COLLEEN Michael-Joseph is at the helm of the Wisburg Secondary School, a large building that houses classrooms, a two-storey concrete edifice and other parts that are sectioned off for the head teacher’s office, among other departments.

This building has an interesting design for a school and it is one of the largest schools in the mining town.

Wisburg Secondary School has in its employ 60 staff members, including 15 auxiliary employees for the nine departments and a total of 485 students; but classes are in session just for Grades 10 and 11 students presently and they are being prepared for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)exams, including School Based Assessments (SBAs).

At the school, they have in place all COVID-19 protocols including, hand-washing stations with soap and water, social distancing, and the temperatures of both students are teachers are tested before they enter the compound, and wearing of face masks is mandatory.

Around the school, hand sanitiser is accessible and hand-washing stations were set up just by the gate. The name Wisburg is derived from Christianburg and Wismar.

The headteacher, Colleen Michael-Joseph, told the Pepperpot Magazine that classes have been challenging in terms of students’ attendance with just about 50 percent and others, who are at home with visual learning; most do not have access to the internet or devices.

She related that the Ministry of Education recommended that two levels of students attend school on the weekdays and the subject teachers are also present to engage the students in face-to-face learning. The head teacher disclosed that in some instances the students complain that their parents are at work with the devices, so they have to wait until they return home to access the internet to do the school work.

She stated that the catchment area is quite large and in some parts the students do not have access to electricity and internet.

Michael-Joseph added that some students would visit the school to uplift their worksheets, that is, students from Grades seven to nine and worksheets are uplifted every two weeks to be marked and replenished.

She reported that only Forms Four and Five teachers are at school and in some cases, lower-level teachers are asked to assist when necessary. As for virtual teaching, Michael-Joseph pointed out that they would upload the information via the Google classroom at home and log in all the students.

She added that virtual classes are held via Zoom and WhatsApp, as well.

The Wisburg Secondary School (Carl Croker photos)

Michael –Joseph reported that they have co-curriculum activities which were introduced to keep students occupied via sports activities and golf and table tennis were launched. She stated that due to the pandemic these activities have been cancelled and their once vibrant farming is going to waste with just 15 pumpkins remaining, while they have just about a dozen pigs and the poultry aspect has been put on hold, as well.

Michael-Joseph reported that she joined the teaching profession in 1993. After completing the school system she was asked by a retired head teacher to teach craft production in school, because she had attained a distinction in craft and from then she never looked back because she realised she really liked the profession.

She attended the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and then the University of Guyana (UG) to fully qualify and she would teach eight to 12 periods per week at the Wisburg Secondary School, health/family life, food and nutrition, health, family resource and management.

Michael-Joseph is originally from Parika, East Bank Essequibo, but her parents relocated to Linden for work and they settled in an old, mined-out area surrounded by hills and valleys called Green Valley, a place with about 200 residents.

After marriage, which was recent, she moved to Amelia’s Ward but would visit her parents every day in Green Valley, a place that is so beautiful she finds peace and tranquillity there.

She began teaching at Wisburg Secondary School in 2007 and in 2013 she became the deputy head teacher and was later confirmed as head teacher.

Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrandell, is a Social Studies teacher at the Wisburg Secondary School, a facility that has grown over the years academically and is the winner of many awards which decorate the head teacher’s office, because of its multi-talented students, who have excelled in many aspects of debating, dancing, stage shows, singing, sports and academics.