Brilliant Amelia Brown on Her Way to Dream School

Amelia Brown will be donning St. Catherine High School’s sky-blue tunic in September, having aced her Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

The overjoyed student, who is from the Kitson Town community and attended Kitson Town Primary School, told JIS News that St. Catherine High has been her dream school since she was a small child.

She said that whenever she passed the gates of the institution, she would always tell her mother, “This is the school I want to attend. So, I predicated my future”.

The overachiever, who took PEP a year early, at grade five, is crediting her success to God, hard work, and the dedication and support of her mother and teachers.

As Amelia prepares to begin her high-school journey, she is expressing gratitude for the financial assistance provided by educator Euton Gordon.

Mr. Gordon has provided a $100,000 bursary to assist students from the early-childhood to secondary levels, most of whom are from Kitson Town, where he grew up.

The support will ease the financial pressure on Amelia’s mother, Mellissa Brown, who does some ancillary work at Kitson Town Primary but does not have a full-time job.

Ms. Brown, who admits that she faces financial challenges, told JIS News that “I really appreciate… that someone has reached out to help when we need it the most. I feel good. I didn’t know such a thing could happen for her”.

She lauded the teachers at the school, who have stood with her and her daughter through challenging times.

Mr. Gordon told JIS News that he started the bursary three years ago with $30,000, to assist students from the two primary schools that he attended – Guanaboa Vale and Kitson Town, who are placed at his alma mater, St. Catherine High.

He said he plans to “work as best as possible” with Amelia over the next five years to ensure that “she gets a good education, given the socio-economic background that she is coming from”.

Teacher at the Kitson Town Primary School, Cynthia Landell, in noting Amelia’s outstanding achievement, expressed confidence that she will continue to excel in high school, as she is focused on her schoolwork.

She said that Amelia’s mother is very supportive and plays a great role in her success.

Ms. Kandell noted that the financial assistance provided through the bursary will be of great help to the family.

Reading teacher at the school, Mariana Francis, pointed out that Amelia has always been an overachiever.

Ms. Francis recalled that when Amelia entered school at grade one, she found that the student was reading above her grade level and recommended that she be moved to grade two before the end of the academic year.

“She [continued] to progress. I am very delighted that she did well,” she said, while also hailing Amelia’s mother for her strong involvement in her daughter’s education.

“She is one of those parents that most schools would love to have, in terms of showing interest in their children,” Ms. Francis said.

Mastery in the PEP examinations is reflected in a student’s ability to not only apply content knowledge in Mathematics, Social Studies, English Language and Science but to demonstrate proficiency in the 4Cs – creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.