The San Pedro Police Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), hosted the Positive Engagement and Civic Education (PEACE) graduation ceremony on Monday, June 24th, at the Lions Den. Two hundred thirty-one students from Holy Cross Anglican School and Isla Bonita Elementary School received certificates for completing the PEACE program.
The PEACE program was introduced as a locally contextualized replacement for the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Program. Developed specifically for the Belizean environment, the PEACE curriculum includes scenarios and examples relevant to local youth. Topics covered in the program include positive and negative peer pressure, emotional regulation, empathy, bullying, and the consequences of gang involvement, among others. The aim is to empower young minds to become productive citizens and avoid crime and violence.
The ceremony began at 10AM, with Police Constable Jarell Martinez serving as Master of Ceremonies. PC Kenrick Gentle led the opening prayer, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. Deputy Officer Commanding the San Pedro Police Formation, Administration, Jorge Lemus, welcomed attendees, stating, “We are here not only to celebrate academic achievement but to honor a journey of growth, transformation, and commitment to creating a more engaged, informed, and compassionate society.”
In an interview on the morning of the ceremony, Zenubio Coc, the Assistant Superintendent of Police and Officer Commanding Community-Oriented Policing for the Eastern Division, provided insight into a special program. “We are here to celebrate this important day. This program is relatively new, having started in 2022.” Coc explained that it was developed from the ground up with the assistance of educator Dr. Pricilla Brown from Belmopan. “We carefully tailored each lesson to meet the needs and levels of the children.”
The program consists of two components: the middle division, which includes Standards 2, 3, and 4, and the upper division, which provides for Standards 5 and 6. The middle division features eight weeks of 45-minute lessons conducted in the classroom by uniformed police officers. These sessions alternate with one week in and one week out. The upper division involves a 12-week program, consisting of four consecutive weeks of lessons, followed by one week of in-class work and one week of out-of-class work. “This program teaches children essential life skills, including conflict resolution, decision-making, and communication skills. Today, we are celebrating the achievements of those children who have completed the course,” said Coc.
Certificates were then awarded to students from both participating schools. Assistant Superintendent Coc delivered the closing remarks, expressing his gratitude to school administrators and teachers for welcoming the officers into their classrooms.
The PEACE instructors were CPL Marleni Coye for Isla Bonita Elementary and PC Kenrick Gentle for Holy Cross Anglican.
Students from Isla Bonita Elementary who received certificates included:
Catherine Van Schalkwyk, Yanelsy Solis, Kayden Lamb, Aya Harmouch, Juliet Cerpa, Nayir Moh, Evan Trujillo, Azaliah Ortega, Gianna McCulloch, Maya Harmouch, Emil Vasquez Jr., Merlyn Villatoro, Ceily Marroquin, Lojayn Harmouch, Joshua Quetzal, Leilany Cruz, Jeslie Alcoser, Kaisley Rose Badillo, Ciannie Castillo, Jasmine Galvez, Arianna Larin, Brianna Larin, Phoebe Rhaburn, Milah Smith, Genesis Urrea, Rihanna Rodriguez, Lucas Gonzalez, Ajay Gonzalez, Barae Harmouch, Angel Riverol, Jefferson Rodriguez, Thiago Torres, and Roland Tun.
Students from Holy Cross Anglican School who received certificates were:
(Organized by class division for clarity)
Standard III:
Jeremy Khyrel Adolphus, Andrei Shane Arana, Christian David Arroyo, Joseph Otaniel Barbosa, Abraham Noel Blanco, Alonzo Blanco, Ellidawna Shanekey Bowen, Melaney Mileani Cabanas, Ratrishely Amorth Calistro, Natalie Alexa Caliz, Aylin Lisseth Campos, Maria Rosario Canek, Alberto Juaquin Carpio, Emanuel Ezequiel Carpio, Jazili Sueheidy Catzim, Christian Angel Chan, Felipe Victor Chan, Alexa Dayanne Chi, Gabriela Marisha Chinchilla, Keydiel Jerome Choc, Gabriel Angel Cocom, Adilene Marion Cornejo, Brent Brandon Dixon, Ela Victoria Figueroa, Jayden Eddison Garcia Jr., Jason Jose Gomez, Eve Sirria Gotoy, Rosie Diane Harley, Ismael Josue Izaguirre, Nathalie Denise Jimenez, Eli Benjamin Lores, Isabelle Kaylie Mai, Keisha Mejia, Joevany Japhet Mena, Nayelie Samantha Mejia, Orlando Miguel Mendez, Deymir Aziel Nah, Jaylee Estrella Nicholas, Neyma Nikole Novelo, Rafael Novelo, Devanna Samantha Osorio, Millie Kalliope Portillo, Allison Chantal Abigail Quevedo, Kayden Yadiel Romero, Sofia Alessandra Romero, Meryl Amarie Sanchez, Khailyn Kelly Sho, Eizer Jibram Teck, Anahi Naiame Trejo, Mariely Janeth Trejo, Isai Imer Vega, Alyasah Sherlyn Williams, Jorge Luis Witzil, Triston Shevone Wright, Shazay Shanoie Ysaguirre.
Standard IV:
Kaylene Abigail Akuruka, Angel Jesus Albeno, Fredixon Jahir Oliva Argenal, Darwin Stuart Bartley, Josue Jaziel Blandon, Gabriella Isabella Bradley, Mitchel Joseph Bul, Chris Carlos Calderon, Giddion Calvio, Kelly Magali Can, Jeiren Castillo, Cecilia Esmeralda Castillo, Edeirie Amineli Castro, Cristel Sarai Chan, Juan Enrique Chan, Hailey Tessannie Chen, Nelson Edward Chimilio, Elaida Yahima Choc, Qian Zayel Cobarrubia, Robert Harold Coc, Bethany Ashemh Cordona, Aryan Danitza Correa, Michael Shawn Cucul, Nina Maxiceline Garcia, Yoremi Adamari Gilharry, Emilson Jadir Gonzalez, Elias Misael Hernandez, Kelvin Orlando Jayme, Selvin Emanuel Juchim, and Annalisha Kamrin Lino.
Standard V:
Hailey Areanny Alay, Gabriel Enrique Emilio Angel, Carlos Daniel Barbosa, Hector Enrique Barboza, Alisse Gracie Bermudez, Jaheem Wayne Bowen, Aaron Alexander Bradley, Natasha Elisabeth Briceno, Marjorie (Maryuri) Marisol Caballeros, Katherine Elizabeth Cabrera, Desiree Daisy Cain, Jorleny Sarai Calix, Ville Valentino Caliz, Ashli Yoslai Calles (Alvarez), Faytrick Mathew Cantun, Leandro Daniel Castellanos, Enrique Zion Cocom, Mia Jamileth Cortez (Gonzalez), Astrid Jazmin Cruz, Jahneak Dayvon Flowers, Andy Bryce Gamez, Alex Miguel Garcia, Kelvis Kai Raymond Garcia, Shallee Wilma Gillett, Victor Felix Gotoy, Chris Matthew Hernandez, Elijon Herrera, Jonathan Alexander Howe, Gibran Manuel Juarez, Yahid Yohon Martinez (Cassanova), Itzamar Adriane Medina, Shnaider Travis Mesadieu, Caleb Josue Monroy, Heykell Joshua Montoya, Jaylah Jasleen Morales, Gary Elias Pacheco, Derisha Elena Rochez, Leonardo Armando Romero, Natlea Beralli Romero, Axel Izo Rodriguez, Natalie Stacey Rodriguez, Ayishah Patricia Samuels, Derrek Scott Shaw, Jerome Sho, Aliynie Melody Sutherland, Anna Magdalena Trejo, Brian Emanuel Tunche, Sury Yaretzy Villamil, Arjen Rowan Yam, Max Edward Zetina, Chrisllyn Delphina Magdaleno, Nathlyn Brooklyn Marshall, Courtney Martinez, Ramadel Phellimar Medina, Jasmin Natasha Mejia, Alfonso Brian Menjivar, Reynaldo Gilian Moralez, Meljer Adimir Nah, Selsa Leticia Ordonez, Christopher Arodiz Paredes, Jonathan Giovanni Perez, Daniel Misael Ramos, Carlos David Rendon, Andre Roney Reyes, Martha Elizabeth Reyes, Bianca Kimmarie Romero, Shelly Pearl Rubio, Marcos Miguel Santoya, Jaymar Edward Sutherland, Azain Azael Tepaz, Elmer Fidel Torres, Jose David Velasquez, Shayanne Darsellie Ysaguirre.
Standard VI:
Martin Alfonso Acosta, Jermillah Khylie Stephanie Adolphus, Alizon Maricela Aguilar, Jadelin Janessa Aguilar, Shanique Carlie Arias, David Arroyo, Nayemi Claribel Barrera, Kristel Elizabeth Borges, Dernel Luther Brown, Lioneldo Buul Jr., Shemeka Renah Cain (Dixon), Mirianny Marie Canto, Devin Joseph Cartajena, Diego Jarieth Castellanos, Zaidy Elizabeth Cervera, Edward Alexander Chee, Aziel Alejandro Chi, Marelyn Lileany Cohuoj, Byron Alfredo Cortez, Berenice Coy, Juleisy Zurriel Dominguez, Glianie Edwards, Sherlin Jimena Franco, Devaun Edwardo Garbutt, Jamil Yazir Herrera, Johan Miguel Angel Howe, Angelina Maryse Jimenez, Noelangel Javier Jones, Arturo Roberto Lara, Akeem Martinez, Annette Bernice Martinez, Daniel Isaac Martinez, Osmin Mario Martinez, Sulemi Lesbia Martinez, Alizee Estrella Moh, Octon Noralez, Octany Noralez, Angel Macario Ordonez, Johnny Orellana, Alvin Alfonso Oscal, Bernard Patricio Pastor, Junior Fernando Pena, Nevaeh Rose Polonio, Jenny Marisol Ramirez, Nathan Silver Rodriguez, Aaron Saki, Kelcy Kyrani Sho, Yanilen Maria Sierra, Surieth Marbella Rios (Torres), Jahson Jaden Young, Vashti Ayanie Vaccaro, Christy Elisavet Valencia, Yorlin Alberto Vargas, Demroy Leroy Welch, and Bryan Raymond Williams.
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