Champion speller excels in GSAT

The impressive grades acquired by Portland's Spelling Bee champion, Nicholi Roberts, in the recent Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) come as no surprise to his parents and other mentors, who have described him as a hard worker.

Roberts, parish Spelling Bee Champion for 2014/2015, managed to secure scores of 100 per cent in mathematics, 100 per cent in science, 97 per cent in social studies, 95 per cent in language arts, and 83.3 per cent or 10 out of 12 in communication task, to be the runner-up student at Port Antonio Primary School.

"He is a committed student who has the full backing of his parents," commented principal Kenneica Davis.

excellence in his blood

"And that has led him to do well. He has been a top performer since grade one and, therefore, excellence is in his blood. I coached him as a member of the school's mathematics team, which also participated in a science competition. He is also one of best students on our math team, who loves to compete, but doesn't like to lose. He is a normal boy who displays excellent brainpower while managing to extend self outside of academics," she added.

Roberts is also a member of the school's 4-H clubs team - placing second in a recent poster competition which was held at the College of Agriculture, Science, and Education at Passley Gardens.

The 12-year-old student, who will be attending Titchfield High School in September, also got high praises from his mother, Andrea Roberts, who described him as a goal-oriented person.

According to Roberts, who is an export officer at the Jamaica Exporters' Association, her son is committed to hard work and, with support from his father, he is able to excel academically.

"I am proud and overwhelmed at his achievement thus far," she said. "I also thank his teacher and principal for their assistance. He has been able to balance Spelling Bee and GSAT thus far, but high school is just the beginning. He is well aware of the task ahead, and I expect him to excel even more," she added.

best student

For class teacher Terri-Ann Palmer, Nicholi is the best student a teacher could ask for as he is a well-mannered and rounded student who influences others positively.

"As deputy head boy, he gets along well with his peers," she commented. "He is also able to complete tasks on time while assisting others who might have shown a weakness in certain subject areas. He aspires to do well in everything that he sets his mind to, and if there is any doubt that failure will take place, he will not make any attempt," she further said.

But for Nicholi, his achievements thus far are but the beginning of what is to come, as, at Titchfield, he will be looking to get involved in extra-curricular activities while striving to improve his average.

"I will be spending more time studying, as sports might interfere with my plan to excel academically. My ambition is to become an ophthalmologist, as my grandmother was affected by sickness of the eye," he said.