St. Vincent de Paul Primary School farewells trainee teachers

Kerema: St Vincent de Paul Primary School in the Malalaua District within Kerema Diocese and the surrounding community organized a farewell ceremony for ten trainee teachers from Sacred Heart Teachers College, Bomana on June 20, 2025.

Gift presentation to the school by the Sacred Heart Teachers College trainee teachers

The program began with a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration followed by outside activities of speeches, entertainment and gift presentations.

The atmosphere in the school ground was cheerful and the students added colour to the event by showing up in their respective colourful attire, rolls of mats, colourful grass skirts, designed fans, contemporary designed string bilums, and other traditional artifacts as well as baskets filled with betelnut and mustard, garden food and locally cooked food that was presented during the gift presentation ceremony.

The happy moment of laughter and camera flashes occurred when trainee teachers and student groups took on the arena to entertain the audience with their creative dances, and as expected, the mothers added their extra touch to the entertainment.

At the farewell event, in front of the school Administration, students, parents and the community, the representative of the trainee teachers on behalf of the Sacred Heart Teachers College Administration, presented as a gift, a Certificate of Appreciation to Terapo Primary school Head Master, Mr. Johnson Poevare, which also included a Subject Basic Curriculum (SBC) in an SD card and a teacher's manual for grade four (4), as well as a teachers manual for Maths and Science. These gifts were presented by the SRC President of the Sacred Heart Teachers College, Mr. Ronsen Lasia and Team Leader Miss Scarlet Tonny.

Entertainment by the trainee teachers and their students.

 At the closing of the program, the trainee teachers were given an emotional farewell by the students and the community of Terapo. As a show of gratitude for their practical at the school and friendship they shared with the community, the students emotionally presented each trainee with gifts, as well as food. Amidst expressions of gratitude at the farewell ceremony, tears were also shed for the love of trainees for the last few weeks they spent with the community.

… ‘Our thanks are not only in words, but also expressed in our deeds through the expression of our gifts, from the bottom of our hearts to you dear trainees, we will treasure the moments we shared together, and will keep you always in our prayers, farewell and safe trip back.’ 

Community members entertaining the crowd.

Head Master Mr. Johnson Poevare emphasized that every occasion has a beginning and ending and in this case, the ending was the farewell of the trainee teachers.

"You have experienced life in the classroom and may have come across challenging situations, but you must learn from your experiences in order to be professional teachers in the communities you will later be serving in".

Catholic Agency Representative Peter Levo, on behalf of the Agency, and community expressed his sincere gratitude to the school for arranging the event for the trainees and also thanked the trainees for choosing Terapo for their practical exposure.

"You have imparted knowledge to our children, and we hope that they remember what they have been taught. You will return with fond memories of Terapo. It is also a challenge, but it’s good that you have come to experience for yourself this part of Gulf Province. He also acknowledged the presence of other denomination representatives at the event.

Students presenting gifts to their trainee teachers.

"On behalf of the agency, representing the Parish Priest, and the Catholic faithful and people of Terapo, I thank you and hope that one day some of you will return to teach in Terapo, farewell and may God go with you and be your strength in your challenges."

 Sacred Heart SRC President Mr. Ronsen Lasia, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Trainees and College to the school Administration, the students and the parents.

"Your support, patience and willingness to share your facilities with us and help us to grow into more confident future Educators. To our dear students, you were the heart of our practicum. Through you, we experienced the reality of teaching, you helped us build confidence and understand the true joy of being in the classroom."

The ten trainee teachers did their practical in St Vincent de Paul Primary School from June 7 - 20, 2025.