Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

WITH THE need to maintain a 94-per cent average, Peta-Ann Gentles is intent on tightening up on her language arts and social studies scores in order to keep her goal on track.

For the month of October, the grade-six Chetwood Primary School student registered encouraging scores for social studies, mathematics and science, according to her teacher, Garvin Atkinson. However, they need to be improved.

"For October, she scored 84 per cent in social studies, 92 for science, and 88 per cent in mathematics. The other subject scores are not yet tallied at this time, but based on my assessment, Peta-Ann will need to maintain a 94 per cent average to stay on track for her GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) goal,"Atkinson said.

Peta-Ann has her sights set on Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay and admitted to having a challenge in conquering language arts, and, with that in mind, she has doubled her efforts to overcome this obstacle.

DEALING WITH PROBLEMS

"I have been attending my extra lessons, and they have been helping me a lot in dealing with some of the problems I face with this subject," she admitted.

As part of her preparation, Peta-Ann has to put television and play time on hold as she devotes her time to her studies. Her study plan includes extra lessons after school, daily reviews of notes administered in class, and seeking the help of her mother and elder sister.

Herbert Morrison, which offers good academic, vocational and sports programmes, according to Peta-Ann, is somewhere she has always wanted to go. She firmly believes it is a high school that can mould her into a more rounded person.

rural@gleanerjm.com