Grace-Ann Francis, 12. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

FOR 12-year-old Grace-Ann Francis, a grade six student of Ensom City Primary School, Spanish Town, St Catherine, being the girl with the highest mark from a primary, all age or junior high in this year's Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), was all par for the course.

She worked hard, studied hard and prayed hard.

When the Observer news team visited Grace-Ann at her school yesterday, the youngster was in the middle of her end-of-year exams.

She took the news of being awarded the JAG Smith Scholarship in easy stride.

But her eyes shone rather brightly when it was announced that she was placed at Holy Childhood High School, in Kingston.

"I'm happy about being placed to go to Holy Childhood High. It was my first choice," she said, smiling even more brightly.

"I feel happy that I got the scholarship too. It was very exciting. I've always known that I could do it," Francis said, while relating that she is from a strong Christian background and that prayers too, were instrumental in her success.

She attends the Faith Mission Church of God with her parents Roydell and Beverly Francis, a security guard and paralegal secretary, respectively.

"A lot of people prayed for me. I believe prayers helped as well as studying," said the class prefect, in retrospect.

Mom Beverly had similar sentiments, and told the Observer, via a telephone interview, that she was indeed grateful to her brethren at church for helping to pray for her little one.

"I'm very glad and I'm very proud of Grace-Ann. I know that hard work and prayers pays off. I sat at nights with her when she got homework and helped her along," mom said.
Francis has an 11-year-old brother.

And, said teacher Pauline Bantan of her prize student: "Grace-Ann is a very focussed, hardworking, punctual and disciplined student. She's my best writer, as well; a role model to her peers."

Francis was born on January 14, and this Capricorn loves to sing. She's even on her church's choir. She is also active in her school's Children's Bible Club. Her other hobbies are traveling and reading.

But make no mistake - it's not all hard work and no play for this preteen.

"I like to watch TV, and my favourite show is That's so Raven," said Grace-Ann.

Her ambition is to become a teacher when she grows up, she said.

"I would like to be a physical education teacher. When I get to Holy Childhood High, I still intend to be on top of my game," she declared.

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