THEGLEANER'S2009 - Jamaica Gleaner

THEGLEANER’S2009 

TOPOFTHE 

CLASS 

A SELECTION OF JAMAICA’S OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS

Sweet success: 

When hard 

work pays off 

IN THIS, the sixth year of producing this 

remarkable publication, we have seen 

tremendous improvement in the standard of 

achievement of our students. More averages 

are trending above the 90 per cent mark and 

a few more boys are making it on to the 

honour roll of their schools. 

This is great news for our country. 

OVERVIEW OF BEST PRACTICES 

This year, choosing the achievers for Top 

of the Class was a most challenging 

experience, as teachers and parents worked 

extremely hard to get their charges on the ‘A’ 

list. Of course, many proudly achieved this 

and as the rolls grew, so too did the demand 

for Top of the Class space. 

Our reporters and photographers trekked 

through the hills and valleys of the lush 

Jamaican countryside to capture the proud 

smiles of students for this product. 

We took the time to peek at the various 

study strategies and the school-management 

systems in near and remote places and pulled 

together an overview of best practices that 

our students, parents and teachers will find 

useful, as we continue this task of educating 

future generations. 

We are especially thankful to our partners 

JPS, NCB Foundation and Capital and 

Credit Merchant Bank for their continued 

commitment to education and support of 

excellence. 

Like our students, we too had to work very 

hard to fit every achiever sent to us by the 

schools into these pages. So, voilà! Here is 

Top of the Class in a new format. 

Enjoy! 

The joy of winning a Rhodes Scholarship 

RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER 

The 2009 winner of the Rhodes Scholarship, Michael Waul (centre), is congratulated by fellow 

candidates Jeffery Brown and Racquel Smith when his selection was announced after the final 

interviews at King’s House in St Andrew. top 

Jenni Campbell – managing editor 

2 TOP OF THE CLASS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009 

AFTER SPENDING half an 

hour being grilled in an 

intense interview, 21year-old 

Michael Waul emerged 

as the 2009 winner of the 

prestigious Jamaica Rhodes 

Scholarship. 

“Shock” was the only word 

Waul could use to describe the 

feeling when his name was 

uttered over the microphone by 

Governor General Sir Kenneth 

Hall. The announcement was 

made at King’s House in St 

Andrew. 

“I am very, very shocked,” he 

told The Gleaner soon after. 

Waul was the last of eight 

candidates to be interviewed for 

the scholarship. Among the eight 

candidates were two doctors. 

He described the interview as 

gruelling, but said it was all 

worth it. 

The Campion College 

graduate attributed his success 

to his parents, Carlos and Joan, 

who he said made tremendous 

sacrifices to finance his 

education. 

of the class 

Special thanks 

to our sponsors 

Jamaica Public Service 

Company 

NCB Foundation 

Capital and Credit Merchant 

Bank 

The Gleaner Company 

CREDITS 

Editor-in-Chief 

Garfield Grandison 

Managing Editor 

Jenni Campbell 

Associate Editor – 

Special Projects 

Byron Buckley 

Coodinator 

Kerry-Ann Hepburn 

Writers 

Petrina Francis 

Carl Gilchrist 

Gareth Manning 

Sonia Mitchell 

Athaliah Reynolds 

Arthur Hall 

Sheena Gayle 

Howard Campbell 

Avia Collinder 

Other Contributors 

Noel Thompson 

Angella Chin 

Marlene McPherson 

Rasbert Turner 

Richard Bryan 

Peta-Gaye Clachar 

Ian Allen 

Colin Hamilton 

Cover design 

Heather Kong 

Cover Photograph 

Sixth-form students of St 

Andrew High School for Girls 

celebrate great achievements 

Cover Photograph 

Ricardo Makyn 

Key 

★ 

Look out for the ‘Star 

Performers’ with the 

highest grade averages 

in the school listings.

Reaching for the stars 

Onella Dawkins 

Petrina Francis 

Staff Reporter 

The heights by great men reached and kept 

Were not attained by sudden flight, 

But they, while their companions slept, 

Were toiling upward in the night. 

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

MAKING IT to the top of the class is not an 

easy feat for students. They say it is a 

difficult journey but with hard work and 

parental support, they manage to excel 

academically. 

Top of the Class recently spoke with two top 

students who were excited to share their 

strategies. 

Lori-Ann Vaz has worked hard, so it was no 

surprise when she got 11 distinctions in last 

year’s Caribbean Secondary Education 

Certificate (CSEC) examinations. 

It was later announced by the Caribbean 

Examinations Council that she was the recipient 

of the award for the most outstanding 

performance in humanities in the Caribbean. 

But this feat was not easy and Vaz tells Top of 

the Class that hard work and determination 

were the driving forces. 

IMPORTANT TO PARTICIPATE 

“Class participation is very important, and I 

also find that when I pay attention in class, I will 

retain the information but I still read over,” said 

Lori-Ann Vaz 

Vaz, who has moved on to sixth form at 

Wolmer’s High School for Girls. 

She also related that preparing for the next 

class was extremely important. “It also makes it 

easier for you to remember stuff,” she said. 

“Procrastination, cramming and swotting 

doesn’t work,” she advised. “If it works for the 

exam, two weeks after you will not remember 

and this is not good because exam is not only 

about getting the grade, but it is also about the 

knowledge.” 

Vaz, who intends to become a medical doctor, 

said prayer was also integral in her preparation. 

“Oh and make sure you do your homework 

because it is also a way of retaining the 

knowledge,” said Vaz. 

She noted that although she had the drive to 

succeed, she could not have done it without the 

support of her mother. 

“My mother was behind me all the way, 

sometimes it gets stressful ... I am young and 

want to be free, but when you have your parents 

encouraging you, it gives you that extra push,” 

said Vaz. 

Onella Dawkins copped 10 ones in last year’s 

CSEC examinations. She said the formula for 

her success was to ensure that she revised what 

was taught each day. 

“I made sure that I revised the topic that the 

we did in class the same evening in order to 

keep it fresh in my mind,” Dawkins told Top of 

the Class. 

She noted that homework was also integral in 

her being successful. 

PARENTAL SUPPORT IS KEY 

“Homework is very important because the 

teacher cannot cover everything in class and by 

doing homework you learn more about the 

topic,” said Dawkins, who is currently a sixthform 

student at Glenmuir High School. 

She encouraged students to ensure that they 

participate in class, noting that by doing so they 

will know if they understand the topic that is 

being discussed. 

And for her, parental support is important. 

“There are times when you become 

discouraged. When your parents are involved, it 

is good because they are the driving force which 

help you to continue,” said the medical doctor in 

the making. 

Meanwhile, Miranda Sutherland, president of 

the National Parent-Teacher Association of 

Jamaica, said parental involvement is extremely 

important if a child is to succeed in school. 

“It is important that parents get their children 

academically ready. Whatever resources are 

needed, such as textbooks, clothing, proper 

meal and moral support that the children need, 

parents should ensure that they have them,” 

said Sutherland. 

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com 

Cross 

Primary & 

JRH 

Moesha Delisser 

Okogaki Morgan 

Zoe-Lee Chambers 

Kimberly Johnson 

Nigel Burton 

Bethel 

Primary 

Sadiki Shepherd: 

100% 

Omar Eubanks 

Ravieka Gardener 

Tracey-Ann Lewis 

Terry-Ann Jarrett 

Philadelphia 

All-Age 

Morgan Davis: 

94% 

Oshane Howlette 

Daniel Watkis 

Adrian Boswell 

Ann-Marie Nelson 

Chantilly 

Primary 

Janiel Ford: 96% 

Shaquille Guy 

Tiffany Harris 

Mikhalia Pusey 

Mark Thomas 

TOP OF THE CLASS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009 

3

Bridgeport 

Primary 

Laurence Powell: 

98% 

Shantenie Dwyer 

Moesha Givans 

Nickayah 

Seivwright 

Juane Manderson 

Wolmer’s 

Preparatory 

Jonathan 

Cotterell: 100% 

danique doolam 

kharissa king 

kayla malcolm 

kaylee reynolds 

Emmanuel 

Preparatory 

Adeniki Gordon: 

97.6% 

Jonathan Pearson 

Gabrielle Julal 

Mercedes 

McGibbon 

Sharona Smith 

Mona 

Primary 

Kamau Sykes: 

98.2% 

Nihmotallahi 

Adebayo 

Shadae Smith 

Simone Spence 

Ashli Alvaranga 

ARDENNE’S STACY-ANN PEARSON 

Former Queen Bee excels 

Sonia Mitchell 

Gleaner Writer 

do all things through 

Christ which strengthens me’ 

‘ICAN 

has been the watchword of 

Stacy-Ann Pearson when she feels 

like academic work is becoming too 

much for her. 

Pearson, 17, is the top student at 

Corporate Area school, Ardenne 

High, where she achieved 10 subjects 

at grade one in the Caribbean 

Secondary Education Certificate 

(CSEC) examinations in 2008. The 

subjects include English language, 

mathematics, English literature, 

French, Spanish, biology, physics, 

information technology, history 

and technical drawing. 

MOTIVATION 

This brilliant and determined 

young woman’s inspiration and motivation 

came when a former Ardenne 

High Spelling Bee champion, Daniel 

Thomas, scored the highest in all the 

science subjects a few years back. 

Pearson was also part of the school’s 

Spelling Bee programme, and was 

crowned National Spelling Bee 

champion for 2005. 

“Because of his inspiration and 

Kingsgate 

Preparatory 

Jamelia Lowe: 

99% 

Chris-Ann Bryan 

Nneko Ewart 

Kristen Gyles 

Chantae Garrick 

Grange Hill 

Primary 

Danielle Kirlew: 

95.7% 

Davian Hemmings 

Sasskya Scott 

Vivian Vickers 

Akiel Whyte 

Stacy-Ann Pearson 

achievements, I decided to work 

hard to become one of those persons 

who has achieved so much,” 

Pearson relates. 

Pearson, a Seventh-day 

Adventist, attributes her success to 

her parents – especially her everpresent 

mother – who supported 

her mentally, physically and emotionally 

during her studies. She also 

praises her teachers who played a 

tremendous role in her success, 

especially in physics, mathematics 

and Spanish. 

Pearson discloses that her success 

is is anchored on proper time 

management. She does not read 

ahead in class, but does all her 

homework assignments. When a 

Mount 

Ward 

Primary 

John-Ann 

Fraser – 96% 

Ashley Excell 

Thajovani Hayles 

Britney Hew 

Kimone Johnson 

Albert 

Town 

Primary 

Sherlon Frater: 

94.7% 

Dondre Brown 

Nickolette Brown 

Damali Clarke 

Jerwayne Falknor 

Burnt 

Savannah 

Primary 


new topic is given, she goes home 

and consolidates all that was taught, 

and goes over all the problems. In 

addition, Pearson reads extensively 

outside the syllabus to get a better 

understanding of particular topics. 

MAKE SACRIFICES 

Her advice to students who want 

to succeed academically is to 

sacrifice certain luxuries like 

watching television, excessive partying 

and spending long periods on 

the phone. She encourages them to 

work hard at achieving their goals 

in life. 

The 17-year-old is captain of the 

tennis, French and photography 

clubs, and has been on the prefect 

body from grade 10. She is an active 

member of her church choir and 

loves to read comic books and 

watch television. 

Pearson attended Hydel 

Preparatory School prior to going 

to Ardenne High. She is currently 

enrolled in four Caribbean 

Advanced Proficiency Examination 

(CAPE) subjects, as well as chemistry 

at the CSEC level. She hopes 

to become a civil engineer. 

Amelia Dunkley: 

93.7% 

Julia Banton 

Ximara Chambers 

Shanae Nelson 

Oshane Stephenson 

Corinaldi 

Avenue 

Primary 

Sherica Hamilton – 

98% 

Vejae McLean 

Gabriela Morris 

Tasheka Peterkin 

Ryan Rowe 

Meadowbrook 

Preparatory 

Nicholas Knowles: 

93% 

Brittoni Hyde 

Daniel Thomas 

Roselyn Henry 

Trudi Ann Hemans 

Jordan Beverley 

Stella Maris 

Preparatory 

Christina Anderson 

Hye-Kyung Moo 

Tiffany Edwards 

Britnni Hickey 

Taheer Laing 

St Cecelia 

Preparatory 

Shaneille 

Ledgister-Stiff 

Shane Mahbeer 

Tianna Lee Salmon 

Ronese Pandohie 

Shanio Thompson 

Talece Parkes 

McCauley 

Primary 

Jon Marc Adam 

Judy Ann Edwards 

Justine McLeod 

Sineal Smith 

Yonique Woodburn

Novia Cotterell 

Khandace Green 

St Jago High 

Odayne Steele 88.5% 

Okema Cummings 

Yanike Montaque 

NORMAN GRINDLEY/ACTING PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR 

Students at St Jago High School in St Catherine. 

Kilsyth Primary 

Liandra Ricketts 89% 

Chevaugh Channer 89% 

Terrence Fowler Andre Ferguson Liandre Ricketts 

The winning team from Kilsyth Primary School in Clarendon and 

teacher Andrea Ricketts accept their trophy from Lloyd Tyme, 

director of Region South, JPS, at the first JPS Science Fair for 

2007. Kilsyth emerged winner for their display titled, 

‘Chickweed: Helping Those in Need’. 

COLIN HAMILTON/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER 

From left: Colleen, Cadine and Colliette Bramwell, triplets 

attending Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High School, impress 

their teachers with their brilliance. If they continue with their 

excellent performances, they should do well in their CSEC exams. 

Cockburn Gardens Primary 

Shaneish Campbell 

Samara Dewar 

Satchell Nelson 90.6% 

Rajesh Nathan 

Geovauni White 

IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Students of Cockburn Gardens Primary and Junior High 

School perform during the official handover ceremony of 

the Reading and Resource Room at the school. The room 

was refurbished by the Digicel Foundation. 

Haile Selassie High 

Moya Espuet 

Trudy Smith 

Makieda Green: 88% 

Rodaine Harriot 

Jody-Ann Walters 

Rear Admiral Peter Brady, director 

general, Maritime Authority of 

Jamaica, discusses protection of the 

marine environment with students 

from Haile Selassie High. The 

event was World Maritime Day and 

World Tourism Day 2007 Students 

Forum at the Kingston and St 

Andrew Parish Library's reading 

room. 


5

Port 

Antonio 

Primary 

Teana Robinson: 

97.4% 

Malique Rose 

Ashagaye Williams 

Asheree Barrant 

Kimiko Williams 

George 

Headley 

Primary 

Brian Sawyers: 

100% 

Shemar Steele 

Danielle Spencer 

Hanastasia Madden 

Keverence Mason 

Crofts Hill 

Primary & 

Junior High 

Havagaye Maddix: 

99.6% 

Sherona Nedd 

Jordan Simpson 

Razane Benjamin 

Aaliyah Mckenzie 

John 

Austin 

All-Age 

Patrick Campbell: 

95% 

Aliyia Gayle: 95% 

Natecia Johnson 

Taisha Gay Fearon 

Bonnett 

Primary 

Kadeen Small: 78% 

Patricia Walker 

Sashay Smith 

Jodi-Ann Garrick 

Shanice Crossman 

Howard 

Cooke 

Primary 

Roger Webb: 93.5% 

Deandra Jumpp 

Oshay Salkey 

Toni-Shae Smith 

Hubert Manning Raheem Smith 

Top national science teacher Lillieth Wilson instructing her 

grade-10 students last year. 

York Castle boys 

at top of the class 

IN A country where boys are 

marginalised in nearly all 

sectors of society, finding a boy 

who manages to excel, despite 

his circumstances, is probably as 

rare as finding a million dollars on 

the floor of an automated teller 

machine. 

Finding an entire group of boys 

who consistently churn out ‘A’ 

grades at a co-educational school 

might be even more of a treat. 

There is at least one school 

that can boast of such an 

achievement. 

Nestled in the cool hills of 

South East St Ann, York Castle 

High’s boys are at the top of their 

class. Year after year they take 

home top awards for their hard 

work and brilliance at both the 

local and regional level in all 

spheres of academia. 

HIGH PASSES 

Passing all nine Caribbean 

Secondary Education Certificate 

(CSEC) subjects with distinction is 

normal here, especially for boys. 

“They maintain averages of 90odd 

[per cent] throughout their 

internal examinations. They outperform 

the girls in the CXC 

examinations also,” a proud viceprincipal, 

Glenroy Hemmings, 

boasted. 

In 2005 the school received 15 

local and regional awards for 

excellence in various subjects. All 

15 awards went to boys. 

The island’s top five students in 

electrical technology were all York 

Castle High boys. They were also 

proud to have four of the top five 

students in building technology 

and the region’s highest achiever 

in industrial education. 

York Castle’s boys also perform 

well in traditional subject areas, 

including languages and music. 

“We were third place in the 

sciences and also fourth place in 

the humanities,” said Hemmings. 

THE SECRET 

The secret to the boys’ success 

is not clear, Hemmings said, but it 

might be a simple strategy the 

school has been using for years. 

All York Castle students are 

free to choose the subjects they 

want to pursue at the CSEC level. 

Unlike other schools which 

choose to streamline students at 

the CSEC stage to allow them to 

focus on particular choices that 

may be prerequisites to the 

career path they want to take, 

York Castle allows its students to 

choose all the subjects they 

would like to do. 

MIX CLASSES 

By doing that, the school forms 

classes that cater to a mix of 

students with different levels of 

competence. 

“What you find is that it creates 

competition and there are 

students who will look at others 

and try to do better,” Hemmings 

explained. 

Mix that with some motivation 

from the teaching staff and that is 

a recipe for success. 

“The teachers are motivated, 

but it is the set-up of the system 

that lends itself to that,” said 

Hemmings. 


Old 

Harbour 

Primary 

Horraine McCalla 

RAshley-Ann Porter 

Shaqueme Smith 

Nakaya Nedrick 

Success 

Prep 

Anya Graham 

Marquille Johnson 

Jaydeon Crooks 

Sean Pollack 

Shenelle Pollack 

Dunrobin 

Prep 

Merricka Dyce: 

98.5% 

Ysande Allen 

Catherine Lloyd 

Felicia Lewis 

Mocho 

Primary 

Tavoiya Greyson 

Ryan Doyley 

Aneika Doyley 

Oneika Thompson 

Josh Gooden 

Exchange 

All-Age 

T’Aundra 

Moncrieffe 

Paul Tyrell 

Dwayne Smith 

Zamora Leach 

Clonmel 

Primary 

Samantha Rhule: 

94% 

Za’Leeka Leckie 

Christopher 

Stewart 

Jhanelle Thames

Sheryl Brown, JPS executive assistant, 

external affairs, presents awards to ... 

Midhun Thomas 

Jeremy Hall 

Sharlayne Waller 

Sheroy Spence 

Jhoelle Beckford 

Rashaun Lindo 

Douglas Brown 

JPS awards top CXC 

science performers 

THEY ARE among the brightest and the 

best – dedicated youngsters who have 

come out at the top of the class across 

the nation for their performance in CXC science 

subjects. Recently, the Jamaica Public Service 

Co Ltd (JPS) awarded these hard-working 

students with trophies and cash prizes in 

recognition of their outstanding achievements. 

So the big question is: How did you do it? 

Check the answers: 

Zorri-Ann Rhoden, José Marti Technical, top 

CXC student in agricultural science, double 

award: 

“I used a whole lot of past papers to practise. 

Our class also went on agricultural excursions. 

Additionally, I practise what I learn in my 

backyard garden.” 

REWRITING NOTES 

Rashaun Lindo, St Catherine High, top CXC 

student for agricultural science, single award: 

“I go to bed at around 9 p.m. and wake up at 

3 a.m. to study. I also walk with two notebooks. 

I use one to write down my notes in the day, 

then in the evening I transcribe the notes into 

the second one. When I spend time writing 

over the notes, it is like studying.” 

Theresa Wong, Immaculate Conception 

High, top CXC student for both biology and 

chemistry: 

“I went through every single objective in the 

syllabus. I also did tons of work at night, going 

to bed at 4 and even 5 a.m. Anything to get the 

work done. I also spent some of my lunchtimes 

in the library.” 

Kaydi-Ann Newsome, Immaculate 

Conception High, tied for top CXC student in 

physics: 

“I studied extra hard. I made sure not to stay 

up past 10 o’clock because I cannot function on 

less than 8 hours of sleep. I used the computer 

a lot to get diagrams and videos to study from 

PETA-GAYE CLACHAR/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Garth McKenzie (third left), director of Region Metro at JPS, chats with five 

students of excellence during a luncheon hosted by the JPS at the Terra Nova 

Hotel on Thursday, February 12. From left are Immaculate Conception High’s 

Kaydi-ann Newsome, top physics student; José Marti Technical’s Zori-Ann 

Rhoden, top student in agricultural science; Immaculate Conception’s Theresa 

Wong, top student in biology and chemistry; Rashaun Lindo, an excellent 

performer in agricultural science at St Catherine High; and Jhoelle Beckford, 

the mathematics brain from Immaculate Conception. 

Bright sparks share study secrets 

and to practise. Also, I have been studying 

consistently since the start of the year.” 

Midhun Thomas, Titchfield High, tied for top 

CXC student in physics: 

“I haven’t found a stable technique as yet. I 

simply read all my notes, used additional texts 

and practised past paper questions. After 

drawing all the diagrams, I studied them and 

made sure I understood them, even without the 

notes.” 

Jeremy Hall, Glenmuir High, is the top CXC 

student for information technology – general: 

“Teaching others is a great way to study. 

Reading widely is also very useful. Use other 

texts and expose yourself.” 

Sharlayne Waller, Campion College, is the 

top CXC student in information technology – 

technical: 

“I practised past CXC papers and timed 

myself. Studying, using the syllabus, my notes 

and the textbooks were very helpful.” 

INTEGRATED SCIENCE 

Sheroy Spence, Maud McLeod High, is the 

top CXC student for integrated science: 

“I study daily – my study timetable is on a 

wall in the living room, and this runs from 

Saturday to Sunday. I don’t wait for a test. I 

am always looking over my notes and reading 

ahead.” 

Jhoelle Beckford, Immaculate Conception 

High, is the top CXC student for mathematics: 

“I place more emphasis on quality than 

quantity. I practise, use my notebook, read 

widely and try to grasp the information for 

myself.” 

Douglas Brown, York Castle High, is the 

top CXC student for electrical and electronic 

technology: 

“I spend four to five hours each day 

studying and practising questions in 

textbooks, as well as past paper questions.” 

St Paul’s 

Prep 

Tevin Flynn 

Saundre Watson 

Travis Hawthorne 

Shantae Watson 

Wadeann Wood 

Southborough 

Primary 

Jheanelle 

Robinson: 98% 

Marquis White 

Natalya Brown 

Britanae Grans 

Jerdene Fraser 

Cambridge 

Primary 

Samantha Salmon: 

94% 

Jelissa Cox 

Dwayne Hylton 

Hava Gaye Heath 

Joanna Cohen 

Mineral 

Heights 

Primary 

Ranica Orr: 99.3% 

Ebboni Smith 

Nicardo Smith 

Thalia Whyte 

Joelle Rowe 

Port 

Morant 

Primary 

Kameice Francis 

Davelle Brown 

Jayan Anderson 

Alicia Gordon 

Leonard Brown 

Munro 

Prep 

Jordon Julye 

97.5% 

Ashley Lindo 

Kristina Whitely 

Gizelle Palmer 

Michael Rowe 


7

THE TRENCH TOWN STORY 

Violence threatening education 

Howard Campbell 


GROWING UP in Trench Town, Shantel May and 

Trevor Smellie heard about the exploits of 

musicians Bob Marley and Alton Ellis, just two 

of the heroes immortalised with sidewalk murals by the 

community . 

The 17-year-olds are fifth-form students at 

Trench Town Comprehensive High 

School. They have also borne the 

negative legacy of their community, 

one of several that carry the 

unflattering tag of ‘garrison’. 

Shantel has six passes in the 

Caribbean Secondary Education 

Certificate examination. Trevor 

has four. The violence that has 

scarred Trench Town for decades 

curtailed the ambitions of earlier 

generations and, at times, 

threatened their development. 

HARD TO STUDY 

“I had it fairly hard with the violence especially. 

It’s hard to study when you are hearing all the 

gunshots,” said Shantel, who lives in the ‘Pegasus’ 

neighbourhood of Trench Town. 

Her situation, she adds, is a familiar one. 

“Most mornings I hear them (students) saying they 

can’t deal with it (violence).” 

Trevor lives at Crook Street, not far from Shantel. 

The aspiring computer programmer said the 

challenges of inner-city life inspires him to excel. 

“When I see how a lot of people in the area operate, 

St Peter 

Claver 

Primary 

Hakeem Gooden: 

99% 

Tiffany Fuller 

Tamalia Howel 

Cynara Reece 

St Peter 

Claver 

Primary 

Reynaldo Hewitt 

Villa Road 

Primary & 

Junior High 

Sashauni 

Cummings: 95% 

Nakitta 

Anderson 

Kimona Robinson 

George Watson 

Kavarshia Robinson 

‘I 

had it fairly 

hard with the 

violence especially. 

It’s hard to study 

when you are 

hearing all the 

gunshots.’ 

Cedar 

Valley 

Primary & 

Junior High 

Janique Crosdale: 

98% 

Jemar Bailey 

Telecia Shepherd 

Tiana Britton 

I say to myself, ‘I can’t be like that, that’s not what I 

want to be’,” Trevor pointed out. 

Gang violence in Trench Town has forced 

administrators to close the school twice in the last four 

years. Herbert Gayle, an anthropologist in the 

University of the West Indies’ department of sociology, 

said the issues Shantel and Trevor face are not unique 

among inner-city youth. 

Moniesha Bryan 

Nissan Gentles 

Makhalia Fletcher 

Gayle advised that developing a sound 

network of parents, guardians or teachers 

is key to the progress of youth 

attending schools surrounded by 

poverty and crime. He believes the 

most important figure in these 

situations is the principal. 

“These schools need good 

principals. If they don’t have 

that, these youths will suffer,” 

Gayle warned. 

STUDENT POPULATION 

Pixley Austin has been principal 

at Trench Town Comprehensive 

High School for less than a year but 

has been there for almost 20 years. 

During that time, he has seen the student 

population drop to 450, largely due to violence. 

He acknowledged the importance of counselling. 

Once per week, staff from the Swallowfield Chapel in 

St Andrew give motivational talks at the school, which 

once had two guidance counsellors. 

After five years at Trench Town, Shantel and Trevor 

are looking forward to move on. Shantel was awarded 

a one-year scholarship to the Caribbean Institute of 

Business where she will pursue a diploma course in 

information technology. Trevor plans to continue his 

computer studies at EXED Community College. 

Cedar 

Valley 

Primary & 

Junior High 

Lettisha Davis 

Wait-A-Bit 

All-Age 

Fionique Smith: 95% 

Yanique Kirby 

Paradise 

Prep 

Jastine Smith: 97% 

Tonique Brown 

Justine C. Grant 

Ashley Moore 

Alex Balfour 

St Ann’s 

Bay Primary 

Jerohn Brown: 

100% 

Danielle Hinds 

Charlon Smith 

Calron Smith 

Calvin Johnson 


Students of Porus Primary School recite the poem ‘God 

made the World’. 

Schools to watch 

Claude McKay High 

Nattardy Latty: 75.29% 

Junior Thomas 

Cassandra Ellis 

Kenesha Blair 

Nordia Latty 

McNie All-Age 

Antonette Ricketts 

Shevorn Fouglas: 94.5% 

Pameika Smith 

Kimonie Bailey 

Shannakay King 

Porus Primary 

Rasheem Hall 

Damel Swaby 

Tagera Ottey: 92% 

Denae Denton 

Ajay Haughton 

Riverside All-Age 

Raheem Sawyer 

Shaudia Douglas 

Kelly-Ray Jackson: 98% 

Ann-Marie Chung 

Abigail McKenzie 

Hermann Gmeiner 

Domonic Strachan 

Jorgena Graham 

Zoya Smith 96.6% 

Trimane McKenzie 

Shancie Robinson 

Waltham Primary 

Demary Lewis 

Esahi Lubbon: 96% 

Ashane Anderson 

Sashana Gohagen 

Rajae Green 

Sydney Pagon 

Argicultural School 

Kevon Talbert 84% 

Patrick Myrie 

Shauna Bayliss 

Anna-Kaye Chamberlain 

Shernalee Clarke 

Pondside Primary 

Shennae Wilson: 91% 

Isiah Myers 

Ochina Frazer 

Tyreke Hall 

Chavez Cassie 

Hazard Primary 

Kelly Ann Cross 

Bukki Wade Campbell 

Ashleyy Latchman 

Andwaley Wellington 

Sashanna Williams 

Highgate Primary & 

Junior High School 

Aneel Smith: 98% 

First Hill All-Age 

Britney Atkins 

Anique Anderson 

Anissia Thompson 

Naedine Dawson 

Shanae Dawson 

Red Hills All-Age 

Sabrina Singh: 97% 

Brandy Buchanan: 97% 

Alicia Williams 

Steven Dreckett 

Gobry Murray 

Melrose Primary & 

Junior School 

Shane Doyley 

Ebonique Pecco 

Ishshah Brooks 

Selena Duncan: 90.7% 

Samoya Bryan 

Praise Chapel 

Prep School 

Anastajia Beckford 

Nahir Ricketts: 94.5% 

John Gooden 

Shantoy Linton 

Martez Cope

Pedro 

Plains 

Primary 

Kimona 

Blackwood 

Candese Blake 

Owayne 

Honeyghan 

Samara McFarlane 

Triscelle 

Parchment 

Black 

River 

Primary 

Karisanne 

Redwood – 94% 

Rochelle Spencer 

94% 

Rodrick Boulin 

Joelle Brown 

Easton Levy 

Spanish 

Town 

Primary 

Ajani Brown 

Clenton Grant 

Kevaughn Hewitt 

Michael Powell 

Shonoya 

Thompson 

Swallowfield 

Primary and 

Junior High 

Jamal Rowe 

– 100% 

Tashoy Campbell 

Danielle Cover 

Ramone Palmer 

Franceena Roberts 

KINGSTON COLLEGE’S OMAR MORRISON 

Excelling through faith 

Gareth Manning 


GROWING UP in the 

depressed inner-city community 

of Greenwich Town, 

St Andrew, has not been a deterrent 

to young Omar Morrison’s 

achievement. 

Maybe it is because he studies 

until 2 in the morning or perhaps it 

is because he allows himself to be 

guided by God. 

“The first thing I always do is put 

God first,” the 17-year-old Seventhday 

Adventist told The Gleaner 

on a recent visit to his school, 

Kingston College, in central 

Kingston. 

HOURS OF STUDYING 

Couple strong faith with hours of 

studying, he says, and you get 10 

passes in the Caribbean Secondary 

Education Certificate (CSEC) 

exams. He passed eight subjects at 

grade one and two at grade two – 

including chemistry, biology, 

physics, mathematics, Spanish, 

religious education, English language 

and English literature. 

Wilmor 

Prep 

Shantell Johnson 

– 97% 

Jaleel Bennett 

Lydia McKinley 

Jeanea Palmer 

Abigail Scarlett 

Adrian Smythe 

Townhead 

Primary 

Daniel Lewis 

– 90% 

Ricardo Campbell 

Davane Chambers 

Fiona Forrester 

Brandon Mahabee 

Omar Morrison 

Not surprisingly, this lower sixthform 

student wants to become a 

biochemist and often spends spare 

time conducting experiments. It is a 

field from which he believes he can 

earn a substantial living in the 

Aberdeen 

Primary 

Christopher Baker 

– 99% 

Shanecia Blake 

Javin McNickle 

Luanor Swaby 

Kemar Williams 

Elderslie 

Primary 

Shanessa Martin – 

93% 

Tashieka Dias 

Britania Hanson 

Tanya Hanson 

Theresa Robinson 

Claphan 

Primary 

Shackeria Archer 

– 99% 

Janell 

Farquharson 

Moiesha Miller 

Sheryl-lee Smith 

Ashley Witter 


future – enough to take his parents 

and siblings from the clutches of 

the ghetto. 

“I watch how my parents strive 

and sacrifice to get me an education. 

I want to get them out of the situation. 

I really do,” he emphasised. 

But living in a community like 

Greenwich Town can produce 

obstacles to achieving success. 

And time and time again it has put 

hurdles in Omar’s path. 

While sitting his CSEC examinations, 

a turf war erupted in the 

community. Omar had to be taken to 

a relative’s house outside Greenwich 

Town to guarantee his safety. 

PARENTAL SUPPORT 

Omar says his parents give him 

every ounce of support. Of his older 

siblings, he is often fondly referred 

to as the genius. 

“Every day they make a sacrifice. 

Most times, my mother has a little 

money. Sometimes it’s not enough 

to cook dinner or anything, but she 

gives me,” Omar relates. “When she 

gets her pay, she buys my books 

and pays for what needs to 

be paid for.” 

Denbigh 

Primary 

Judane Brissette: 

85.1% 

Chandi Bassaragh 

Jenae Jennings 

Aneika Williams 

Randy Williams 

Nightingale 

Primary 

Alexander 

Brissette 

Geordann 

Brissette 

Sygaila Campbell 

D’Andre Miller 

Fastina Richards 

New Vision 

Preparatory 

Amoy Cameron: 

89% 

Tafari Wilson 

Seaview 

Primary 

Amoy Lyons 

Shantanya Harvey 

Shamir Marshall 

St Aloysius 

Primary 

Neisha Jackson: 

94% 

Danielle Adlam 

Antonia Chin 

Garaun McKenzie 

Tajay Nix 

St George’s 

Primary 

Renee Dixon: 97% 

Kadian Mcneil: 

97% 

Kashema 

Campbell 

Kadian clarke 

Shannel King



COUNSELLING 

PSYCHOLOGIST Faith St 

Catherine believes that 

parents who focus on academics to 

the exclusion of the emotional 

development of their children are 

making a mistake. 

“We tend to push our children – 

if they are very bright – into 

programmes which they are not 

mature enough to deal with. If the 

children are bright, he or she will 

naturally achieve without a lot of 

the pressure which some parents 

exert,” St Catherine states. 

Raising a child who succeeds in 

doing well in school and work is 

much simpler than we think, the 

counsellor says. 

According to the counsellor who 

is based at the Women’s Resource 

and Outreach Centre in Kingston, 

parents need to find what area of 

involvement their child likes and 

encourage them. 

GETTING BETTER RESULTS 

She suggests that parents 

incorporate the things children love 

into the learning process. Making use 

of their natural abilities and likes is 

more likely to get better results than 

forcing them into the programmes 

which everyone else is doing. 

St Catherine notes, too, that “a 

child will learn better if he or she is 

happy, doing things he or she likes 

and then sees learning as 

something which is interesting 

COLLIN HAMILTON/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER 

2008 champions St Jago pose with the TVJ Schools’ Challenge 

Quiz Championship trophy. 

Talented children 

need praise 

and support 

rather than something forced on 

him.” “We need to go at their pace. 

They will not learn if stressed,” the 

counsellor stated. 

The counselling psychologist is 

also concerned that some parents 

may be robbing their children of 

childhood pleasures. She explains 

that children who are very talented 

need to play and socialise like other 

normal children. 

“While they may progress at a 

fast rate academically, they might 

be stifled emotionally and socially 

and it creates a problem. 

Encourage them to have other 

interests outside of academics. 

They must learn to make friends, 

play and deal with their emotions,” 

St Catherine advises. 

Parents who want great results 

should also learn the technique of 

involving their children in decision 

making and also communicating 

with them in a mature way. 

The counsellor advises: “Sit down 

and put things into perspective. Tell 

RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Prime Minister Bruce Golding (right) receives a copy of The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling 

Bee 50th Anniversary commemorative booklet from Shari-Jo Miller (left, foreground) during the 

team’s courtesy call on him. 

TVJ’S JUNIOR SCHOOLS’ CHALLENGE QUIZ CHAMPIONS 

From left: Kevar Kerr, Omarie Morgan, holding the NCB Omni Educator trophy, and Abigayle 

Davis and Keressa Nicholson, holding TVJ’s Junior Schools’ Challenge Quiz trophy. 

‘There is a 

mistaken notion 

in our culture 

that force 

brings results.’ 

them that there is a time for 

everything and that they need to 

have balanced lives. Say to them, 

‘Let us work out the time to do 

homework and the best time to 

play’. Teach them to make decisions 

and organise their own time. 

“Do not stand over them and 

force them to work. Get them to be 

a part of the decision-making 

processes and take their views 

rather than completely ignoring 

what they think.” 

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT 

Faith St Catherine notes as well 

that offering rewards or leaning 

towards positive reinforcement is a 

much healthier way to encourage 

performance than is criticism and 

punishment. 

“There is a mistaken notion in our 

culture that force brings results. 

But, the more children are 

criticised, the more they will begin 

to lose confidence in themselves, 

leading to frustration and the 

feeling that ‘nothing I do is ever 

enough’.” 

Encourage children by rewarding 

them with the things they like, 

including a trip to a place they love 

or eating ice cream. 


11

NCB FOUNDATION SCHOLARS 

Tamara a 

picture of 

confidence ... 

TAMARA MCKAYLE’S sense of purpose and self-confidence 

are the first traits that become apparent when one 

meets her. It is, therefore, no surprise that this 19-yearold 

student has been selected the all-island champion 

for the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation’s 

scholarship programme. 

Graduating from Westwood and Manchester high 

schools with top performances in both her Caribbean 

Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean 

Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), McKayle 

proves that hard work and dedication do pay in the end. 

She received six distinctions, two credits and a pass at 

the CSEC level and five distinctions and five credits 

overall in CAPE. McKayle was third in the island for both 

history and sociology and was valedictorian at 

Manchester High. She has received more than 30 excellence 

awards during her high-school career and held 

leadership positions in Student Council, Key Club and 

Girl Guides. 

FOCUS ON MY GOAL 

“It has not been easy,” she told The Gleaner. “I have 

had many challenges, but I had to stay focused on my 

goal and persevere.” 

McKayle said credit for much of her success must be 

given to her family and her network of close friends. 

“The company you keep is very important. I try to surround 

myself with people who will lift you up and inspire 

you to be the best,” she said. 

She, however, said it was not easy growing up without 

her mother, who has been overseas for nine years. 

“I know that she loves me and I speak with her over 

the phone quite often, but I really missed having that 

female adult persona in my life to give me advice and 

guidance,” she said. 

Tamara McKayle (right), NCB Foundation’s 

overall Parish Champion, accepts her contract 

for a scholarship valued at $500,000 from 

Samantha Chantrelle, projects manager, NCB 

Foundation. 

McKayle has also had to spend much of her time taking 

care of her sister who is physically challenged. “I had 

to grow up really fast,” she said. 

McKayle is currently majoring in international relations and 

language communications at the University of the West 

Indies, where she plays an active role in life on campus. 

She hopes to one day pursue law, as she said she has 

always been “an advocate for justice”. 

McKayle rose to the top of some 600 applicants for the 

NCB scholarship programme. 

In addition, 100 current tertiary students attending 15 

colleges and universities across Jamaica also received 

one-year grants and bursaries. 

Scholarship awardees were selected based on outstanding 

academic performance, being actively involved in volunteerism 

in their community and leadership qualities. 

NCB Foundation is a sponsor of The Gleaner’s Top of 

the Class publication with Jamaica Public Service and 

Capital and Credit Merchant Bank. 

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com 

RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Sheree Martin (right), CEO of the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation, and Samantha 

Chantrelle (second left), projects manager for the foundation, enjoy a book with Bertram Fearon 

(left), NCB Foundation awardee for the parish of Trelawny, Jodi-Ann Morgan (centre), NCB 

Kingston awardee, Tamara McKayle (second right) NCB Foundation All-Island Champion, and 

Ana-Kim Robinson, programme officer, during a gathering at The Atrium in New Kingston recently. 

Sheriffa beats the odds 

SHERIFFA MUNROE, one of 

NCB Foundation’s Parish 

Scholarship Awardees, is a 

shining example of perseverance and 

dedication, shared her story of abandonment, 

abuse and poverty with 

more than 5,000 high school students, 

who were in attendance at the expo. 

“My story is about choices ... life is 

about choices and the choices we 

make as young people will shape the 

direction of our lives forever,” she 

stressed to the students. 

LIFE FULL OF OBSTACLES 

Not only was Sheriffa selected from 

hundreds of applications to represent 

her parish as an awardee of the NCB 

Foundation Scholarship last year, she 

was also recently announced as the 

top awardee in economics and management 

of business in CAPE. She is 

pursuing a degree in economics at the 

University of the West Indies. 

Her life has been full of obstacles 

which she has struggled to overcome. 

At seven years old, the first in a series 

of tragedies changed her life. Her 

father left the family, and Sheriffa’s 

mother struggled to provide in his 

absence. By age 13, Sheriffa’s 

mother could no longer afford to 

take care of her and she was sent 

to live with family. Over the years, 

Sheriffa has moved from one 

household to the other. She indicated, 

“As I got older, my life 

became more upsetting.” 

NEVER GAVE UP 

Despite the hardships, Sheriffa 

struggled to remain focused and 

never gave up. She managed to 

obtain high academic achievements 

at secondary school. She 

has focused her energies on succeeding. 

“I know that I am not the 

only young girl, young Jamaican 

who has been struggling financially 

... who has been told that I cannot 

achieve because I’m from a poor 

family. know I am one of the many 

Jamaicans, who have a vision, not 

only for me, but also for other 

young people,” she said. 

TOP SCHOLARS 

Back row (from left): Andre Bernard, St James Parish Champion; Tameka Morgan, Kingston 

Parish Champion; Sheriffa Munroe, St Andrew Parish Champion; Abka Fitz-Henley, St Ann Parish 

Champion; Trudy-Ann Johnson, Portland Parish Champion and Orain Edwards, Clarendon Parish 

Champion. Seated (from left): Michca McLaren, St Thomas Parish Champion; Aldane Dawkins, 

Hanover Parish Champion; Kimone Phipps, St Mary Parish Champion; Bertram Fearon, Trelawny 

Parish Champion; Jay-Ann Walters, St Elizabeth Parish Champion, and Jermaine Stephens, St 

Catherine Parish Champion. Not in photo: Mario Hutchinson, Westmoreland Parish Champion. 

CAPITAL AND CREDIT MERCHANT BANK SCHOLARS 

Chairman and group president of Capital & Credit Financial 

Group (CCFG), Ryland T. Campbell, CD, makes a special presentation 

to CCFG Scholar, Ave Frank, at the Capital & Credit 

Financial Group 2008 Scholarship Awards function, held at the 

Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew, in October. Looking on is 

senior vice-president, business strategy and development, 

Rosalie Deane. 

Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of Capital & Credit Financial 

Group (CCFG), Suzette Hemmings, makes a special presentation 

to CCFG Scholar, Prince Moodie, at the Capital & Credit Financial 

Group 2008 Scholarship Awards function. Looking on is Minister 

of Education Andrew Holness. 

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS 

Ryland T. Campbell, makes a special presentation to CCFG 

Scholar, Strycen Williams, at the Capital & Credit Financial 

Group 2008 scholarship awards function, at the Terra Nova All- 

Suite Hotel in St Andrew, in October. Looking on is Minister of 

Education Andrew Holness. 

Vice-president at Capital and Credit Financial Group (CCFG) and 

general manager of Capital & Credit Securities Limited, 

Christopher Walker, makes a special presentation to CCFG 

Scholar, Jeremy Spence. In the background is senior vice-president, 

business strategy and development, Rosalie Deane. 

12 TOP OF THE CLASS 13 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009

Holy 

Childhood 

High 

Sherika Equiano 

Tiffany Bowie 

jody wright 

Jervian Johnson 

Manning’s 

School 

Danielle Madourie 

Kemar Barrett 

Miltonia 

Dinthill 

Technical 

High 

Marceno 

Nembhard – 89% 

Keron Burgess 

Shantel Reid 

Natalie Small 

Bishop 

Gibson 

High 

Christine Clarke: 

90.6% 

Jessica Henry 

8 Distinctions 

Candace Greenland 

Eleanor Terrelonge 

Ambika 

Ramsubrianan 

SEJAE BUREY 

St Hilda’s shining star 

Carl Gilchrist 


SEJAE BUREY is one of those students 

who wait virtually until the day before 

exams to study. Still, the 15-year-old 

fourth-former has managed to maintain her ‘A’ 

grade status throughout her four years at St 

Hilda’s Diocesan High School in Brown’s Town, 

St Ann. 

A Seventh-day Adventist, Sejae is guided by 

self-discipline, which she, no doubt, adopted 

from her supportive parents. She is currently 

studying to sit eight subjects in the Caribbean 

Secondary Education Certificate examinations. 

“I do English literature, mathematics, Spanish, 

accounts, information technology (IT), biology 

and history. I also do PE (physical education), 

but I won’t do it in CXC,” Sejae said. 

FAVOURITE SUBJECTS 

Although she wants to be an accountant, she 

lists her favourite subjects as Spanish, IT and 

mathematics, and scores her best marks in 

them. 

But those marks don’t come easily. 

“I work hard and study hard. I try to 

understand as much (as I can) in class and I 

pay attention,” Sejae explained. “Conduct is 

Maggotty 

High 

Nescita Dixon: 

79.6% 

Toni Bailey 

Daniela Lindsay 

Kevon Morgan 

Excelsior 

High 

Sherdon Baugh 

– 84.5% 

Shanna-Kaye 

Dawkins 

Yakcob Brown 

Shanique Doyley 

Shannon Mcknight 

Rachel Rose 

Wolmer’s 

Girls’ School 

krystal johnson 

– 90.6% 

Lori-Ann Vaz 

– 11 ones 

Casey-ann brady 

Donnette Morris 

Justine Murray 

Sanique Richards 

also very important, I try to be as disciplined as 

possible, not only in my school- work, but also 

in other areas of my life,” she added. 

SATISFIED WITH SUPPORT 

Sejae is quite satisfied with the support that 

she is getting from both school and home, and 

there seems to be no negative pressure. 

“At school, I have the support of my friends – 

they share with me, we share with each other,” 

she relates. “Peer pressure? The pressure is 

not really negative. And the teachers, they are 

very supportive and they work with us as 

students,” Sejae added. 

She said her parents support her studies: “If I 

need to do a project, they would go out with me 

or they get information for me.” 

According to Sajae, her learning environment 

is very conducive to studying and this includes 

the availability of resource material. Her study 

plan is simple: Outline a timetable and try to 

stick with it. Nevertheless, she admits: “I’m sort 

of a last-minute person, the night before exam, 

it works for me ... . In class I try to understand 

as much as possible, and to learn and then it’s 

just like revision the night before.” 

For those students who want to improve their 

grades, Sejae suggests the following: 

“First, you have to be disciplined. I would 

Meadowbrook 

High 

Rochelle-ann 

Brown 

Peta-Gaye 

Gordon 

Adrian Scott 

Rani Sittol 

Richard Smith 

Kenroy Wallace 

St Andrew 

High School 

Janelle-cheri millen: 

9 distinctions 

Farah Budall 

Micelle Thomas 

Jessica Whyte 

Renée Williams 


encourage them to study, and they should 

organise, time management is very important. 

You work on your weaker areas most and seek 

as much help as possible.” 

Knox 

College 

Charnell Newell: 

92.4% 

Danya Marshall 

(9 ones) 

Mikhail DeGale 

Marlton Wilson 

Jaleel Blake 

Garvey 

Maceo High 

Rasneash 

Matthews – 80% 

Jennese Rowe 

Shanice Campbell 

Chanice Sisulu 

Alison Harriot 

Gaynstead 

High 

Jerome 

Tomlinson 

Daneaha Atkinson 

Tovia Brown 

Daveena Swearing 

Ceejaie Cummings

Alpha 

High 

Michelle Gordon: 

8 distinctions 

Zoan Grandison 

Shantaye Grant 

Monique King 

Miner Zheng 

Norman 

Manley 

High 

Duwayne Wright 

Dwayne Wright 

Latifah Bowen 

Eaton Bradford 

Shaneika Smith 

St Hilda’s 

High 

Sejae Burey: 

90.8% 

Candice Jones 

Roxanne Dobson 

Shanice Brooks 

Donique Weston 

Guy’s Hill 

High 

Stephany Barclay: 

89.2% 

Denise Grant 

Monique Headley 

Jemar Bethune 

Oshine Barton 

WOLMER’S BOYS 

Learning 

can be fun 

Athaliah Reynolds 


ARECENT visit to Wolmer’s Boys’ School 

in St Andrew proved that learning and 

achieving high grades doesn’t always 

have to be rigorous and tedious, but can also be 

quite an interactive and fun-filled experience. 

The Gleaner recently arrived at the school’s 

campus about 8:30 a.m. to find the compound 

in silence – save for a group of boys involved in 

a physical education class on the playing field – 

the corridors are bare and the stairways empty. 

However, on entering the fourth-form English 

language class conducted by teacher, Robin 

Clarke, it becomes evident that this is where the 

activity is – inside the classrooms. 

READING ATTENTIVELY 

Class is already in full gear, students are seated 

and are attentively reading from their textbooks. 

However, they immediately stand to 

acknowledge my presence. 

I quietly take a seat at the back of the classroom 

and watch as the boys learn about the 

intricate subject of sentence construction and 

comparison and contrast. 

While the majority of students in this class 

will not be sitting the Caribbean Secondary 

York Castle 

High 

Karlus Redway: 

94% 

Norman Tai 

Roshea Stoddart 

Dave Gilzene 

Aoran Watkis 

Javion Plunkett 

Marcus 

Garvey 

Tech 

Demar McKenzie: 

90.3% 

Dylan Lewis 

Orecia Lawson 

Ornella Llewellyn 

Penwood 

High 

Jovial Sinclair 

Steven Warren 

Shaneika McKay 

Lamoi Lee 

Education Certificate (CSEC) this year, they 

are halfway into concluding the prescribed 

syllabus; by next year, they would have started 

revision and exam preparation. 

“OK, take down this example of compare and 

contrast,” Clarke instructs. “Anarchists hold the 

view that a just society – let me spell that for 

you,” he says, while stopping to write the word 

A-N-A-R-C-H-I-S-T on the board. 

“No, Sir, no, Sir, we can spell it, don’t write 

it,” responds some of the boys. 

“Who can tell me what anarchy means?” he 

asks. 

“It means when there are no rules, Sir,” 

answers a boy at the back of the class. 

And, of course, this opens the door for a 

heated discussion between teacher and students 

regarding the controversial banning, by the 

Broadcasting Commission, of television and 

radio stations airing songs with content deemed 

explicitly risqué or violent. 

Innswood 

High 

Oshane Walcott: 

84.4% 

Sarha Prince 

Cadeena Senior 

Samantha Ellis 

Shenikwa Gordon 

Rusea’s 

High 

Tonion Smith: 

86.9% 

Jessica Hinds 

Vaughn-Dean 

Johnson 

Tina Renier 

Conway Gordon 


The ban extends to all daggerin’ songs, which 

in the dancehall sphere is a popular reference to 

the simulation of aggressive or violent sex. 

“Sir, mi nuh agree wid dat,” argues one boy. 

“How dem fi ban daggerin’ and dem nuh ban all 

a di other violent songs dem to?” 

SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SONGS 

“It’s not just daggerin’, it’s all songs that are 

violently or sexually explicit,” the teacher said. 

“They say these songs are impacting negatively 

on the behaviour of young people.” 

“No, no, no, di song dem nah do we nutten!” 

shout the boys. 

Wolmer’s Boys had excellent results in the 

core subjects of mathematics and English last 

year. With some 224 students sitting English, 

the school received 206 passes, which included 

94 distinctions and 73 credits. In maths, 

185 of 224 students received passes, with 156 

distinctions and credits. 

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com 

Herbert 

Morrison 

Tech High 

Mark Hines 

Jordiann Samuels 

Camir Ricketts 

Tadrian Brooks 

Ches-Anne Bulgin 

Aabuthnott 

Gallimore H 

Monique Richards 

Lavaughnna 

Douglas 

Latoya Gagan 

Giovaughn Miller 

Gallimore 

Daren Johnson 

Aabuthnott 

Gallimore H 

Wilbert McIntosh: 

86% 

Port 

Antonio 

High 

Richard Harris: 

84% 

Lydia Cassie 

Ryan Tulloch 

Sashalaa 

Anderson 

Shereika 

Chambers

Arthur Hall 

Senior Staff Reporter 

WHILE THE debate continues 

about the state of 

Jamaica’s education system 

and the quality of graduates, 

there are some schools which have 

consistently scored high on any 

academic test. 

This has sparked a fresh debate 

about the grouping of students in 

secondary schools based on their 

scores in the Grade Six 

Achievement Test (GSAT) and the 

availability of resources to some 

schools. 

SEVERAL PROGRAMMES 

But inside the institutions that 

are doing well, administrators point 

to several programmes and measures 

which lead to the level of academic 

performances other schools 

only dream of. 

St Andrew High School for Girls 

is one of those which, year after 

year, produces students who do 

well in external examinations. 

“St Andrew has a tradition of 

excellence, so I am fortunate that I 

am building on something that had a 

good foundation,” said veteran educator 

Sharon Reid, who has been 

principal of the school since 2000. 

“We make sure that the environment 

is conducive to learning and 

I’m talking about the physical and 

The secret of success 

St Andrew High School for Girls tells what is 

behind its outstanding academic performances 

social environment, making sure that 

school is somewhere that the children 

want to come to,” Reid adds. 

She said school officials carefully 

monitor how the children interface 

with each other and how adults 

relate on the compound. 

“We have a handbook which sets 

out the expected behaviour and 

when parents take their children to 

St Andrew, they have to sign a 

contract with us to say they agree 

to abide by the regulations,” Reid 

told Top of the Class. 

According to Reid, there are two 

deans of discipline at St Andrew 

with clear lines of communication 

to deal with any incident. 

On the academic side, a school 

that had 84 per cent of its students 

passing mathematics and 96 per 

cent passing English in the 2008 


Certificate (CSEC) examination 

leaves nothing to chance. 

STAFF-DEVELOPMENT COURSES 

“We have staff-development 

courses, department-planning 

workshops and our teachers get 

together for planning,” disclosed 

Reid. “If instruction is to be delivered 

in a meaningful way and not 

just a star teacher here or there, 

then you have to ensure that all 

your teachers work together and 

keep abreast of the accepted standards.” 

She said in the staffroom, teachers 

sit by departments to ensure 

that there is constant dialogue. 

“And we monitor performance of 

students and teachers regularly,” 

Reid said, perhaps explaining why 77 

per cent of the 228 St Andrew’s girls 

who sat English in the 2008 CSEC 

earned either a grade one or two. 


17

Maud 

McLeod 

High 

Shashanna 

Earle – 81% 

Tanisha Campbell 

Dennis Crooks 

Jevin Hill 

Lijay Hylton 

St Thomas 

Tech 

Shaneal Richards: 

72% 

Patrico Tyrell 

Anthony Whyte 

Sasha-Gaye 

McDonald 

Patricia Garrison 

Munro 

College 

Geo vanni Foote 


Wayne-Andrew 

Palmer 


Joseph Vincent 

Andre Mclean 

Joseph Reynolds 

Andre Tate 

Westwood 

High 

Jamelia 

Jalaalwalikraam 

88.3% 

Deidre-Ann Burrell 

Anikka Swaby 

Gabrielle Scarlett 

Kristina Sewell 

Arthur Hall 

Senior Staff Reporter 

THE ADMINISTRATORS of 

Ardenne High School are still 

beaming from the outstanding 

performance of its students in the 

2008 Caribbean Secondary 

Education Certificate. 

The school achieved 88 per cent 

passes in mathematics and 95 per 

cent passes in English language, 

and principal Esther Tyson is giving 

the credit to the teaching staff. 

“The teachers own the school 

and are dedicated to the teaching 

profession. Many of them give of 

themselves, a lot more than an 

ordinary teacher would give,” Tyson 

told Top of the Class. 

“They go out of their way to help 

the students and serve as 

surrogate parents to the students,” 

Tyson added. 

According to Tyson, Ardenne is 

clear in what it wants to achieve 

and has established measures to 

The Queen’s 

School 

Mareisha 

Terrelonge 96% 

Shashauna Smith 

Shanice Robinson 

Shaneice Nettleford 

Chammion Blake 

The win-win strategy 

Special teachers key to Ardenne’s performance 

Tivoli 

Gardens 

High 

Monique 

Chen 81.4% 

Sydeshia Mollins 

Jameila Simpson 

Shantel Campbell 

Shanequah Frater 

ensure that students get the best 

out of each lesson. 

Pembroke 

Hall High 

Anchovy 

High 


RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Kevin Wallen, a director of Students Expressing Truth, talks to 

fifth-form students at Ardenne High recently as part of the 

school’s drive, titled ‘Youth Arise: Take Charge of Your Lives’. 

The pep talk was organised by the school’s counsellor and 

chaplain, Reverend Claude Ellis. 

Tivaun Bowes 

Kedron Allen 

Pembroke Hall 

Sharifa Henry 

Lanique Gordon: 

74% 

Trisana Shaw 

Tracey-Ann Clunis 

Jeanelle Kerr 

“Teaching is done in a way that is 

intentional so it is not a situation 

Belair 

School 

Shanel Ishama 

Taylor: 8 Ones 

Toshikah D’andra 

Wheatley 

Kristen Ross 

Gabrielle Lankester 

Clint Bahadur 

Papine 

High 

School 

Christina Rodney: 

86.15% 

Shenelle Johnson 

Kenisha Smith 

Cyrina Maxwell 

where teachers pick up something 

and go in and teach. We are very 

strategic in terms of how we 

organise our curriculum.” 

The school does periodic 

assessment and evaluation of its 

students and teachers and is quick 

to make changes to address 

shortcomings. 

“The profiles are studied to 

determine which are the areas of 

strength and which are the areas of 

weakness,” Tyson said. 

SPORTING EVENTS 

Added to the focus on 

academics, Ardenne encourages 

students to participate in sporting 

events and other extra-curricular 

activities as part of emotional and 

spiritual development. 

“We try to have at Ardenne a 

sense of family so that it is not just 

children coming to school,” Tyson 

said. 

“One of our problems sometimes 

is that they don’t want to go home 

because school is a safer place,” 

she added. 

Knockalva 

Technical 

High 

Almarie Reid: 

86% 

Cleonie Brown 

Anastasia Black 

Cavoy Petgrave 

Omoi Smith 

Winston 

Jones High 

Damani Lim 

Shanice Scott 

Tahbuka Williams 

Robert Thompson 

Chamele Lewis 

top of the class

PHOTO BY SHEENA GAYLE 

Honour-roll students at Hampton School in St Elizabeth (from left) Shada Sinclair, 

Sherice Spence and Michelle-Ann Johnson. 

Rochelle Campbell 

Faith, commitment, hard work 

HAVING COPPED eight distinctions in the 2008 


Certificate (CSEC) 

examinations, 

Rochelle Campbell, 

former student of 

St Hilda’s 

Diocesan 

High 

School, 

St Ann, is 

well on 

her way to 

become a 

chartered 

accountant. 

Sheena Gayle 


When Campbell got her results, she was 

stunned. 

“I was kind of shocked because I knew that I did 

well and everybody thought that I would, but I 

thought that I would get seven and not eight 

distinctions,” said Campbell. 

She said her faith in God and her commitment 

to hard work, her parents, teachers and friends 

were instrumental in her getting excellent grades. 

Campbell is now a student at Moneague 

College, where she is pursuing an associates 

degree in business studies, majoring in 

accounting. 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Campbell said she intends to get a scholarship 

to read for a Bachelor of Science degree in 

accounting. And she will not stop there. The 17year-old 

plans to also do her Master of Science 

and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the same 

area. 

PREFECT AND MENTOR 

A well-rounded individual, Campbell was a 

member of the photography club, Peer Council 

president and a member of the Spanish Club. 

She was also a prefect and was mentor for one 

of her school’s third-form class. 

Campbell has a passion for youth 

development and was a member of the Youth 

Advocacy Movement Club. 

BEING PLACED on the honour roll at a 

competitive school such as Hampton 

School in St Elizabeth is a difficult feat, but 

three girls at the school have achieved this 

for several years. 

The academic success of Michelle-Ann 

Johnson, 16; Shada Sinclair, 15; and 

Sherice Spence, 17, is a direct result of 

supportive parents. 

For Michelle-Ann Johnson, it is “the 

strong values that my parents have instilled 

in me, plus the strong support from my 

teachers and friends that has helped me to 

be the student I am today”. 

HONOUR ROLL STUDENT 

Michelle-Ann, who is currently in fifth 

form, has repeatedly made the honour roll 

each year since first form. In addition to 

support from her parents and school family, 

she admits that her relationship with God 

has played an integral role in her strong 

work ethics. In preparation for the upcoming 

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate 

(CSEC) examinations, the honour roll 

student reveals that she has made a ‘thingsto-do’ 

list, which she plans to adhere to 

because her success depends on scoring 

high marks on all 10 subjects she will be 

sitting. 

Shada Sinclair, another repeat honour-roll 


Hampton’s trio of high achievers 

Jamaican 

among top 

CSEC 

students 

A JAMAICAN is among the top 

students awarded for their academic 

achievements in last year’s 


Certificate (CSEC) examinations. 

Lori-Ann Vaz of Wolmer’s High 

School for Girls attained distinctions 

in 11 subjects, including five 

humanities subjects – Caribbean 

history, English B, geography, social 

studies and Spanish. 

Vaz was the recipient of the award 

for most outstanding performance in 

humanities at the CXC’s annual 

student, says her mother is the motivational 

factor behind her academic success since 

she has been attending the school. 

MOTHER WORKS HARD 

The top-performing student says, “My 

mother works very hard to send me to 

school, and because she does that, I know 

that I have to put out the maximum in my 

academics. I have to always work towards 

doing my best in school to make her proud.” 

Shada has been on the honour roll since 

seventh grade. She discloses that due to 

her Christian background, prayer is also a 

source of strength in persevering and 

excelling in her studies. 

Sixth-form student Sherice Spence says 

the secret to being consistently placed on 

Hampton’s honour roll since first form is 

determination, strong support system and 

reliance on God. 

“When you are in a competitive school 

such as Hampton, you know that everyone is 

studying hard to in order to get on the honour 

roll, so I have to step up and do my best so I 

don’t get left behind,” Sherice explains. 

Strong encouragement and support from 

her parents have contributed to Sherice’s 

success as a student. She says her parents 

consistently advised her that “the world is 

out there and it is just for you to be a player 

in the game. You can’t get left behind 

because it’s about hard work and getting to 

the top”. 

Lori-Ann Vaz 

regional top awards ceremony last 

December at the Hilton hotel in 

Barbados. 

EXCELLENCE IN ART 

Two visual arts awards were also 

be presented to Jamaican students. 

Tesha Chai of Campion College for 

the most outstanding performance in 

visual arts, two-dimensional work. For 

his part, Calvin Morgan of Manchester 

High School, was awarded for the 

most outstanding performance in 

visual arts, three-dimensional work.

Repeat achievers on 

Manning’s honour roll 

Sheena Gayle 


HARD WORK and the need to excel are the motivational 

tools that Kemar Barrett, 16; Miltonia 

Thompson, 14; and Danielle Madourie, 14, from 

The Manning’s School in Westmoreland, use to secure 

repeat appearances on the honour roll. 

Kemar Barrett reveals that the secret to his 

success is his family’s supportive role in 

encouraging him to excel in academics. 

“My mother was a principal, but she is now retired, 

so I was exposed to the classroom environment from 

an early age,” Kemar relates. “My elder siblings have 

always set the trend for me to keep up my grades; they 

were always working hard, so that was motivation to 

always do my best,” he adds. 

A-GRADE PERFORMANCE 

In an effort to maintain his continuous A-grade performance, 

Kemar says he spent less time on social 

activities, while placing more time on reading books 

and other school material. 

Kemar, who is a member of the school’s quiz team, 

says his friends are also top academic performers, 

Chantelle Brown 

Making the sacrifice, 

reaping the rewards 

ADAPTING TO a study regime that 

saw her watching almost no television 

and rarely going out, Chantelle 

Brown’s sacrifices have paid off as 

she has obtained nine distinctions 

in the CSEC examinations. 

Chantelle received distinctions in 

biology, chemistry, physics, information 

technology, Spanish, principles 

of business, English language and 

literature and mathematics. 

“My sacrifices have paid off 

because the feeling you get when 

you see what you have achieved; 

it’s like nothing can really beat that 

feeling,” Chantelle said. 

The 17-year-old student of 

Immaculate Conception lives her 

life guided by the belief that no matter 

how difficult challenges may 

seem, dreams can be achieved 

with hard work and dedication. 

RIGOROUS STUDY TIMETABLE 

Although sticking to a rigorous 

study timetable, Chantelle still 

found time to participate in extracurricular 

activities, which included 

Red Cross Club and playing the 

piano. While she admitted that 

balancing these activities with the 

regular timetable was challenging, 

she said, “In everything in this life, 

you need a balance, an outlet, so it 

was challenging but I got through it.” 

therefore, negative peer pressure is a non-factor. This 

top performer plans to sit 10 subjects in the upcoming 

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate 

examinations. 

Meanwhile, Miltonia Thompson credits her academic 

success to her religious background as a Seventh-day 

Adventist, as well as to her parents. 

support system 

SUPPORTIVE AND ENCOURAGING 

Miltonia is also a member of the Manning’s quiz 

team, as well as a public speaker in the Jamaica 

Cultural Development Commission’s Performing Arts 

club. She explained: “My immediate family, in addition 

to my church family and friends, has been very supportive 

in encouraging me to do well in my studies.” 

For third-form student Danielle Madourie, being 

placed on the honour roll at her school for two consecutive 

years is something she plans on continuing 

throughout her tenure at Manning’s. 

“It is just a wonderful feeling being on the honour roll. 

My family ensures that I have all my books for school; 

they always spend time with me to help with my homework, 

so it is because of them why I am able to be in 

this position,” says the soft-spoken student. 

PHOTO BY SHEENA GAYLE 

The Manning’s School honour roll students (from left) Danielle 

Madourie, Kemar Barrett and Miltonia Thompson. 

Tashana Blair awarded 

Scotiabank scholarship 

TASHANA BLAIR of Holy Family Infant and 

Primary School, which is situated in the crime 

hotbed of central Kingston, made history for her 

school when she was given the Scotiabank 

Foundation Scholarship for the highest performer 

in Surrey – the first such national award for her 

school. 

Tashana, now a student at Campion College, 

scored 99 per cent in mathematics, 98 per cent in 

science, 99 per cent in social studies, 99 per cent 

in language arts and 10 out of 12 for communication 

task. 

LASTING FRIENDS 

The 12-year-old attributes her success to hard 

work and dedication and the encouragement she 

got from her teachers. 

“I studied really hard. I like to lock myself in the 

bathroom and sit on the floor and study because it 

is very quiet in there,” said Tashana. 

Tashana said she is guided by the philosophy, 

‘Never limit your challenges, but always challenge 

your limits’. 

There have been several incidents of violence in 

volatile central Kingston between warring factions. 

This, at times, disrupts activities at the school. 

Tashana is one of four students, from the 

August Town Primary and Holy Family schools, 

with whom The Gleaner spoke when word of 

their exceptional GSAT results got out. 

The four students excelled at GSAT despite the 

violence that affected their communities during 

preparations for the examinations. 


21

Finally, a rural speller triumphs 

Daviot Kelly 


IT IS fitting that a special anniversary of 

The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling 

Bee should have a special ending. 

Shari-Jo Miller, first-form student 

from Bishop Gibson High School for 

Girls in Manchester, triumphed on 

February 4 in the 50th staging of the 

competition when she spelled A-P-P- 

O-G-G-I-A-T-U-R-A, which is an 

embellishing note, usually one step 

above or below the note it precedes. 

Her victory means that for the first 

time since 1992, a speller from outside 

the Corporate Area and St 

Catherine has won the cup. The significance 

of the feat was not lost on 

the audience as many of the members 

said afterwards that it was good 

for the competition. 

“It feels good to know that all the 

hard work paid off and it was not in 

vain,” said a tired Shari-Jo. She 

revealed that she knew the word, but 

was slightly miffed by its pronunciation. 

But Shari-Jo’s father Stephen had no 

doubt how the ending would go. 

“I thought she would spell the word 

because that’s how prepared I knew 

she was,” he said. “I told everybody I 

knew she was going to win.” 

Her coach Primrose Swaby was perhaps 

even more happy than her student. 

Loren Ashley of Campion College 

representing the parish of St 

Andrew, placed second in the 

Spelling Bee competition. 

“This is my first national champion 

after 27 years of doing this. You 

wouldn’t understand how I feel right 

now,” she exulted. After gallant second-place 

winner Loren Ashley of St 

Andrew’s Campion College had used 

up all her handicaps, Shari-Jo, who 

still had her two handicaps, would get 

two words if necessary to win. She 

only needed the first one. To complete 

a fine all-round performance, Shari-Jo 

Tremaine Dixon of Wolmer’s Boys’ 

School, representing the parish of 

Kingston, placed third in the 

Spelling Bee competition. 

also took first place in the dictation 

and comprehension tests. 

Of the five boys who made it to the 

all-island final, three made it to the 

final seven, Champion Boy Tremaine 

Dixon of Kingston placing third. 

Fourth went to Janielle Walters of 

Clarendon, fifth to Daviesh Mills of St 

Ann, sixth to Andrew Williams of St 

Elizabeth and seventh to Davian 

Stewart of St Catherine. 

PHOTO BY DENISE REID 

Gaining 10 distinctions in their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations (from 

left) Nicolette Wilson, Opal Dunn, Tone Wilson and Ave Frank are this year’s most outstanding 

achievers from the Montego Bay High School and were recognised at the school’s prize-giving. 


PHOTOS BYPETA-GAYE CLACHAR/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Shari-Jo Miller, first-form student at Bishop Gibson High 

School for Girls in Manchester, holds the coveted trophy after 

winning the 2009 The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling Bee. 

Young achiever sets 

sights on gynaecology 

WESTERN BUREAU: 

AFTER SITTING her Grade Six 

Achievement Test examinations, 

Nicolette Wilson was awarded the 

Scotiabank County of Cornwall 

scholarship for the highest average 

in the county. 

“After I got my scholarship, I 

realised that since I had already set 

a trend from primary school, I needed 

to live up to that reputation. 

People were looking up to me, they 

saw me as a role model, so I had to 

be above the average,” an ambitious 

Wilson told Western Focus. 

OUTSTANDING 

Wilson was the only student at 

the Montego Bay High School 

(MBHS) who sat 11 subjects in the 

2007-2008 Caribbean Secondary 

Education Certificate (CSEC) 

examinations. She was hoping to 

obtain 11 distinctions. 

Although she didn’t accomplish 

this feat, she is now celebrated as 

one of four outstanding achievers 

from MBHS who gained 10 distinctions 

in the examinations. 

Despite the gruelling workload 

that accompanied the task of sitting 

11 subjects, Wilson was involved in 

seven clubs as well as church. 

While admitting that sometimes 

there were clashes, she managed 

her time well and everything 

worked out. 

She added that being part of the 

various clubs was a great learning 

experience for her. Wilson received 

the Doreen Morgan Trophy for the 

student most involved in co-curricular 

activities at the school’s annual 

prize-giving. 

“What you learn in these clubs 

prepares you for what is out there, 

and helps to develop your leadership 

skills and to identify your strengths 

and weaknesses,” said Wilson. 

Wilson now attends sixth form at 

Ardenne High School in St Andrew. 

The Hanover native said that 

among the reasons for choosing to 

leave her home parish was the fact 

that she was keen on continuing 

her membership in Key Club and, 

perhaps more important, she 

wanted a change of environment. 

Wilson has now set her sights on 

becoming a gynaecologist and 

obstetrician.

Raising the brilliant child 



MARC-ANDRE ALLEN is 

now a second-year premedicine 

student at the 

University of Chicago after 

receiving a US$56,000 per annum 

scholarship in 2007, which at the 

time was considered as the 

highest amount awarded to a 

non-military student. 

The second of two sons born to 

Pastor Vernon Allen and education 

officer Cinderella Allen of Buff Bay, 

Portland, Marc-Andre’s parents 

say he has always been a 

disciplined performer at school. 

GSAT PARISH CHAMPION 

At the Grade Six Achievement 

Test (GSAT) level, he was 

selected as the parish champion 

for Portland after passing the 

examination with distinction to 

attend Titchfield High School. As a 

result, he also received a Jamaica 

National scholarship for first to fifth 

form. Then, while at Titchfield, he 

achieved the top place in class 

from first to third form. 

Marc-Andre was also excelling 

in other areas. His father discloses 

that Marc-Andre was a member of 

the school choir from first form and 

remained so for seven years. “He 

Marc-Andre Allen 

DENISE REID PHOTO 

President of the Rotary Club of Montego 

Bay East, Dr Rao Ponnada, shakes the 

hand of top awardee Schade Stanton, who 

is a medical science student at the 

University of the West Indies. Schade’s 

award is valued at $100,000.The awards 

ceremony was held in February 2008. 

Principal Professor Gordon Shirley chats 

with Hnin Oo and other awardees at the 

UWI Student Awards ceremony. 

loved that a lot. He was also 

involved in the Schools’ Challenge 

Quiz,” Pastor Allen adds. 

Marc-Andre attended the Buff 

Bay Independent Baptist Church 

where he was a very active 

member of the youth fellowship 

and served as secretary and vicepresident 

of the youth group. He 

led the youth choir and was 

children’s camp counsellor as well 

as music director. 

He became head boy at Titchfield 

and, on graduating from fifth form in 

2005, he received the Rotary Club 

of Port Antonio award for the most 

outstanding student after obtaining 

eight subjects in the Secondary 

School Education Certificate 

examinations with six distinctions 

and two credits. He went on to pass 

four Caribbean Advanced 

Proficiency Examination subjects 

with distinctions and credits as well, 

for which he received a cash award 

form the school. 

Marc-Andre’s father recounts: 

“Marc-Andre was very disciplined 

and focused. I did not really have 

any problem getting him to study. 

But, he got all the encouragement 

from us and all the tools. Also, 

having a stable family environment. 

He was loved by us and we 

constantly affirmed him. We did our 

best to promote confidence. 

ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE 

“Whenever he had his 

achievements, we made a big 

thing of it. We were happy when 

he did well and even if he did not 

do as great at some other times, 

we were there to give support. 

One of the best things we were 

able to do for him was to provide a 

stable home environment. His 

family was intact.” 

Pastor Allen claims he and his 

wife invested in their son both 

financially and in terms of the time 

they spent with him. 

“At times, when he was 

preparing for the scholarship 

overseas, it was very very intense. 

CONTRIBUTED 

Dr Rebecca Tortello, special adviser to the minister of 

education, presents one of six Kraft Foods 

scholarships and a gift basket to Charles Young of St 

Richard’s Primary. Kraft awarded $300,000 in 

scholarships to six students across the island for 

achieving commendable scores in the GSAT 

examinations. Charles now attends Campion College. 

*Belmont Park Primary student Samantha Samuels 

(left) receives a scholarship cheque for $25,000 from 

Llewellyn Bailey, assistant general manager of Jamaica 

National Building Society (JNBS), for her outstanding 

performance in the GSAT examinations. Samantha is a 

JN School Saver, and was one of three scholarship 

winners at the annual JN School Savers' Awards held 

on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at the Golf View Hotel in 

Mandeville. Samantha attends Wolmer’s Girls’ School 

The other winners were Waynette Strachan of Dunrobin 

Primary in St Andrew, who also earned a place at 

Wolmers’ Girls’ School, and Tivarie Atkinson of 

Townhead Primary, who attends The Manning’s School. 

From left: Marc-Andre Allen and his family – mother Cinderella 

Allen, dad Vernon Allen and brother Lemarc. 

He applied to seven schools and 

at least five of them offered him 

scholarships,” his father relates. 

“We were up with him at nights 

proofreading essays and 

sometimes just for the moral 

support of being there. It was also 

costly, but it was worthwhile 

because we knew it would be little 

in comparison to scholarships he 

could receive,” the father adds. 

AN INVESTMENT OF LOVE 

He notes, “Our children will not 

succeed without an investment of 

love, support and finance.” 

Pastor and Mrs Allen also 

encouraged their son to socialise 

a lot and make friends. His father 

recalls that “he was never a 

bookworm, but he was very 

focused. He would watch TV but 

he knew when to stop. From very 

early, we helped him to structure 

his time with a rhythm table. We 

set up the first timetable for him 

and he took it from there.” 

The father advises other 

parents: “You can be too pushy. 

Children have to want to succeed 

as much as you. We all want the 

very best for our children but cut 

them some slack. Our two sons 

are two different boys, there is a 

difference with children. They are 

not all the same. Don’t kill their 

spirit when they make mistakes or 

disappoint you.” 

IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Lascelles Chin, chairman and CEO of the Lasco Group of 

Companies, presents Jacqueline Simpson-Huntley (left) and 

Nadine Molloy with their trophies after they were respectively 

announced as winners of the Lasco/Ministry of Education 

Teacher and Principal of the Year awards at The Jamaica 

Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. 


23

THEGLEANER'S2009 - Jamaica Gleaner

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