Valley Middle School yesterday.

The school, for the first time, set aside the day to honour Government MP Lois Browne Evans for her accomplishments.

"She is a true lady who has seen her dreams realised,'' Spice Valley deputy principal Earl Hart said. Noting that the school planned to honour more local heroines and heroes "from time to time'', Mr. Hart added: "We thought that Mrs. Lois Browne Evans should be recognised first in light of her astute achievements.'' Mrs. Browne Evans was the first female member of the Island's first political party -- the Progressive Labour Party -- the first black woman elected to Parliament, and the first female barrister in Bermuda. And for these accomplishments she received royal treatment from students and staff at Spice Valley.

Ushered into the school -- which was decorated with a welcoming banner -- through a guard of honour formed by students, Mrs. Browne Evans spoke with student participants in a special assembly before it got under way. And in her message to the entire student body, she stressed that the "new Bermuda wanted to be proud of its youngsters and youngsters to be proud of it''.

Recalling earlier days of school pride and discipline, Mrs. Browne Evans told the students: "You don't need people to be standing over you with a whip for you to behave...'' Students should know when they are out of line simply by the tone of a teacher's voice or facial expressions, she added. In addition to prayers and poetry by staff and a special story and dance by the Spice Valley Tigers, M1 students gave a synopsis of Mrs. Browne Evans' life as a student; M2 students covered her life as a lawyer; and M3 students came up with an ode to her.

Mrs. Browne Evans was also presented with flowers, and a cedar tray and mounted gavel made by art teacher Kendall Harvey.

"We don't do enough of this. It gave us pride to honour our senior statesperson,'' a proud Mr. Hart said.

He hoped the MP would become a Baroness.