Riddler
With pointed fangs I sit and wait; with piercing force I crunch out fate; grabbing victims, proclaiming might; physically joining with a single bite. What am I?
Answer to last Riddler: The National Flag, The National Dress, The National Flower- The Dagger, The National Fruit- Black Pineapple
Name: Mrs. Sharon Kelsick
Position: Vice Principal
Age: Young-ish
Favourite(s):
Interests/Hobbies:
Sharon Kelsick’s interest usually involves anything that includes Princess Margaret School winning, more so in particular the reigning champions of Sports Day, RED HOUSE! She shows a lot of interest in her family and friends and the building of meaning relationships. Special interest is given to her husband (he looks like he could be a lumberjack on BIG Tok wink wink), her three beautiful children (they are too cute and adorable) and her brother, who she seems to like being able to tell what he can and can’t do (she’s the older sibling, it’s just like being a second parent). Mrs. Kelsick takes pride in being able to communicate in her second language, Spanish. Although she “claims” to be fluent and proficient there are some doubts because her “R’s” just don’t seem to be rolling right these days.
About:
Mrs. Kelsick is an educator with a passion for teaching she says. This is true as she started her teaching career with the Ministry of Education in 2008 and has been going strong ever since. She is a proud alum of the Princess Margaret School herself and she is even more proud to have returned to her Alma Mater as a teacher, working her way up to being the current Vice Principal as of 2020. Mrs. Kelsick also holds the position of General Secretary with the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers and Google Workspace Admin with the Ministry of Education. Mrs. Kelsick is dedicated to her many roles and to quote is “dedicated to the continued development and advancement of education systems nationally, regionally, and internationally.”
We love our Chica Bonita Vice Principal, Mrs. Sharon Kelsick!
The question was asked, “A wha happen dey a PM yesaday?” “Two pickanega dey a fight and one get tab up!” The conversation overheard in the checkout line at a popular supermarket. The follow-up question, “Lawd fada a wumek them tap so?” After hearing the news about school violence, it is very natural for students, parents and teachers to worry. What if something like this happens again? What if it were my closest friend? What if it were my son or daughter? And what if it resulted in a fatality? The most important question, why does school violence happen?
Violence is behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. It is the strength of emotion or of a destructive force. When something like this happens, it is normal to have feelings of sadness and anxiousness and it is normal to want to figure out why the situation ended in this way.
Violence isn’t readily easy to understand and figure out. There is no one reason as to why students become violent at school or in general. Reasons may include repeating behaviors that are seen and frequently done at home, maybe something seen on the streets, in a popular movie, T.V. show or videogame. It may be the result of someone who is suffering from a mental health problem and it may also be the result of bullying. The bullied trying to reassert his/her value and worth by doing to someone what was done to them. It might be that someone was feeling isolated and rejected by their fellow students and it might be that someone was just having a bad day, week, month or year and that was their breaking point. These are just a few reasons why someone might be violent at school and there are still many, many more. There is however one thing we can say about school violence, weapons make it easier for someone to lash out against the things or people they don’t like and because of this school violence is scarier than we expect.
What can we do to help prevent school violence? We can look for the warning signs. Whether it be seeing someone with a weapon in their backpack, noticing the violent games and movies they seem to always talk about. Sometimes it’s as easy as overhearing a conversation about possibly committing a violent act on another student like bullying or making threats in simple non-conflict situations. Cruelty to animals is also a good indicator of a violent person as well. When someone seems to be showing these signs, it’s a good idea to get an adult involved like a teacher, parent, the school’s counselor and or the principal. Students who are violent need the extra help and support and reporting someone like this could be the best thing for them.
Remember, school safety and support is everyone’s responsibility and priority.
