Horizon Park Primary is School of the Year
Horizon Park Primary School on the outskirts of Spanish Town, St Catherine has been named School of the Year for 2014-2015 based on the high performance of its Digicel Foundation-sponsored Enrichment Centre.
In tandem with that, the centre’s manager, Shernette Nicholas has copped the Teacher of the Year award.
According to Digicel Foundation, the award to the school was measured by consistent performance of the enrichment centre manager, his/her attendance at training seminars, proper progress reporting and the resulting impact of the teaching process on improved literacy skills among students.
For its efforts, the school will be presented with a cheque valued at $100,000, while Nicholas will receive a weekend for two at a hotel in Ocho Rios.
When asked how she manages to attain such good results Nicholas said, “I have to be alert throughout the teaching process so while I’m instructing, I’m watching each child. I don’t only see them in groups but I give them individualised attention, especially if I notice that they may have a special need. The rigid testing is done at the end of the term but bi-weekly I’m still setting smaller milestones to assess them”.
In recognising the school’s and the teacher’s performance, Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean said, “The Ministry of Education commends Horizon Park Primary for its improvement in reading outcomes and congratulates Mrs Nicholas on her outstanding performance. We continue to place great value on our partnership with the Digicel Foundation.”
Also on a congratulatory note, Evadne Cowell, training specialist at the Digicel Foundation said, “We know that every child can learn so the task is ours to equip as many of them as possible with the tools to propel their intellectual development. We congratulate the Horizon Park Primary School for their diligence in the process over the last twelve months. The teachers continue to be the catalysts in the Enrichment Programme. They transform potential into high performance.”
Horizon Park is one of 104 schools which have received additional materials and training under the Enrichment Programme since 2013, thanks to a partnership between Digicel Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development and the Ministry of Education.
