Johntae, Nylah the toast of Negril Primary’s graduation
Published:Friday | June 28, 2024 | 12:10 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
When the new academic year begins, Munro College and Hampton School in St Elizabeth will welcome Johntae Peterkin and Nylah Martin, respectively, among their new students.
Peterkin and Martin wrapped up their finals days at Negril Primary School, located on the West End Road in Negril, Westmoreland, and their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results have left teachers, classmates and family celebrating.
Peterkin scored 366 for his PEP profile and earned a place at the much sought-after boys’ school Munro College, while Martin scored 355.6 to secure her space at an all-girls school that has become the envy of many young girls.
Johntae’s mother, Vivienne Peterkin, who works as a hairstylist, was not surprised at his performance, but noted that she was blown away by the number of top awards he received.
“I am elated, but humbled, largely because I knew his potential,” Peterkin said.
Johntae, a prefect who was a part of several clubs at school, was presented with the trophy for being Negril Primary’s Top Overall Performer in the 2024 PEP examinations, Top Performer for Mental Ability, Top Performer for Social Studies, and the Top Boy for the school.
“I was not expecting [so many] trophies; those awards left me with tears of joy and appreciation,” Vivienne told The Gleaner at Tuesday’s graduation .
Nickeisha Brown, Nylah’s mother, said she is happy her daughter has been placed at Hampton, noting that she had put in the work to get there.
“I was super excited when I found out at the graduation on Tuesday that my daughter was the top girl based on her performance in this year’s Primary Exit Profile,” Brown told The Gleaner. “Not only was she the top girl for PEP 2024, she was also the top performer in mathematics and the top girl in social studies.
“I am super proud of my girl. She has always been doing well academically since grade one, receiving various awards of bronze, silver and gold,” said Brown, whose daughter is the only student from her school to be placed at Hampton.
Sheron Suckera, principal at Negril Primary School, is equally proud of her students’ performance.
PROUD OF PERFORMANCES
“I am delighted at our PEP result this year. It had been a rough time for our teachers and the administration to get these children to where they are now,” Suckera said.
“It was a struggle for us because the grade five PEP results were not looking good; therefore, we had to work hard to the point where we are extremely proud of their performance,” she shared with The Gleaner.
Suckera boasted that more than 40 per cent of her grade six cohort have been placed in prominent high schools within the county of Cornwall.
“When you look at the scores, 36 – or 41.37 per cent – of our students have gone to traditional high schools and most of our students have gotten their first or second choices,” she revealed.
According to the breakdown for the 87 students, 10 were placed at The Manning’s School, three at Munro College, one at Hampton School, two at Westwood High School, six at Rusea’s High School, seven each at Frome Technical High and Belmont Academic, nine at Godfrey Stewart, four at Petersfield High, 22 at Green Island, eight at Rhodes Hall High, and eight at Little London.
Business and political leaders joined in the celebration of the students’ performances by providing trophies and cash prizes. Five students, including Johntae, were tied on the same score for Mental Ability.
A trophy was presented to Johntae by Ian Hayles, vice-president of the People’s National Party, and four other trophies were presented to Elizabeth Archibald, Novash Barrett, Rashaad Wilson and Chrissany McKnight by Morland Wilson, member of parliament for Western Westmoreland.
There was also a four-way tie for the highest score in social studies. The awardees were Nylah Martin, Novash Barrett, and Justin Daley, who received the respective Negril Hardware Trophy. Johntae Peterkin’s trophy in this category was sponsored by Hayles.
Rick’s Cafe sponsored the trophy for the highest science score, which was achieved by Jayden Drummond. Nylah Martin won the Negril Primary School Trophy for highest mathematics score. The school’s Language Arts Trophy was also awarded jointly to Elizabeth Archibald and Amera Stewart.
Johntae was presented with the Overall Top Performer Trophy by the Rotary Club of Negril.
Boardwalk Village also gifted top girl Nylah and top boy Johntae cash awards of $50,000 each and trophies.