renamed in honour of its former Principal Ms. Joyce Samuel. The renaming ceremony was held on Tuesday 15 March, on the school grounds.

Chief Minister Dr. the Hon. D Orlando Smith referred to the honoree as the mother of the Belle Vue Primary School. He said that many families are grateful for Mrs. Samuel's patience. "I'm sure there were times when Ms. Samuel wanted to give up, and because she didn't, Belle Vue School has achieved a lot under her guidance, and I am sure that Mrs. Samuel feels proud every time she sees students whom she had taught become a successful individual. Her name will go down in the books as a great educator next to the names of Alexandrina Maduro, Althea Scatliffe, Enis Adams, Isabella Morris and Enid Scatliffe. The Belle Vue community has been very fortunate".

Education Minister Hon. Lloyd Black explained that teaching is a calling that requires deep commitment, energy and passion to do it well, and the BVI has been blessed with a number of teachers like Ms. Samuel. Teachers are expected to have knowledge and the ability and the desire to impart knowledge, the Minister said.

 Mr. Black commented that teachers are always faced with the challenge of dealing with the individuality of each child in the class and at the same time they are expected to mould that class into a community of upright and productive citizens. He went on to say that "teachers leave an impact on our lives at some point or the other and there is no doubt that Ms. Samuel has left a lasting positive impact on the Belle Vue Primary School, the Belle Vue community and, in fact, the Territory". "Mrs. Joyce Samuel has been a pillar in this community and in her church in so many ways but she will be remembered for her selfless service to the growth and development of the children of the BVI and to education in particular", Hon. Black said.

Honoree, Ms. Joyce Samuel disclosed that it is the spirit of God that helped her to achieve so many goals. She thanked her parents, and explained that she owed every thing to the Methodist Church, which pioneered schools in the BVI. She thanked the church for employing her. Teacher Joyce pointed out that teaching the nation's children is a mammoth task, but she is committed to assisting in the building of the nation: "Striving for excellence was all I tried to do and it became my focal point. I always said that if a child doesn't learn the way I teach I will teach him the way he learns. Teaching fulfilled my life".

Ms. Samuel began her teaching career on the 1 November 1957 and has served in various teaching positions in several of the Territory's Primary Schools including a Pupil Teacher position at Road Town Primary School, Assistant Teacher at Long Look Primary School, and Acting Principal at Meyers Primary School. At Belle Vue Primary School Mrs. Samuel taught every class from Stage 1 to Primary V and as a result of her dedication to and passion for teaching, Belle Vue recorded their first 100 percent passes in the Primary School Leaving Examinations in 1979. She was appointed Head Teacher (later called Principal) in 1985 and continued her teaching career at that school until her retirement in 1999. At the ceremony there were also remarks by Hon. Omar Hodge representative for the Sixth District and by Ms. L. Adorothy Turnbull a most distinguished educator and teacher who taught Ms. Samuel.