Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
Roshaine Chin, the top graduating student of Guy's Hill Primary School in St. Catherine.
- IAN ALLEN/STAFFPHOTOGRAPHER
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF of The Gleaner, Garfield Grandison, on Sunday, July 3, charged graduates of the Guy's Hill Primary School that they need to be focused on achieving their goals as "hard work does pay."
The graduation ceremony was held in the community's town hall.
Mr. Grandison also had words of advice for the parents of the graduating class, warning them that in a society where there appeared to be few role models, it was imperative that adults be more vocal in the development of their children. He also chided adults for "not doing much" in support of their children. He said that there is a vacuum in parental responsibility, and pointed to the fact that eight children have died in fires since the start of the year, four in the month of June alone. He also pointed to an increase in the incidents of carnal abuse, physical abuse, and murder of the nation's children.
According to the editor-in-chief of the 171-year-old newspaper, "If we want to get Jamaica on a path of righteousness, we need to do more for the children."
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Seventy-five students graduated from the school, and members of their families, friends, and several past students turned out to support them. Pastor Garrick Donaldson chaired the event. Besides Mr. Grandison's presentation, the accomplishments of 12-year-old Roshaine Chin, who will be attending Ardenne High School in September, took centre stage.
Chin was one of two students who attained 90-plus per cent pass marks in the subjects mathematics, English, science, social studies, and communication task in the GSAT examinations. He was the champion boy academically. Jamilia Johnson also had an average in the high 90s, while 11 other students attained academic averages higher than 70 per cent.
Principal Joyce Tennant-Stewart told the gathering that the school is set to achieve even higher goals in the years to come. She said that for 2003, only 25 per cent of her students averaged higher than 60 per cent passing marks, and in 2004, only 16 per cent achieved that academic level, a nine per cent decline. This year, however, 30 per cent of the students who sat the GSAT examination received a passing grade higher than 60 per cent, an improvement of 14 per cent. She said the improvement was an indication of the hard work "put out by the 14 teachers of the institution." She said they plan to continue along that path.
Mrs. Tenant-Stewart also commended the efforts of the students and teachers and wished them all the best in their secondary education. She also told them that the challenge had just started where education was concerned, and implored them to be positive.
Roshaine Chin was presented with a gift certificate and a cheque by Mr. Grandison. Perry Edwards, former Assistant Commissioner of Police and a member of the Guy's Hill Past Students' Association, also handed over $45,000 to two students.
