AS the clock nears 8:30 am students increase their pace, hurrying down the narrow rural street to get to classes at Porus High on time.

The schoolyard is abuzz with activity as teachers and administrators alike go through their early morning rituals, and the learning community catches the rhythm of the new school day.

Three female students scurry through the school gate. They are a little late, but pause when they discover a photographer behind his lens, capturing images of the beautiful high school compound.

“Take a picture of me please, sir,” the three girls chime politely.

To demonstrate their interest, the trio immediately pose in front of a banner declaring 2011: ‘The year of honesty, peace, love and tolerance’. The photographer moves into action and captures their tableau.

In capturing that moment in time, the photographer also records the essence of principal Michael Stewart’s programme to enhance the values and attitudes of his school community and place the institution on a path to excellence.

“Indiscipline has been a major challenge for us,” Stewart admits. “Therefore, we have introduced this values and attitudes programme to raise consciousness and to encourage everyone to do better.”

He explains that the drive to improve performance will be maintained throughout the school year and is one of several initiatives that the school introduced to improve standards.

“Since last year, our school has been one of six high schools to receive support from the Mutual Building Societies Foundation (MBSF), which supports these institutions to increase performance, under its Centre of Excellence programme,” Stewart says.

The objective is to transform Porus High into a centre of excellence, paving the way for similar schools to boost school management and academic programmes, and transform the learning environment into one where students excel.

“We want to make an example of Porus High and the other five schools under the Centres of Excellence programme,” comments Dr Renee Rattray, programme manager for MBSF.

The foundation is a joint initiative of the Victoria Mutual Building Society and the Jamaica National Building Society, which provides support to six high schools — Mile Gully, Godfrey Stewart, Green Pond, McGrath and Seaforth, as well as Porus.

“We are providing guidance to enhance the management of these schools; and workshops to highlight leadership, training in math, science and literacy, as well as mentorship. The support includes expert interventions, as well as material support-such as computer software and equipment; and involves the communities in which the schools are located,” Rattray says.

Stewart notes that since the inception of the programme a year ago, they were beginning to see “pockets of change”.

“Recently, we started to use the AutoSkills software, for example, and we see where students are responding positively to the tool,” he says.

The AutoSkills computer software is designed to help struggling students of all ages and abilities to master the fundamental skills of reading and numeracy, using several different methods to assist with retention and understanding the subject matter.

The educational institution also benefits from the implementation of the school management software called, Complete SMS. This software produces a range of data, which teachers and school administrators can use to track trends in student performance to determine their progress, and to develop corrective strategies.

“The teachers are excited about the benefits of the software, although some are still a bit nervous about using computer technology,” says Stewart. “But, so far, we can identify where students are underperforming in subjects, such as English, and can take steps to address their problems.”

In addition, to the computer software, the Centres of Excellence programme has established an institutional framework to improve performance. The school’s teachers and principal have also attended capacity-building workshops to develop their leadership skills.

In the last three months, the workshops have focused on boosting teaching and learning strategies and practices.

“The goal is to encourage principals and teachers to view their institutions using business concepts, where the principal is the chief executive officer,” Rattray explains.

“What we impress on the teachers and principal is that education is a business, and we must ensure that quality education is delivered, despite the circumstances in which the school exists,” adds consultant to the Centres of Excellence programme, Gillian Chambers, who conducted workshops at the school last month.

“The workshops have improved what I already do,” Beverley Daley, senior teacher at Porus High, says further.

She declares that she will do some things differently.

“I will be looking at ways to motivate staff under my supervision and to improve accountability, to ensure that the students are receiving value,” Daley says.

Joy Clarke, head of the school’s business department, supports that objective, and notes that she will also pursue new initiatives to produce better outcomes.

“We recognise that excellence is not something that we can talk into being. Rather, it is something that we do. Therefore, I will use the resources and time efficiently, to ensure that we give our students the best education possible,” she affirms.