Roman Catholic priest Father George Phillips yesterday urged parents to get more involved in their children’s education.

“Education begins at home,” Phillips told the parents and guardians during a graduation ceremony for students of the St Richards Early Childhood Education Centre in St Andrew.

The ceremony was held at the St Richard’s of Chichester church hall.

Twenty-nine students were presented with school-leaving certificates and acting principal Millicent Wilson praised her charges, who are now preparing to enter primary school.

“These are talented children who will go far if they are given the right learning tools,” a beaming Wilson told the Observer after the ceremony.

During the ceremony, the students performed songs and short speeches and Christina Clarke, one of the graduates, gave an impressive welcome as she confidently strode to the stage and delivered a short speech without showing any signs of nervousness.

Six year-old Givanni Watson was also the toast of the ceremony after he delivered a touching vote of thanks.

Here, Charyl Walker, who was voted an outstanding performer by her teachers, braces for her kiss of blessing from Father George Phillips. Looking on is school board member Jacqueline Archibald.

(Photo: Michael Gordon)