Top scorers on P.S.E. honoured
It was the first time a formal ceremony of recognition has been held to honour the nation’s highest young achievers. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams was on hand this morning at Parish Hall to join in the congratulations.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
It was on May seventeenth that the top high school scorers in Belize were presented with CXC certificates of excellence. Today, a little more than a month later, twenty-six primary school students who topped the P.S.E. were recognised with book awards.
Bea Jay Armstrong of Grace Primary School attained the highest score of ninety-six percent. She received the Michael and Jane Nembhard Scholarship to the high school of her choice, a thousand dollars for books and a plaque.
Bea Jay Armstrong, Scored Highest in P.S.E.
“It would have been impossible for to do this well at all without God working through my teachers. Ms. Mortis, thank you very much for your work and all that you have done this year with me as well as the rest of my classmates. And without God working through my mother and my parents, grandparents, cousins, my brother and my principal, and everyone else that ever said and encouraging word to me.”
And perhaps the greatest source of encouraging words came from her mom; Wesley College’s Principal Brenda Armstrong.
Brenda Armstrong, Bea Jay’s Mom
“There were times when she would be very down about maths. She didn’t like maths, on a whole she prefers English and word. But on a whole I would try to motivate her, getting help for her, allowing her to have as much freedom to explore it and work with it. And hopefully just providing whatever parents would normally do, make sure she’s well fed and so on. I think the motivation, the support in saying, “yes you can do it, so don’t give up.”
“Don’t give up” was also the sentiment echoed by Education Minister Cordel Hyde. He says today’s ceremony was a celebration of endurance.
Cordel Hyde, Min. of Education
“I’m sure there were many times when you felt like quitting. Perhaps you failed a test or perhaps you failed more than one. I’m sure there were other challenges, other setbacks and other failures. You remind me of a saying I once heard, “it doesn’t matter how many times you fall down, what matters is how many times you get up.
I also want to congratulate your parents. It is said that however far the stream flows, it can never really forget its source. I also want to congratulate the teachers and principals of these respective students. We’re always quick to blame you when something goes wrong, so we should be just as quick to say great job when your students do well.”
Casey Polonio of St. Joseph is one student who couldn’t have done any better in the science section of the P.S.E. He scored one hundred percent.
Casey Polonio, Scored 100% in Science
“I prepared for the science section by listening to the teacher. I tried to put in all my interest into the science and I did all the experiments just to see how everything works. I really like to read scientific books and I like adventure. But I usually watch all the Discovery and Learning Channel, all of those channels.
Mother Carol Polonio was proud to have shared in what she called “a family accomplishment”
Carol Polonio, Casey’s Mom
“I’m happy for him. I’m proud that he did so well. It was a bit of a surprise, but we’re happy for him, his father, his sister and myself. I always encourage him to study. I think he does not put in a lot of effort, so I always make sure I encourage him to study.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“He likes science particularly though?”
Carol Polonio
“Right. Science and math particularly. He made ninety-eight in math and one hundred in science.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
The Michael and Jane Nembhard Scholarship is named after long time Methodist educator and lay preacher Michael Augustus and his wife Jane. Nembhard came to Belize from his native Jamaica in 1921 and on the celebration of his one hundredth birthday the then Minister of Education, Said Musa, honoured him by announcing the scholarship award for excellence at the primary level.
