SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Still revelling in their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results, the graduating class of Park Mountain Primary school was on Wednesday showered with gifts, grants and scholarships including a red carpet entry to their school-leaving ceremony.

School Principal Carlene Williams-Heath said all 60 students deserved recognition as they had overcome challenges, including Category 5 Hurricane Melissa last October, as she pointed to the graduation’s theme, ‘From Trials to Triumph: We Made it’.

“Every student here will receive backpacks with everything for school … in an effort to increase our students’ capacity and motivation. We have sought after different scholarships and grants for our grade six learners. Today some of our students will walk away with cash awards, paid tuition and trophies, and I tell you that this team at Park Mountain has solicited scholarships and grants for our students amounting to $1.1 million. At a time when our school needs that [money] I want you to understand… [This is] just to allow everyone to walk away with something,” she said at the ceremony held at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Santa Cruz.

Overall top PEP primary school student Jasonnia Beadle (centre) is escorted to her graduation by head of the St Elizabeth police, Superintendent Coleridge Minto, and Park Mountain Primary School Principal Carlene Williams-Heath. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

She said her students did very well on their exams, with 27 of the 60 students scoring over 300. She continued, “We did not just do well; we topped the entire island of Jamaica by having the top primary performer Jasonnia Beadle.”

Meanwhile, head of the St Elizabeth police division Superintendent Coleridge Minto commended the graduating class.

“You have demonstrated resilience, discipline and the readiness to step into the next chapter of your lives. Take pride in this achievement and carry forward the curiosity, integrity and commitment that brought you to this day,” he said.

Head girl Jasonnia Beadle and her schoolmate Najhay Nish, head boy, leading the graduating class in their march on Wednesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

He then announced a divisional commander’s award of $100,000 for Beadle towards her education and praised her extraordinary accomplishment of attaining a PEP score of 394.2.

“Jasonnia’s achievement is a testament of exceptional talent and hard work, and it certainly brings honour not only to her and her family, but to this parish and by extension our beloved country,” he said.

He said the accomplishment had brought joy to the members of the St Elizabeth police division amid a trend in violence and negative news.

Park Mountain Primary School Principal Carlene Williams-Heath said her students did very well on their PEP exams, with 27 of the 60 students scoring over 300. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

“As the commanding officer for St Elizabeth, I speak from a place where my reporting is about crime and bad news. Our parish was also among those hard-hit by Hurricane Melissa and too often our name appears in the media about crime, violence and negative events,” he said.

“Against this backdrop, Jasonnia’s success is especially uplifting. Her example reminds us that both excellence and promise thrive even in adversity. This proud moment gives our parish a positive story to share and shows that our young people can accomplish much with the support and opportunity that has been given to them,” he added.

There was jubilation in Santa Cruz with police outriders, sirens blaring, escorting a limousine transporting Jasonnia and her parents to the graduation ceremony where her classmates, teachers and other parents cheered joyously on her arrival.

Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth North Eastern Zuleika Jess addressing Park Mountain Primary’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

“The police gesture of providing an escort is small compared to the great accomplishment that Jasonnia has brought to this parish and it was important for the St Elizabeth police to register our commendation to this exceptional success story,” said Minto.

For her part, Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth North Eastern Zuleika Jess commended the leadership of the school for putting St Elizabeth on the map in a positive way.

“For us, through Park Mountain, to emerge at the top, then you know that St Elizabeth is a big deal. I don’t know where Mrs Heath is going to find the space, because when I go to Parliament in Kingston people are asking me how they can get a transfer for their children to attend Park Mountain,” she said.