Shanda Francis speaks on winning the DBS Reading Competition

Shanda Francis. Photo by DBS Radio
Shanda Francis. Photo by DBS Radio

Nine-year-old Shanda Francis loves painting and reading and has set her eyes on being an artist.

She is also very religious and for three years in a row, she has won a Christmas Sunday School drive during which she brought an average of twelve visitors to her church.

This is just a tiny peek at the student of the Lighthouse Christian Academy who won the DBS/Ministry of Educaton Reading Competition last week.

In an interview with DNO, Shanda spoke of her young life and her journey towards winning the competition.

When asked why she took part in the competition, she said wanted to make her school and parents proud. “Well I thought that I could go up for the reading competition and I would win for my school and make my parents proud,” the bubbly young student from Bataca, in the Kalinago Terrritory, said.

She described the entire experience as ‘good’ and said it was ‘smooth sailing.’

“It wasn’t hard because I love reading and I practice with my mom and teacher all the time,” she explained.

She said she was not afraid to stand to read in front of a crowd during the competition since it was not her first time. “I was not scared. It is not the first time, plus I went by my teacher every afternoon to practice,” Shanda said. “With my teacher, I practice reading, she let me read different kinds of books and then she tells me my mistakes and I also learn new words.”

Shanda’s mother, Sandrine Francis, said reading in front of a crowd is not a big problem for her daughter. “She’s used to reading at school,” Francis remarked.

She noted that students of the Lighthouse Christian Academy keep a journal and every Friday they have to read before the entire school what they wrote in it during the week.

She said this gave Shanda the help and self-confidence that she needed for the competition.

Francis said the entire school was behind Shanda throughout the entire competition. “I must say the staff and the school gave her full support. It was through the support of the school that she ended up going for the competition anyway,” she stated.

Shanda won $2,000 for winning the top spot in the competition and she said the money will towards her college fund.

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21 Comments

  1. hah
    July 20, 2013

    tan yo sa domnichai ya :twisted:

  2. reserve
    July 19, 2013

    check d lil boy dr admirin ha at d back dr boy lolol

  3. reserve
    July 19, 2013

    finally dey give country side wat iz drs… las yaer dey voleh salybia primary bt lighthouse iz still in our area. congrats shanda! i love dat pretty lil girl :wink:

    • reserve
      July 19, 2013

      I meant las :-D *YEAR*

  4. July 19, 2013

    congrats shanda

  5. July 19, 2013

    “I was not scared. It is not the first time–Shanda Francis

    Baby it is not about being scared–it is called “nervousness”–but young as you are, you already have a mind that is well disciplined, and discipline mind is the Mind of Love–God’s Mind. That kind of mind is not under the sole control of the human senses–the sense of “feeling” that would have made you “nervous”.

    I am not surprised to read you say that you were not scared–meaning nervous–because Jesus is with you in all the good things you will do in the future

    I hope that your adult people will teach you to give God the glory, when He does something good through you.

    I was a teacher also, and I know that you would have a good student in my class. Keep up the good habit. Blessings for you dear girl.

  6. Dominican abroad
    July 19, 2013

    I Love this child, I pray that she will continue her good work. She seems to have her head on her shoulders at such a young age. Praises to your mom and teachers. Any way to contact her parents or teacher DNO? I would love to add something to her college funds.

    ADMIN: Please use us your contact info at [email protected] and we will pass the info to the parents. We will be more than happy to help.

  7. Tyre hit de road
    July 18, 2013

    Nice Congrats! My dear God bless you.

  8. retired police in us
    July 18, 2013

    I love that. Put those Roseau schools in the shade

  9. sweetness
    July 18, 2013

    she’s going places!!!

  10. KALINAGO
    July 18, 2013

    MAKING US PROUD BABY. KEEP IT UP. WE SHINING LIKE A DIAMOND.

  11. July 18, 2013

    My heart swells with pride and my eyes grow misty with tears as I read this touching interview! Shanda Honey the ENTIRE DOMINICA is proud of you! We commend your Mom and Teacher for a job well done but most of all we commend you for your bravery, confidence and pure intelligence. And the same goes to each and every one of the Competitors. We have nothing but BIG HUGS for all of you children. Dominica loves you and we are proud of you. You little Princes and Princesses are our future and whenever we look at you and hear you speak we become all proud again to say “YES I AM A DOMINICAN!!!!”

  12. my beer first
    July 18, 2013

    Good job, way to go kids!!

  13. kalinagowarrior
    July 18, 2013

    That’s the way to go Shanda, from a tiny age you have been a positive little Kalinago with the help from your parents and families. Keep being loving as you are and keep focus. You have made your Kalinago people proud. Keep on praying as you always do, that the great God will forever be your guide. We are all proud of you. Always put god first and keep him in your heart. let him shine all over you. Little Princess you have made your Kalinago people proud. Once again another achievement through a young child for the Kalinagos.

  14. BLUBLU
    July 18, 2013

    GOOD JOB. KALINAGO MAKING DOMINICA PROUD.

    • Hmmmmm
      July 18, 2013

      Kalinago Queen, Princess, now reading champ, hmmm WE NEED A KALINAGO KALYPSONIAN

      • lisad
        July 18, 2013

        How about a Kalinago Prime Minister

  15. Observer
    July 18, 2013

    Way to go Shanda!

  16. dominican
    July 18, 2013

    fanststic,

  17. pb
    July 18, 2013

    Bravo tootoo.

  18. Natural Living
    July 18, 2013

    Excellent

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