THE Lucea Primary School in Hanover is beaming with pride and joy at the achievement of one of its students, Simoya Cunningham, in this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

The 12-year-old is not only being hailed for the high test scores which got her into her first-choice school, but the resilience she displayed throughout the PEP journey when she struggled with ill-health, having to sit the Ability Test in hospital.

Simoya is overjoyed at her accomplishment and the fact that she will be going to Mount Alvernia High School in Montego Bay, St James, come September.

“I feel good, happy, and super proud,” she tells JIS News, noting that she is looking forward to high school with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Lucea Primary School Principal Yasmin Anderson-Jackson tells JIS News that Simoya “has been an example of a model student from grade one. She has had very good support from home and school as well as intrinsic motivation”.

“I remember when she was in grade two, we had an exhibition and an essay was written on the board, and I had to ask who did it because it was so well written. The teacher pointed out that she [Simoya] was the one who did it. From there, I knew that she was going to be a student for us to challenge,” she relates to JIS News.

She commends Simoya’s grade six teacher, Francena Black, who went “above and beyond” to ensure that the student had all the resources and support necessary to excel in the exams.

Black is pleased with Simoya’s performance in PEP.

The exam, which tests the reasoning and critical thinking of students, and calls on the knowledge and skills garnered in various subjects, is one of the most challenging in PEP, she notes.

“So, when I saw the results I looked for her [Simoya’s] name first. Her mom was the first parent that I called because it brought tears to my eyes,” says Black, noting that her mom is very proud.

She says that Simoya was determined to not fall behind in her preparations, even while in hospital.

She joined classes online and did her best to concentrate on the lessons being taught. She even took the initiative to do tests.

“Each day, the mom she would stop by, pick up the papers, take them up [to the hospital], return with the papers, and collect another set. She was very thorough, as well as other family members. so it was really a supportive effort from all in her circle,” Black says.

The school also acted proactively, communicating with the Ministry of Education and Youth well in advance of the exam and doing the necessary follow-ups to enable Simoya to take the test in hospital.

Ministry officials were sent to the facility to invigilate and address any potential requirements.

Overall, Lucea Primary School did well in PEP, with over 80 per cent of the 104 students who sat the assessment getting into their school of first choice.

Among these institutions are Rusea’s High, Mount Alvernia High School, Herbert Morrison Technical High School, St Elizabeth Technical High School, Cornwall College, Titchfield High School, Green Island High School, Rhodes Hall High School and Frome Technical High.

The school principal credited the success to the relentless efforts and commitment of the teaching staff.

She says that the group of students had faced unprecedented challenges as they were in grade three when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and disrupted face-to-face classes.

“I have a very good teaching staff. They are very supportive, always working to make sure that the children do well. We are all looking forward to greater things next year,” Anderson-Jackson says.

Black is also proud of the students.

“These students from grade three would have missed so much but [for] the efforts from the parents, the school and the children themselves – I am proud of them,” she says.