Jayden channels grief into top GSAT marks

For St Andrew Preparatory School student Jayden Ebanks, achieving the top marks for his school in the 2018 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) is bittersweet.

Jayden, who will be attending Wolmer's Boys' School in September, scored 100 per cent in mathematics, 100 per cent in social studies, 99 per cent in language arts, 98 per cent in science and 12/12 in communication task.

While he, his family members, friends, teachers and the entire school community are revelling in his success, there is one person who is not around to share the joy.

Jayden's mother, Deborah Poyser, passed away last October after a period of illness, just a month after he started grade six.

He channelled his grief into his exam preparations and feels that his mother would have been proud of his results.

Jayden told JIS NEWS that his achievement is for "my mom".

He said he is looking forward to attending Wolmer's. "I feel good. I am looking forward to going to Wolmer's because it has a good sports programme and is also good in academics," he notes.

St Andrew Preparatory principal Janet Walsh-Davis and teacher Phyllis Ramsay, who were with Jayden when JIS News visited the school, said they are very proud of him.

Walsh-Davis, who fought back tears as she hugged Jayden, said she knows his mother would have been extremely pleased as well.

Strength of character

"Jayden epitomises what St Andrew Prep School is all about - strength of character. His achievement means so much more to me than you can imagine. In the middle of getting ready for the GSAT exam, he lost his mom, who was his biggest champion. Everything that you see here is his mom."

Ramsay said Jayden never missed a class, and would come to her for any information he may have missed during extra lessons that would coincide with sports competitions or practise.

"Most times he does his home work before he leaves school. If he does not understand something, he is coming to me and not leaving until he understands. If he has to shed a tear or two, he's going to shed a tear or two, but he's not moving until he understands," Ramsay said.

"With all of what he went through ... he is the only one from my class receiving perfect attendance. Despite everything he did not miss a day," she stressed.

Walsh-Davis and Ramsay commend Jayden's father, Eric Ebanks, for his love and unwavering support.