Children Nationwide Celebrate Belize at Annual Rally  

Primary school children across the country were celebrating Belize outside of their classrooms today. From Corozal to Toledo, students gathered at various locations for the annual Children’s Rally. In Belize City, the Civic Center was almost at capacity with students from twenty-five primary schools. This tradition dates back decades and it remains alive. The students sung patriotic songs, danced to Belizean music and won loads of prizes, while waving the Belizean flag throughout the entire morning. News Five’s Paul Lopez stopped in. He filed the following report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Across the country, primary schools gathered for their annual patriotic children’s rally. In Belize City, twenty-five schools were represented inside the Civic Center. The energy was high, and the children were energized as they socialized with peers. Students from Stella Maris School stole the show with their bold performances.

 

Margaret Smith, Teacher, Central Christian School

“I think it is important because it is an opportunity for us to bring the kids together and for them to see that it is not just your school, it is all the schools. We come together and it is a form of teaching them civic pride, love for country and respect. Like the mayor said in his speech earlier, to talk about the important of not bullying and respect. It is a warmer time of the year, so just being out of the class and enjoying this AC at the Civic it is lovely.”

 

As the hosts did their roll call, each school represented raised their voices with shouts that signaled their presence and participation. Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner was the keynote speaker at today’s event. Following his address, he quizzed the students and gave away five hundred-dollar prizes for the correct answers. The shocked look on this child’s face when he learnt that he won one of the hundred-dollar prizes for answering a question correctly. Realizing what was at stake, every question that followed led to a stampede towards the main stage. Each child was eager to answer and win the prize.

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“What is the greatest asset?

Student

“Education.”

 

Bernard Wagner

“Yeah, this man win one hundred dollars. Very important. This is what shapes our youths, shape our children, being able to have all of them in one space and being able to have leaders of the community share values to them. Many times we ask why some of our children go along the wrong road, but it is us as leaders in our country and city that has to be an example. Five virtues that I believe is very important for all children, having basic respect for each other, staying in school, being an advocate against bullying, demonstrating civic pride, demonstrating love for your country by your action, by practicing civic pride. So those were five simple virtues that I believe, if our children live by those virtues every single day and we continue to have it become a habit, we being to change the culture and the way we are.”

 

Margaret Smith

“And also, I think that the flag, it is just important for them to know that we show respect for our country and loving our country in the way we just not only our school compound, but even outside, the way you carry yourself, wearing your uniform, showing love for your country. Learning patriotic songs. There are some songs that from I was in infant I know these songs and I teach standard six now and they don’t even know some of the songs I would have known from the infant class.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.