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Student Overcomes Covid Challenges to Be Top Female at Ginger Ridge Primary

By: , August 8, 2024
Student Overcomes Covid Challenges to Be Top Female at Ginger Ridge Primary
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Principal of the Ginger Ridge Primary School in St. Catherine, Kimetha Booth-Francis, is pictured in front of the institution, during a recent visit by JIS News.

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Tracey-Ann Campbell’s determination to assist her daughter to overcome setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has paid off, with the student being declared the 2024 Top Female at the Ginger Ridge Primary School.

In an interview with JIS News , the single mother from deep rural St. Catherine said that in grade four, her daughter, Aleya Douglas, was at the “beginning and development” stages in the primary education system, and her teacher advised that the best option for Aleya was to repeat grade four.

Ms. Campbell said that after thinking about the recommendation, and sharing the information with her daughter, she messaged the teacher declining the suggestion.

“I texted the teacher and said, ‘Miss, I will not let my child repeat’. She asked if I was sure, and I told her yes,” Ms. Campbell said, noting that it was a challenge that she had to take on.

Top 2024 female student at the Ginger Ridge Primary School in St. Catherine, Aleya Douglas, with her mother, Ann-Marie Campbell, at the recent graduation ceremony, held at the school.

She pointed out that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her daughter fell behind in her reading, and was not comprehending well.

“I enrolled her for an online reading class, which she did two days per week. I had to start there to get the reading level up, and she did that for a year. The marks improved, and I enrolled her again to an online PEP (Primary Exit Profile) class, Saturdays and Sundays,” Ms. Campbell said.

The extra focus on classes took away much of Aleya’s play and fun time, but her mother, who is a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), was determined that her daughter must be among the students well prepared for the PEP exams.

“I told her that the work had to be done, and it was a sacrifice that I was making, and I am very happy that I did it,” Ms. Campbell said.

Information on the top students was not shared with the parents until graduation day, and hearing that her daughter was the number-one female student, “I was frozen,” she said.

Miss Campbell said parents should believe in their children, and “work along with them”.

She heaped praises on the teachers at the school.

“Ginger Ridge is doing something good. Continue to do the great work that you are doing. The population is small, but the Principal and the teachers are delivering,” she added.

For her part, Aleya said the online teacher, teachers at her school, and her mother are all responsible for her success.

“Thank you all, and my friends, for making this possible,” the former Head Girl said, while noting the many different ways that the teachers go about to ensure that “students can learn; especially if they are struggling with something, they help them”.

Top female student at the Ginger Ridge Primary School in St. Catherine, Aleya Douglas (right), looks on while Principal of the school, Kimetha Booth-Francis (left), points out features of a smart television that was recently acquired by the institution. Others pictured (from second left) are mother of the student, Ann-Marie Campbell, and teacher at the school, Ilianne Parker. Occasion was a recent visit to the school by JIS News.

Principal of the school, Kimetha Booth-Francis, said the institution, which has a population of 70 students, is on a journey to reclaim past successes, and with all of its students gaining their choices of high schools, “the progress that has been made, we are very proud of that”.

“All our students have performed, and they are on Pathway One. Their scores are very good, and we are pleased that we were able to take them from where they were to where they are now.

They have made us proud, they have made it to their schools of choice, and they should continue on the path of excellence. I am on a drive to restore the greatness, and we are definitely making a name for ourselves,” she told JIS News.

Describing her staff as “very cooperative”, the Principal said when extra efforts had to be made for the students to overcome the challenges of COVID-19, the teachers understood that what was of importance was the students’ success, and they applied themselves to the task.

“The teachers were more than willing to give the additional time without any form of reward; it was done free,” she said, while lauding the Past Students Association, New York Chapter, for providing scholarships to her students, and the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), for its “wonderful investment” in the school, which has helped in the institution getting positive reports from the National Education Inspectorate (NEI).

Top PEP-performing student, Jamaal Peterson, told JIS News that his performance in the exams is an inspiration to do well in high school.

He encouraged students to participate in extra classes, as they “will help them to become more educated”.

For his father, Neil Peterson, the success of his son came from a “collaborative effort with teachers, my wife, and I playing a supporting role to everything that was done”.

Principal of the Ginger Ridge Primary School in St. Catherine, Kimetha Booth-Francis (second left), and Nakeisha Peterson (third left), who is the mother of the 2024 Top Primary Exit Profile (PEP) student, Jamaal Peterson (second right), admire a school trophy, during a recent visit by JIS News to the school. At right is father of the student, Neil Peterson.

Teacher at the school, Ilianne Parker, said that after 22 years as an educator, she decided to give back at a rural school, as there is a great need at those schools.

“I made a decision last year to seek a school within rural Jamaica, in which I could give back what I have learnt, so far, in the education field,” she said, adding that with the success of the students, her decision was a wise one.

Principal of the St. Catherine-based Ginger Ridge Primary School, Kimetha Booth-Francis (third left, front row), with her two top students for 2024, Aleya Douglas (second right), and Jamaal Peterson (right), as well as staff at the institution. Occasion was a recent visit by JIS News to the school.

PEP provides a profile of where the student is academically, the student’s strengths and weaknesses, and his or her readiness for grade seven. It assesses students’ knowledge, in addition to placing increased emphasis on assessing 21st century skills, including critical thinking and communication.

The exam consists of three key components – a Performance Task, an Ability Test, and a Curriculum-based Test. The Performance Task (PT) consists of real-world scenarios that require students to apply their knowledge and skills from the following subject areas – Mathematics, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies.

The PT is administered by classroom teachers at schools in grades four, five and six.

The Ability Test requires students to read analytically and use quantitative reasoning skills in responding to items.

In the PEP exams, children are placed on one of three Pathways, designed to meet their level of competence.

Pathway One is for students who are performing satisfactorily, the second Pathway is for children who have some form of delayed learning, and the third is for students with special needs.

The main objective of PEP is to enhance the academic and critical-thinking capabilities and creativity of students by the end of primary-level education.

 

 

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