PETERSFIELD, Westmoreland — Help is on the way for Petersfield High School students as A and S Institute, the evening class arm of Petersfield High School which is run by two teachers, has launched a fund-raiser to help pupils impacted by Hurricane Melissa pay Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) fees.

Starting from a minimum of 100 students, there is no limit to the numbers of students who educators Allison Aird and Sanya Seaton wish to help.

“There are over 1,700 students at the school but I know we can’t help all, so we want to start with the hardest hit,” said Seaton. “If we get more, then we spread [the help].”

In addition to exam fees, the funds raised will also go towards transportation fees as well as purchasing school supplies, textbooks, and bags. Some students have relocated to stay with relatives in communities farther away from the school, and it is challenging to cover the additional cost of transportation.

To qualify for the assistance, hurricane-impacted students must also show an interest in academics and an intention to do CXC exams. Seaton said some students have already been accepted by universities pending their CXC results, so there is an urgent need to keep them on the path of education growth.

“We were motivated [to launch this fund-raiser] when we saw just how many students were severely affected,” she explained.

“Most of them were in the shelter because they live in Petersfield and their houses were devastated. Their parents are not working, and a lot of them in the shelter are CXC students,” she added.

A and S Institute was founded on the notion that students need extra assistance.

“When we looked at how our students were leaving high school with two CXCs, we knew we had to do something,” Seaton said.

“We don’t get the calibre of students from Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination that would be considered the brightest of the bunch. Our students struggle with a lot of things: reading, comprehension, all of that. Because you are at a school and you are a teacher, you must feel a way when you see students who you love leaving with only two CXCs,” she added.

Recognising that students cannot manage many subjects at once, A and S Institute came up with its “five in five” strategy. It is based on the concept that if students start sitting CXCs from grade eight, they can achieve five subjects by grade 11.

The three-year-old institute’s track record speaks for itself. What started with a little more than 60 students copping 100 per cent passes in year one has now blossomed into 300 students. Footballers and students with behavioural issues are also enrolled and are doing well. Some already have four, five and six subjects and are now in grade 11. The institute is now offering 12 subjects.

The fear is that students will lose momentum as they are mentally impacted by losing everything to the storm, with finance already a challenge for many. The fund-raiser would help them focus on their studies, knowing that they do not have to worry about everything else.

“Some students are back in class but are struggling mentally,” Seaton explained. “Teachers are struggling too, as the students are not grasping what is being taught nor do they remember what has been taught prior to the hurricane.”

She promised the fund-raiser will not be a one-time event as the recovery will take years. She urged past students to also donate their uniforms and school books.

“A and S Institute is committed to assisting you — whether you have the funds or not. We will offer these classes to you for free once we see that you are interested. We will push as much as possible to get you the help that you need to complete your CXCs,” Seaton vowed.

She believes helping these students will motivate their peers to push themselves when they see teachers fighting for them.

“We will see more of our students going to college and university,” said an optimistic Seaton. “Assisting students aligns with our goal to assist students to reach their goals of achieving five CXCs by grade 11.”

Anyone who wishes to help may contact the school to submit donations of cash or kind. The deadline for the first phase is February, when CXC fees are due. A second fund-raiser will be launched in the summer of 2026.

“We want to thank Tasha Whyte, owner of Bling Fashion, who was the first to donate to our fund-raiser to pay for CXC fees for students,” a grateful Seaton said.

Allison Aird, co-founder of A and S Institute.