Mon | Nov 18, 2024

It's Mona again! - Prep school secures fifth Junior Schools' Challenge Quiz title

Published:Tuesday | December 13, 2016 | 12:00 AM
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Darien Robertson
The winning Mona Preparatory School team – Janae Lewis (captain), Ashley James, Courtnegail Rose and Akeelah Hutchinson – show off the Television Jamaica Junior Schools’ Challenge Quiz championship trophy.
Darien Robertson
Darien Robertson/Photohrapher Courtnegail Rose, Ashley James (captain); Akeelah Hutchinson and Janae Lewis of Mona Preparatory are presented with the Junior School's Challenge Quiz winner's trophy by Claire Grant, general manager of TVJ. Mona defeated Friendship Primary School 34-24 in the competition Tuesday night.
Darien Robertson
Ahmaal Wright (left) looks on as Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton embraces Malachi Maxwell, after they finished second as members of the Friendship Primary team.
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Mona Preparatory School on Tuesday night secured its second consecutive and fifth lien overall on the Television Jamaica (TVJ) Junior Schools' Challenge Quiz (JSCQ) Trophy after defeating Friendship Primary in a repeat of last year's final.

In the much-anticipated rematch, both teams got out of the blocks rather slowly, each missing their opening round of questions.

The contest gradually gained fluency and Mona took the ascendancy and managed an 8-4 lead at the end of the first segment.

At resumption, all four team members engaged in one-on-one face-offs in the areas of mathematics, science, English language and social studies.

Mona's confident team captain, Ashley James, bossed this segment, displaying composure and clarity far beyond her years.

It ended 22-16 in favour of Mona.

The teams then traded blows in the last open round of four-minute questioning, with both dropping points.

Friendship picked up the pace to cut the deficit to two points, but then Mona firmly placed one foot on the gas.

 

Victors

 

The contest ended 34-24 to grant Mona its fifth title in the 14-year history of the competition.

TVJ General Manager Claire Grant had earlier announced the implementation of a TVJ scholarship valued at $700,000 over a five-year period.

The scholarship, to be issued in 2017, will see $140,000 per year going towards books, fees, uniforms and lunch.

Any individual member of any participating team is eligible once meeting the 85 per cent average standard in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

"It's been a fantastic season (JSCQ) and it just gets better every year," Grant expressed to The Gleaner after the match.

She added: "Congratulations to Mona, and well done to Friendship and all the schools who participated this season."

Principal of Friendship Primary Collington Powell, speaking with The Gleaner, said: "It was a very commendable performance. We were well prepared but Mona proved to be better prepared on the day."

Lakhranie Suckoo, who started coaching at Mona in 2005, expressed feelings of great pride.

"It's very difficult because we have to balance GSAT as well. The time was very limited. We start in the summer, about July, but that still isn't enough. I'm very happy for my children."