P.S.E. Awards – Brightest Young Minds Honored for Excellence
The award ceremony for top achievers of the 2016 P.S.E. took place at the Ramada Princess this morning. Students from schools across the country were bussed in to celebrate the achievement of their peers. Twenty-five students received certificate of excellent for the top grades scored in the national exams. The occasion was celebratory as well as poignant for the students who had worked hard to reach today’s milestone. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The top performers in this year’s Primary School Examinations were formally recognized today during a national ceremony held in their honor. This morning ,at the Princess Hotel, Standard Six students from across the country were present to receive their awards for outstanding performance in the P.S.E.s. Receiving the Jane and Michael Nembhard Award, a prestigious distinction bestowed upon the top performer, were Kenly Young and Angelina Urbina. They are from St. Andrew’s Anglican School and La Inmaculada RC School, respectively.
Kenly Young
Kenly Young, St. Andrew’s Anglican
“Our school was great at sports. In fact, it was regular to hear people refer to us as, “all weh dehn could do da run and win race.” But St. Andrew’s has always had other great qualities. The Primary School Examinations, P.S.E. results, are a testament of the other things St. Andrew’s School is skilled at, performing well academically. They have never faltered in that and I am proud to say that I have attended that school. As a matter of fact, anytime someone asks me what school I go to, I pop my chest up, clear my throat and say proudly, I go to St. Andrew’s Anglican School. The best school. The reason we do so well is because of them, they taught us the right steps and gave us the right material so that we could succeed.”
There was a total of twenty-five students awarded certificates of excellence today. On hand for the distribution of plaques was David Leacock, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Education. Following the giving out of certificates, thirteen-year-old Angelina Urbina shared an account of the experience of sitting the P.S.E.
Angelina Urbina
Angelina Urbina, La Inmaculada RC School
“A challenge like the P.S.E. makes our bodies feel the same way as if there was an actual threat to our lives. Just to a smaller degree. So there you have it. For some of us the P.S.E. made us feel as if we were being attacked by sharks. I don’t quite remember the morning or the first half that I sat the P.S.E. In all honesty I was too consumed by nervousness that I found it difficult to remember whether or not I even spelled my school’s name properly. Initially I went on question after question doubting every answer I had decided on, but as time went on my nerves finally calmed down and I then realized that I had nothing to worry about. I was well prepared for this. Then a wave of confidence washed over me and I was ready to conquer whatever challenge the P.S.E. threw my way. “
Third place, Marcela Lozano, along with a gaggle of her standard six peers at Bernice Yorke Institute, also took the stage to receive her award.
Mistress of Ceremony
“If you notice Marcela, she brought a lot of backup because a lot of young ladies are at the back there and some young men. Okay those are our top three performers and we continue with Belize Elementary.”
The overall list of students who topped the 2016 P.S.E.s includes ten from Belize District alone. Distributing those awards was Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture Elodio Aragon Junior. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
