Scotiabank Kiddy Parade a success
MORE THAN 100 children participated in the Scotiabank Kiddy Parade, held on National Children’s Day last week. Despite the inclement weather, the parade was spectacular. There was no diminishing the excitement emanating from the participating students, who represented various primary schools in the Corporate Area.
With marching bands, dancers, stilt walkers and drummers, it was quite the parade.
“It was quite a performance. It was a fun experience – a marching band and drummers in an auditorium, and the children had a good time,” said Yanique Forbes Patrick, vice-president of marketing at Scotiabank.
“We were, of course, disappointed that we were unable to march; however, the end result turned out to be different, but just as engaging,” Forbes added.
VIBRANT AFFAIR
The students lined up behind the L’Acadco Drummers, who were led by two Scotiabank footballers carrying the parade banner along with some students decked in their Kiddy Cricket gear. In alphabetical order, students made their way on to the platform, some dancing, some marching, but all with balloons – red and yellow – and many with placards, dancing and singing.
The stilt walkers, with bunches of Scotiabank balloons, danced on their seven-foot stilts as the children marched. The St Michael’s marching band
enhanced the already vibrant vibe, belting out popular favourites, while their dancers added to the excitement.
St Richards Primary took the top spot, walking away with $25,000, for their uniquely created signs that included messages
like ‘I want to learn my ABC, not ABUSE’. Richmond Park Prep and Duhaney Park Primary came in second and third, winning $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Scotiabank President Jacqueline Sharp and chief executive
officer Dr Pauline Mulling of the National Child Month committee, brought greetings and also endorsed the event.
The closing concert included variety of items that entertained the students, including dancing competitions.
The Scotiabank National Children’s Day parade is one of a number of activities that Scotiabank has organised in recognition of Child Month.
Other activities include the launch of a tree-planting programme which will see 242 primary schools receiving ornamental trees for planting at their institutions; and students in more than 40 schools across the island benefiting from Scotia Volunteers sharing on bullying during the Read Across Jamaica Day and Teachers’ Day activities.