KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Guanaboa Vale Primary School in St Catherine is progressing well, says Principal, Tracey-Ann Brown.

In an interview with JIS News, she notes that there has been improvement in academic performance, notably in the recent sitting of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, and growth in enrolment.

Of the 18 students who sat the exams, 33 per cent were placed on Pathway One, and 56 per cent on Pathway Two, with its Top Boy going to St George’s College, and the Top Girl and Top Student going to St Catherine High School.

“The parents are really happy about the achievement, and we have seen where parents are transferring their students from other schools to our school, so that they can have the PEP experience at Guanaboa Vale,” the principal says.

Brown tells JIS News that her 18 graduating PEP students should continue working hard, and although some of them might not have been placed where they wanted to go, “they can grow where they are planted”.

“I would encourage the parents to continue to support them, as parental involvement is extremely important,” the principal says.

She notes that teachers at the school are very dedicated, and “we have a great team working with the students”, adding that she is very appreciative of stakeholder support, with past student, Euton Gordon, being very “instrumental in providing sponsorship for the students”.

“Initially, he started by offering sponsorship to the top boys who have been placed at St Catherine High, his alma mater. However, it seems as if the girls have more interest in St Catherine High, so these girls have been receiving the sponsorships,” the principal shares.

Senior teacher at the school, Tassia Williams, notes that for every single student there was actually “some form of progress”, and she is confident that they will excel wherever they go.

She says that as a past student of the institution, she wanted to give back, and that is why she has remained there. “I want to help build the school. I want to put Guanaboa Vale on the map,” she adds.

Top Girl at the school, Thirianna Jackson, who addressed the recent graduation ceremony at the Kitson Town Baptist Church, spoke of the steady leadership of the principal, and the “brilliant teachers” who lit the classrooms with creativity, care, and an “endless supply of patience”.

“You were not just educators, you were storytellers, cheerleaders, problem-solvers. You made learning come alive. You turned boring lessons into magical adventures, and explained things a hundred times without giving up,” she said.

Thirianna praised the efforts of parents and family members who provided support when they were preparing for PEP.

“You were there for every early morning, and for every project. You believed in us even when we didn’t believe in ourselves, and your love has helped us grow more than any textbook ever could,” she said.

For his part, Gordon, who is Dean at Knox College, told the students that education went beyond primary school and is a marathon, so they should set goals, and practise daily until they achieve those goals.

“Action has to come into play. If you want to be a famous chef, you have to start small, possibly start making omelets, then moving on to frying rice,” Gordon said.

“It takes effort. It takes practice, dedication, and sometimes you are going to feel tired when you have to get up and keep moving on. When you were learning to ride a bicycle, you kept going. You have to be resilient when you are pursuing your dreams. It is a new environment, different challenges; it is going to be different from where you are coming from. Once you have the dream, use it as a powerful guide,” he told the students.

The primary objective of  PEP is to assess students’ academic readiness for secondary school and provide a profile of their strengths and weaknesses. It replaces the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and aims to evaluate not only students’ knowledge but also their critical-thinking and communication skills.

In the exams, children are placed on one of three Pathways, designed to meet their level of competence. Pathway One is for students who are performing satisfactorily, the second Pathway is for children who have some form of delayed learning, and the third is for students with special needs.

– JIS