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– One Mile Primary dominates Region Ten at NGSA
Once again, the One Mile Primary School has outshone the Linden schools it the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results. This year, the One Mile Primary School not only grabbed the top spot for Region Ten but also took four of the top-ten spots. The school’s top student Britney Peters secured 521 marks from a total of 526 and was awarded a place at the Queen’s College. Britney was elated when she learnt of results as she did not expect to perform so well. The Village Voice spoke with her while she was travelling back to Linden with her mother, after attending the results announcement ceremony in Georgetown. “I feel happy. I had to put in a lot of effort. It wasn’t easy. I had to sacrifice a lot, particularly for the zoom classes,” the aspiring doctor said. Britney who also placed sixth in the country’s top one per cent, encouraged upcoming NGSA students to work hard, stay confident and believe in your self.
An overwhelmed and emotional Althea McDonald, Peters’ mother said, “there is a big road ahead, this is just the beginning.” McDonald gave credit to the teachers of One Mile Primary and her family members who all chipped in to help Peters achieve her goal.
For her teacher Odetta Gullen, she said Peters made her extremely proud since this is her first go at NGSA, after 22 years in the teaching profession. “It is my first year at Grade Six, and like any other human being, I am proud of her and I am in awe,” Gullen said. She describes Britney as a hard working and gifted child and despite the challenges that came to the fore as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, she always stood her ground and remained consistent.
Following Peters in the Top Ten position for the Region was Shanel Storm of Amelia’s Ward Primary with 519, Ariel Mohanlall of Royal Halls of Learning with 519, Kesyne Bagot from One Mile Primary with 517 marks, Jasmine Griffith of Watooka Day Primary with 516 marks, Yohance October of Regma Primary with 515 marks, Syesha Fraser of One Mile Primary with 515 marks, Kenroy Jameer of One Mile Primary with 515 marks, Rheann Retemyer of Watooka Day Primary with 513 and Shania Lawson of Regma Primary with 513 marks. They all were awarded places at the Queen’s College.
Shanel Storm of Amelia’s Ward Primary said she spent most of the day nervous about results, however after hearing that she placed second in the region, she could not have held back her excitement. Storm, said she didn’t push herself too much and would not urge any child to push themselves beyond too much in preparation for the examination. The aspiring pediatrician said Mathematics was her favourite subject and it was in that area she gained the perfect score. “My advice to the children coming up is don’t push yourself too much, it is not a competition, it doesn’t matter where you go, it is not about the school you attend, it is what you do, but always remember to work hard,” she said.
Her teacher Sabrina Rampersaud said Shanel’s performance was expected. “It was in the making, she did work hard, she has natural abilities and so I am truly happy for her.” Though she tayght at the Grade Five and Six levels for 19 years, she said this year was the most challenging due to the pandemic. She is happy she was on top of her game and completed the topics before school was closed prematurely. She then took the challenge of zoom teaching, which turned out to be successful.
Kesyne Bagot of One Mile Primary said he was sueprised when he heard the results were going to be announced on Monday and remained in shock after realising he will now join the cream of the crop. “I didn’t know I was going to this school. My hard work has paid off, I studied at nights, woke up and read what I thought I wouldn’t remember,” he related, while urging upcoming students to do the same. He expressed gratitude to God for health and strength and to all the teachers in his educational journey who prepared him over the years for this moment.
The Watooka Day School’s Jasmine Griffith, who copped the fifth position in the region, said she always had her eyes to gain on Queen’s College and she worked hard to achieve the dream.
In addition to her teacher Miss Retemyer, she also gave credit to the Pupils Enhancement Programme and the teachers managing it, for their contribution. “I feel very thankful, very satisfying and I would like to challenge all the children coming up to keep studying hard and it will pay off in the long run. ” She aspires to become a lawyer. Her teacher Miss Retemyer said Jasmine served as a motivation for her, especially dealing with the transition during the pandemic. “She had the drive, the zeal, the zest, the enthusiasm, I am so proud of her and happy that she excelled.” She said the parents played a great role in ensuring the children benefited from the zoom classes and while at times she was in despair, she is happy it all came together because of God.
Retemyer’s daughter Rheann Retemyer, placed ninth in the region and was also awarded a place at the Queen’s College.
As news broke of the results, Lindeners expressed their satisfaction and wasted no time in sending congratulatory messages to all the students in the top ten, as well as those who were successful. This is the first year in many years that all ten students were awarded a spot at Queen’s College.
