Teachers and students of Holland High School in Trelawny are basking in the success of candidates from the institution in the 2016 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Twenty students from the 12-year-old institution attained averages ranging from 85 per cent to 100 per cent in various subject areas.

These include agricultural science, environmental science, electronic document preparation management (EDPM), principles of business (POB), entrepreneurship, information technology (IT), office administration, physical education and sports, integrated science, theatre arts, food and nutrition, home management, Caribbean studies, religious education, sociology, principles of accounts, biology, Caribbean history, visual arts, English A, clothing and textile, and social studies.

The students are Gregory Peart, who scored 100 per cent in CSEC agricultural science, and CAPE Unit 1 environmental studies; Dennesha Frazer, 100 per cent in EDPM, POB and CAPE Unit 2 entrepreneurship; Dwayne Small, 100 per cent in IT in both CSEC and CAPE; Kahalia Walker, 100 per cent in CSEC office administration; and Ricardo Brooks, 100 per cent in physical education and sports and 89 per cent in CSEC integrated science.

Other outstanding CSEC performers are Tracy-Ann Pinnock, 100 per cent in theatre arts; Kaydian Godfrey, 100 per cent in food and nutrition; Nadeen McKenzie, 100 per cent in home management; Andrew McIntosh, 94 per cent in principles of accounts; Roxanna Patmore, 87 per cent in Caribbean history and 88 per cent in visual arts; Paula McIntosh, Tracy-Ann Pinnock and NKecia Brooks, 86 per cent in English A; Sandra Lindo, 85 per cent in clothing and textile; while Marshalee Blisset and Aisha Reid scored 85 per cent in social studies.

Completing the list of star performers are Degeanna Spencer, 100 per cent in CSEC religious education, 85 per cent in CSEC social studies, and 100 per cent in CAPE sociology; while Cherrida Jackson attained 82 per cent and 83 per cent in biology for CSEC and CAPE, respectively.

Principal Pauline Reid expressed pride in the accomplishment of the students, which she said has placed the school firmly on the map as a top-performing educational institution.

The achievement in CAPE is particularly outstanding, as Holland High launched its sixth-form programme only four years ago.

Reid credited the success to a strong support system that the school cultivates, which involves the family. “It is phenomenal; we have a family setting,” she says.

She notes that the CSEC and CAPE pass rates have been steadily improving over the years, as the school continues to put measures in place to boost outcomes.

“Each year we look at where we are, how we can modify our programmes… and all the strategies that we need to implement to ensure that there is ongoing success. The teachers are also challenged, as we do not sit on our laurels and expect the students to do well. As a school we create an atmosphere of wellness. The students are not just physically safe, but they are psychologically safe,” she points out.

Reid further explains that teachers are encouraged to give the students a voice in order to build their confidence and self-esteem, and this is reflected in their attitude towards classwork and examinations.

“Our students, they recognise that they are loved and that they are cared for in a very nurturing environment. The kids have a voice and we do everything to ensure that they are motivated,” she says, while commending the commitment of the teachers in preparing the students for examinations.

Examination Coordinator Deneisha Frazer says the school has been very successful in getting students to believe in themselves and their ability to achieve greatness.

She says that gone are the days when Holland High School would be scoffed at by parents of students entering secondary school, as the demand for places at the institution has been growing at a rapid rate.

Frazer says that focus is placed on the holistic development of the students. “We look at the individual child. We look at the whole child as well and we… make sure that the parents are engaged in the process.”

Holland High School, which opened its doors in September 2004, has a student population of 1,085 and 72 members of staff.