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2012 BAISS Spelling Bee

2012-02-09T16:04:11-05:00

Bahamas Academy shines once again. The annual BAISS (Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools) Spelling Bee competition was held February 2, 2012. Two students entered from Bahamas Academy: Celesta Stuart (grade 6) and Breann Rahming (grade 7).

The school family is pleased to announce that Bahamas Academy not only dominated the competition but came away with top honors. Breann Rahming did a remarkable job by placing first after thirty-one (31) grueling rounds of competition, where she spelt her winning word, “Malice”. Seems simple? Not in the least. After some very difficult words she was blessed to enjoy her smooth victory. She battled the competition through nineteen rounds with her competitor before she was declared CHAMPION.

We are indeed proud of her two coaches, Ms. Tameka Mamby and Mrs. Pamela Sullivan, for working tirelessly with both girls. We also congratulate their parents as they too were coaches ensuring that the girls studied, ate, rested, and completed all other assignments.

On March 25, 2012, Breann will represent the private schools of New Providence in the National Spelling Bee Competition.

Congrats again Bahamas Academy, and continue to allow God to guide and lead.

Article By: Marie Rolle

Students Encouraged To Think Big

2011-02-17T09:45:44-05:00

Students at the high school division of Bahamas Academy sat spell bound as they listened to Dr. Joseph Evans, well-known Bahamian urologist, during their assembly held on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, as he told the story of a little boy who succeeded in spite of the many odds against him. Dr. Evans compared the little boy to Sir Winston Churchill who kept dreaming and working towards his dreams, eventually becoming the Prime Minister of England.

Dr. Evans recounted how the boy always wanted to excel so badly that he would sometimes study for over twenty-four hours without sleep. After completing college, the young man wanted to become a doctor, but was denied entry into all the schools to which he applied because of his race. He then decided that he would complete a degree in pharmacy and did so with honors; but he was still determined to become a doctor. When getting into medical school seemed hopeless, he decided that he would apply to complete a doctoral degree, and during this process, a friend encouraged him to apply once more to a medical school. He did and was accepted.

The young man excelled in medical school, and after completing, he helped hundreds of Bahamians. He was the first Bahamian to practice urology in the Bahamas and has operated on persons in very high positions, even the Governor General of The Bahamas.

Students were amazed and applauded when Dr. Evans revealed that the person he was talking about was himself. He, the young Bahamian who passed through Bahamas Academy, succeeded in coming back home as a doctor.

“Be ambitious and think big," Dr. Evans said. "After all, someday you may be my doctor.”

Students were enthralled by Dr. Evans’ testimony.
One student said,

"He reminds me of Ben Carson. I did not know that someone so close to us has a story like that."

Article By: John Garcia

Baptism At Bahamas Academy

2011-03-09T09:44:31-05:00

On March 7, 2011, the eager students of Bahamas Academy Elementary, filed into the school’s gym to witness their fellow classmates’ baptisms.

After the fall week of prayer, conducted in October 2010, Pastors Danny Major and Lynden Williams worked with a group of students who showed great interest in accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. From that group, seven students expressed their readiness for baptism.

Celebrating this occasion with the students were the officers of the South Bahamas Conference, the Director of Education, and the parents of the candidates.

Mr. Burrows, principal of Bahamas Academy, brought brief remarks and presented each baptismal candidate with a Bible. Wilfred Ferguson of Grade 6 Mamby introduced the speaker, Pastor Paul Scavella, chairman of the School Board and president of the South Bahamas Conference. The Bahamas Academy Elementary School Choir’s rendition of the song, ‘Let My Life Praise You’ was simply breathtaking.

The baptismal service was solemn. The parents of the candidates witnessed their children seal their decision for Christ as they were baptized by Pastor Scavella. Inevitably, there were glimpses of teary-eyed onlookers as they rejoiced with these students who decided to make Jesus Lord and Savior of their lives.

At Bahamas Academy, we strive for excellence in everything we do; however, our priority is to lead boys and girls to a personal knowledge of Jesus, their Saviour. We thank God for our students who continue to let us know that our labours are not in vain.

Power Of Prayer

2011-04-14T09:23:57-04:00

On entering the courtyard of the Elementary Division of Bahamas Academy on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, students, teachers, and parents were greeted with the sound of worship music and a banner that proclaimed “God Rules!”

The sight of children, parents, and staff eagerly forming a line to write their heartfelt concerns and hopes to be placed in the Prayer Box was a sure sign that this day was a special one. A staff member reported that as the school body assembled for the official start of the ‘Day of Prayer’, she overheard one student tell her friend, “I’m afraid to pray”. To this her friend replied, “All you have to do is talk to God like you talk to me.” These words were echoed throughout the day in various forms. A skit portrayed what happens when one prays to the heavenly Father.

The service ended with a season of prayer led by Pastor Al Powell, Sabbath School and personal ministries director of the Atlantic Caribbean Union. Children partnered with a friend and prayed for each other’s concerns and needs.

Covered on the outside in white and draped in purple within, the Prayer Room was a sanctuary to which students and parents came throughout the day to have a pastor pray just for them or to have a solitary moment with The Master. The singing of hymns of adoration and prayer said by two parents brought the Spiritfilled day to a close.

While the elementary students were engaging in their prayer activities, the little ones and their teachers at the Early Learning Centre were also talking to Jesus and learning about prayer through vivid slide presentations and posters. Their theme was “More Prayer, More Power.” ‘These events, I believe,” said Pastor Powell, “brought the children to understand the power of prayer, the necessity to pray, and how easy it is to approach God. It is exciting to see the changes happening with teachers, parents, and students!”

Article By: Alerine Damastus

Bahamas Academy Praise Report

2010-08-14T09:20:05-04:00

The 2009 - 2010 school year is history, and the results from the B.J.C. and B.G.C.S.E external exams are in. We at Bahamas Academy are proud of the performance of our students. It should be noted that because the majority of our seniors were successful in passing three to five subjects with an A – C grade when they were in the 11th grade, they only took between three and four subjects in this year’s sitting.

In the B.J.C. category, our school’s overall performance shows that the percentage of A-C passes was 69%. Our top achievers in this category are as follows: Earl Thomas – 6As, 1C; Santeche Knowles – 3As, 1B, 3Cs; Daniel Bostwick – 2As, 4 Bs, 1C; and Brandan Toote – 6 As.

Our B.G.C.S.E students are to be commended for maintaining a 70% A-C pass rate. We congratulate our top achievers for this year all of whom came from grade eleven: Danielle Deveaux – 6As, 1C; Luvonne Wilson – 3As, 2Bs, 1C; Chrishanna Reid – 1A, 1B, 4Cs; Shantel Romer – 2As, 4Bs; Kanisha Louis – 3As, 1B, 2Cs; and Omarinique Davis – 2As, 1B, 3Cs. In total, there were 18 eleventh graders who sat four or more B.G.C.S.E. subjects and passed them with grades of A-C.

We give Almighty God thanks and praise for what He has done for us. We thank all of the teachers who worked so hard both during and outside of school hours to assist all of our students in their quest for success. To our parents we say congratulations. The many hours spent waiting in the school yard and dropping off and picking up were not in vain.

As a Seventh-day Adventist school, we are grateful that the subject with the best performance was Religious Knowledge (B.G.C.S.E.) with an overall A-C pass rate of 96%.

To our returning students, I challenge you to strive for excellence. From the moment the bell rings on August 30, begin to study hard, work hard, pray at all times, and let the banner of Bahamas Academy continue to be raised high for all to see.

Open & Ready To Go

2010-09-11T09:17:38-04:00

Ready, set, go! The air was filled with excitement. The teachers were anxious to get started. The students were nervous, unsure of what to expect. It was Monday, August 30, 2010, and everyone was looking to see who had grown over the summer, who would be returning, and who would be placed in which homeroom.

Bahamas Academy opened its doors to 860 students who were eager to get on with the 2010-11 school year. Joining us this year in our technical and vocational department is Mr. Christopher Johnson. Returning to us in our Science department at the secondary division is Mr. Stephen McBean. Mrs. Juliette Sands returned to the elementary division as one of our 2nd grade teachers, and Mrs. Valarie Griffin and Mrs. Michelle Joseph were reassigned to the Early Learning Center. Mrs. Patrice Bethel also joined us in our Food Services Department.

Our theme for this school year is “Pursuing Success With Christ As Our Guide”. It is our prayer that as we place our hands in the hand of the Master, our expectations of success will be realized in the life of each student and teacher. The challenges will be there, financial and otherwise, but we serve a big God who has promised to supply all of our needs. Therefore, we will forge ahead, trusting Him to be our Jehovah Jireh.

We are proud of the accomplishments of our students who did well in both the B.J.C (Bahamas Junior Certificate of Education) and B.G.C.S.E. (Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations this past year. As a result of their success, a number of them have opted out of their twelfth-grade year and have moved onto college. To them we say, great work and keep it up.

We extend our congratulations to Mrs. Valarie Poitier and Mr. Ocknel Orelhomme both of whom experienced marital bliss in separate ceremonies over the summer vacation.

Our students will receive a different experience this year as we will be reintroducing our annual yearbook and launching our new school management software known as Renweb. Parents will be able to go online and see their child’s progress in real time. Report card days will become optional for some.

We are presently in the process of upgrading our website. Parents will be able to apply online. Everyone will be able to go online and see everything related to Bahamas Academy from anywhere that they can access the internet.

Also, in the elementary division, teachers began the 3-year implementation process of the Adventist literacy program, Pathways. Pathways: A Journey to Excellence through Literacy is an integrated language arts program which includes reading, writing, phonics, spelling, word study, comprehension and study skills, grammar, vocabulary, and handwriting. Its philosophy is that students should not only learn how to read, but also to enjoy reading, writing, and learning. All students deserve to be in a school setting that provides optimum opportunity to become passionate learners, readers, and writers.

The first instructional component being implemented is the guided reading component. In guided reading, small groups of students with similar proficiencies read together. Within this setting, students have opportunities to learn and use problem-solving strategies while reading to construct meaning, figure out unknown words, untangle sentence structure, and learn new concepts. Guided reading books and/or leveled readers will be used.

This year promises to be one of praise and thanks as we look forward to spending our last year on Wulff Road. Construction is in the advanced state of completion, and we are on target to move in during the summer of 2011. The next phase will be the landscaping and furniture. God has been good to Bahamas Academy, and we will be forever grateful for the commitment and dedication of our parents, church members, the government of the Bahamas, and the wider community for their gifts, positive support, and prayers. Take some time to drive by and view the progress made to date. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Christmas Message From The Principal

2010-12-23T09:16:17-05:00

This is the season of the year when most individuals will take some time to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ. Churches will be filled with people, tables will be filled with food and houses will be filled with presents.

We at Bahamas Academy wish to encourage you to give thanks for the many blessings that came your way during the course of 2010. Some of you did not get a flat tire, others did not experience sickness of any kind and still others did not lose any family members.

Isn’t God a good God? And for those who went through some discomfort, God is still good. He is still love and He still wants only what is best for each of us.

Our first term’s grades have reflected that there is a lot of room for improvement in some cases. Others will be thankful for having made it through with a “C” average and still others will be ecstatic at having made the Honour Roll or Principal’s list.

As you enjoy the Christmas break, take some time to give thanks. Take some time to help someone in need. Take some time to prepare yourself to be ready for that time when Jesus will come, not as a Baby in Bethlehem but as conquering King of Kings and as our Lord and Saviour.

On behalf of my wife and children, I take this opportunity to wish each worker, parent, student and all of our well wishers, a happy holiday season and a spirit filled new year. May the God of Heaven continue to shower His blessings upon each of you as you seek to do His will in 2011.

Bahamas Academy Continue To Excel

2011-08-20T09:10:18-04:00

Although our country continues the struggle with low performances in the BGCSE and BJC examinations, we can praise the Holy Spirit for guiding our students through the school year. Our dedicated teachers gave unreservedly of themselves and their time to ensure the students’ success. Our parents also went the extra mile in some instances to provide the needed help for their children.

Our BGCSE and BJC results reflect that our students are doing well generally. However, we are not satisfied until every child succeeds. This year our results show:

B. J. C. A - C passes 56% and A - D passes 77%

Our top three students are:

Asha Lewis 6 A's & 1 B
Tramayne Knowles 5 A's & 2 B's
Rhondi Gordon 4 A's & 3 B's

B.G.C.S.E. A - C passes 63% and A - D passes 85%

Our top three students are:

Mahala Moxey 6 A's, 1 B & 2 C's
Nykyleo Collie 1 A, 2 B's & 3 C's
Garth Jackson 3 B's & 3 C's

We congratulate all our successful students and encourage those who did not earn passing grades to use this coming school year as another opportunity to improve their performance. Remember that "you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" (Phil. 4:13). May you have a wonderful and productive year whether you go to college or return to us in September