Principals of Goodwill and Somerton Primary Schools Upbeat About 2024/25 Academic Year

Goodwill Primary School and Somerton Primary School in St. James are reporting a smooth start to the 2024/25 academic year, which commenced on Monday (September 2).

Principal of Goodwill Primary, Camille Hoarde, informed that 140 students – 75 boys and 65 girls – were present for the first day of school.

She advised that the institution will be resuming its specialist programme for grades two and three. This engagement involves individual educators teaching particular subjects for the different grades.

The Principal points out, however, that the programme’s administration for students in grades four to six remains on pause due to, among other things, challenges being experienced at the school.

She indicated that the institution’s ‘pull out’ initiative will continue, “where, we do pull-out sessions if our students [are] reading below the grade level”.

“Last year, we had that going for most of the year [and] it was very successful. We saw improvements in the reading levels of those children whom we took as a part of the programme. This year, we want to continue that programme as well,” she added.

Ms. Hoarde further told JIS News that the school’s computer lab continues to serve as a great teaching tool for students and is also utilised by community members.

As it relates to academic performance, she said Goodwill Primary performed well last school year, especially in the Grade Six Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

Ms. Hoarde pointed out that most of the students sitting the exams were placed at their first-choice school.

She said seven of the youngsters were awarded among the top pupils in St. James East Central by Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

For her part, Acting Principal of Somerton Primary, Lally Stewart-Reid, said the school, which has some 275 students enrolled, is looking to continue several initiatives now in place. These, she pointed out, include student leadership,

“We plan to continue to establish programmes to foster leadership skills in our students, such as our student counsellors and the monitors of our classes. We recognise that the earlier they start with leadership roles, the better it is for them as they grow up to contribute to the development and growth of society,” Mrs. Stewart-Reid stated.

Meanwhile, the Acting Principal has underscored the importance of technology at the institution, noting that “it’s a main part of our educational programme”.

In this vein, she said the school’s computer room is being constructed, citing the need for computers for the facility.

Mrs. Stewart-Reid informed that the school continues work to improve numeracy and literacy numbers among its students through increased stakeholder collaboration.

Additionally, she said Somerton Primary’s outreach programme remains a fixture on the institution’s calendar.

“Yearly, in December, we conduct a ‘Christmas Cheer’ programme where our students contribute to care packages for our less fortunate and indigent persons. This has been a success over the years,” Mrs. Stewart-Reid pointed out.