Bring on the victory!
Gabrelle Cummings, teacher at East Ruimveldt Secondary School
Gabrelle Cummings, teacher at East Ruimveldt Secondary School

–East Ruimveldt choir ready for ‘Mash’ competitions

IT’S about that time of the year when the school’s academic curriculum will accommodate the cultural ‘Mashramani’ celebrations.
Even though the costumes and the dances are the most dominant activities, there are a large number of students who look forward to the battle of the school choirs. Most of these activities, however, are spearheaded by some hardworking, talented teachers.
In an interview with ‘The Buzz’ the mastermind behind defending champion, East Ruimveldt Secondary, told the story of how it all started.

Gabrelle Cummings, at just 22, has been making well her name in the school system, and the choir at her school.

Quite interestingly, this young teacher was an aspiring lawyer who took a break from the law studies and ended up falling in love with the teaching profession.
A product of Saints Stanislaus College who went on to the Bishops High Sixth Form to get her foundation education in law went to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) as her way of breaking from law studies.

Miss Gabby receiving the ‘Favourite Teacher’ award

“However, I ended up falling in love with the profession. I have no intentions of going back to law right now. When I was a child, I was always told that I should be a lawyer, because I was so outspoken. And I thought maybe I should be a lawyer, because of how many people were telling me to do that. But when I went to Bishops and I did CAPE and everything, I tried out CPCE as a break. Though it was challenging, it was the challenge that made me fall in love with it… I think I have found my calling. At East Ruimveldt Secondary, I teach the Third, Fourth and Fifth Form classes Social Studies and History,” Cummings said.
She said that CPCE taught her how to deal with children, and how to operate with certain situations. And as she reflected on her years in school and the types of teachers she was exposed to, she had a conviction of becoming that teacher that wants to be a positive influence on her students.

“I developed a very deep bond with my students and my past students. I believe teachers need to have patience, and they need to be great listeners,” Gabrelle said, adding: “You may have a lot on your mind, but sometimes you have to put aside all that is going on with you and deal with the students immediately. Teachers are humans too, but you have to ensure that you can keep going behind students to ensure that certain things are put in place; be that guiding light, identify their abilities and push them.”

It was on that note that she spoke about the choir that she created at East Ruimveldt. The young teacher said that she got a culture shock when she was placed at the school and found out they had no choir.

East Rumveldt Secondary’s choir performing at their school

“Coming from ‘Saints’ that had a choir that recruits you from Form One, then you are stuck with them throughout school, and going to ‘East’ was like a culture shock for me,” she said. “So I started with two young men from Fourth Form that went to every First and Second Form class and encouraged the students to join the choir. And we would practise at lunchtime, and I tried to mix up the choir a bit from the usual national songs. We mix Contemporary and even Soca, and I think that’s one of the things that make us stand out. Our students like to dance, and I try to make it enjoyable for them. We are completely unorthodox, and I guess that is how we win.”

Miss Gabby with her champion students

Now the choir at the school is one of the most exciting things for the students, especially now that they are the champions. Cummings pointed out too, that it has become a way for her to connect with the students, since she teaches Third, Fourth and Fifth Formers, and the choir involves the First and Second Formers too.

“I do it with a whole lot of joy behind it, because this is what I love. I am also working along with a music teacher at the Music School who is teaching me to conduct the choir. And as I learn, I teach the students, so they can conduct choirs, even within their groups and communities.”

With Mashramani around the corner, Cummings said that the children are all excited, and are in preparation mode to defend their title early February.

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