Nine-year-old, grade three student of the W.S Stevens Primary School in Marigot, Madannah Auguiste, says it is a good feeling to have secured the winning spot in the month-long DBS Radio, Ministry of Education, Courts-sponsored Reading Competition which culminated at the Arawak House of Culture on Thursday 2nd July 2015.
She grabbed a total of 445 points in the finals.
“I am feeling good,” she said shortly after winning.
She noted that in her view the competition “went well” and is grateful to God, her family, friends, teachers who assisted her and also allowed her to practice reading during assembly and coached her all the time.
Auguiste hails from the Melville Hall area and disclosed that she would like to become a fashion designer in the future.
The second place position went to Naomi Francis of the Petite Savanne Primary School with 444 points.
Makada Cornelius of the Roosevelt Douglas Primary School captured third place with 424 points.
Edicia Sanford of the Salybia Primary School recieved 422 points and placed fourth while fifth place went to Arianna Cools-Latigue of the Convent Prep with 419 points.
Mother of the winner, Marcia Auguiste said, “I am very elated for her success. I am really thankful to god for making Madannah come this far in her life.”
She also congratulated the other students who participated in the competition.
Meantime her father, Matthew Auguiste who also spoke to DNO said, “I think it is a feeling that I cannot express right now. I have a lot of confidence in my daughter and I know she is a very good and committed reader.”
He said they are definitely going to celebrate and thanked everyone for their support.
Madannah’s teacher, Jacqueline Samuel, also joined in the excitement saying that the school is “thrilled with excitement.”
“All along the way we have been working very hard and it’s just a joy to know that we are victorious,” she said.
The Coordinator of the Competition, Felix Henderson admitted it was a “tight.”
“It was a tight competition today, it was very close and some of them were not on their best days because we know what they can do,” he said. “It was a long month of going through rivers, valleys, hills and mountains, through the preliminary stage and the quarter finals, semi-finals and today the finals.”
The top three students will receive text and exercise books from Arton Bank and uniforms from Zaman Garments. They will also receiv a Scotia Bank account among others gifts.
All the competitors spent the night before the finals at the Garraway Hotel, Anchorage Hotel, Fort Young Hotel and the St. James Guest House, had lunch at Garraway hotel and Old Stone Bar and Grill. Attorney Singola Blomquist Williams sponsored some of the lunches.
The winner took home a tablet, plus $2,000 and an additional $2,000 for her school. A computer will follow.
She will represent Dominica in the OECS Reading Competition in October in a country to be announced.
A total of ten schools participated in the finals of the competition.
Very good nao made our school proud
Danna,
I am so proud of you. You make God, family, school and community so proud. Keep it up. You are truly blessed. Congratulations!
Congratulations to you, your family and teacher. I foresee that one day you will become an intellect. You are well on your way. Keep it up!
Congrats to the Auguiste family and to the WSGT
Great. Great performance. Congratulations to your your family and school. Make god continue to help you excell. God bless