Guanaboa Vale Primary’s Georgia Francis Heads to First Choice School
By: , August 24, 2022
Photo: Dave Reid
Top female Primary Exit Profile (PEP) student at the St. Catherine-based Guanaboa Vale Primary School, Georgia Francis (centre), receives a monetary award from past student and Dean of Student Services at Knox Community College in Clarendon, Uton Gordon (second left), to assist in her preparations for secondary school. The presentation was made at the institution recently. Sharing the moment (from left) are: Principal of the school, Tracy-Ann Brown; Georgia’s mother, Shannoy Prince; and Senior Teacher, Tassia Williams. Mr. Gordon is also a past student of St. Catherine High, which Georgia will be attending in September.The Full Story
Young Georgia Francis of Guanaboa Vale Primary has brought pride to her school, parents, and community after being placed at her first-choice school of St. Catherine High.
She is one of the 12 students from the small rural St. Catherine institution who will be going on to secondary school in September after taking this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP).
Soft-spoken Georgia, who was a member of the school’s spelling team, tells JIS News that “I am feeling very happy and proud of myself, because I am going to a traditional school.”
She praises her teachers for “putting in so much work for us to reach where we are.”
Georgia’s mother, Shannoy Prince, says her daughter’s placement at her school of choice has brought joy to the family.
“I love everything about the school, and I am very happy. Georgia worked hard and I wish for her the best,” she shares.
The school’s Principal, Tracy-Ann Brown, tells JIS News that she is proud of Georgia and the other students, attributing their success to hard work, dedication of the teaching staff, as well as the support of the parents.
Under the coordination of Senior Teacher, Tassia Williams, extra lessons were held for one hour daily after regular classes and every other Saturday, free of cost, to aid in the students’ preparation for PEP.
Miss Williams says while there is “room for improvement”, the educators are focussed on turning out students with the best results.
She is encouraging greater community support in increasing the school population, which currently stands at 72 students with a teaching staff of five.
“We give of our best. Many of the persons in the community are past students and their support will be good for the school,” she says.
Miss Brown indicates the institution’s Board has been “active” in increasing student enrollment in recent months and there are plans to reactivate the past students’ association.
“So, I appeal to the community to support the school. We have space for more students,” she tells JIS News.
Meanwhile, young Georgia’s preparation for high school has been made easier through a financial award from past student, Uton Gordon, who is Dean of Student Services at Knox Community College in Clarendon.
He provided the support to Georgia as an incentive for being placed at his alma mater, St. Catherine High.
Mr. Gordon, who also made a monetary contribution to Shamara Frew from Kitson Town Primary, which he also attended, tells JIS News that he wanted to “give back to the community.”
“I want to help [the students], to guide them, so that they can use education as a key to get where they want to go,” Mr. Gordon says, adding that he intends to use his mathematics background to help the youngsters.
Eighty-seven per cent of students who sat PEP in 2022, have been placed in a school of their choice.
The remaining 13 per cent have been placed at institutions near their primary school or homes.