BANDELIERKOP - Pupils and teachers of the St Brendan's Catholic School received certificates and trophies for outstanding achievements during an awards ceremony at the school on Sunday.

St Brendan's ended in third position in the Limpopo Province matric results in 2003. Last year, the school produced a 100% pass from grades 9 to 12.

The regional co-ordinator of Education, Mrs Cebile Khanye, said that parents should make sure that the pupils do their school work during their free time at home. She pointed out that pupils should also devote some of their free time doing their school work, instead of spending all that time having fun. She said they should divide the time so that some of it is spent constructively.

The headmaster, Mr Albert Mukoma, said that the ceremony took place to promote cleanliness, dedication, faithfulness, self-esteem and a sense of value among the pupils. Parents should check their children's school work frequently, so that they are able to contribute to their performance in the classroom. Those who did not succeed, for some reason or another, should not give up. "Don't waste time by creating excuses. An unnecessary excuse will not make you an achiever," said the principal.