Hard work, determination bring Glenmuir success

Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

Principal salutes students, teachers for great CSEC results

Glenmuir High in Clarendon is revelling in its excellent performance in the 2012 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Five students - Odane Dawkins, Devena Sinclair, Cushema Weir, Emil Langott and Chedukia Longley - obtained 11 grade-one passes.

Nine students got 10 grade-one passes, 15 received nine ones, nine got eight ones, 15 gained seven ones, 17 obtained six ones, 22 got five ones, while 27 gained four ones, and 35 got three grade-one passes.

"I expected the results to be good. The students did not disappoint me, and I must also add that we sent up some fourth-formers to do mathematics and the results were outstanding," Principal Monacia Williams shared with The Gleaner.

This year, 253 students sat the examinations and Williams said they continued the institution's tradition of remarkable academic performance.

CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE

"Hard work and determination are what we use to succeed. We start the culture from first form that you can succeed, you must succeed, and you are going to succeed.

"We have our prize-giving ceremonies, where all the students who have done well are given prizes for their success. We reward good academic success, and students know that Glenmuir's culture is hard work," she said.

Williams, who has been serving her alma mater for 18 years, rose to the position of vice-principal in February, 2009. She was elevated to acting principal in 2010, and appointed principal in January, this year.

"The teachers are the ones who enforce the culture at Glenmuir. The teachers work as hard as the students, because no teacher at Glenmuir wants their achievement below that of any other teacher. So teachers work hard to motivate," she added.

She said contrary to what some people might believe, the teachers' dedication and commitment to duty have been the catalyst for continued success.

"A lot of people believe that because we get students with high GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) scores that everything is over and done with, but it is not, because we have to keep them motivated, and we have to ensure that they maintain what they came here with," she noted.

Co-CURRICULAR SUCCESS

Beside producing outstanding scholars, the institution - founded on September 15, 1958 by the late Rt Reverend Percival Gibson, bishop of Jamaica - has excelled in TVJ's annual 'Schools' Challenge Quiz', as well as in sports, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission competitions, and music.

"The choir took part in the Culturama experience in Florida, Orlando, Tampa, [and] Miami, recently. The choir is responsible for the chorale version of On A Mission; you might have seen them on YouTube. They have been participating in Jamaica 50 cele-brations around the island," she said.

Despite its success, the principal pointed out that over the years, the institution had to overcome several challenges on the road to success.

"We don't have enough class-rooms. We don't have anywhere near enough labs. What we have in terms of labs is what was there when I was a student, and that was many, many years ago. We convert here and there to serve the purpose of what we don't have," she said.

However, she said the parent-teachers' association and various chapters of the past students' association have been providing invaluable support.