Excelsior seeks to reverse decline

The word means “higher” in Latin, but the secondary school called Excelsior has never quite lived up to its name. Reputations are not etched in stone, however, and as News Five’s Kendra Griffith discovered, the winds of change are blowing through this once troubled south side Belize City institution.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Today the faculty and students at Excelsior Junior High had much to cheer about as they officially opened their Reading Resource Centre.

Gayle Thompson, Head Teacher, Excelsior Jr. High
“It is my hope that this resource will provide an alternative form of recreation for the students of Excelsior Junior High and the neighbouring pre-school and primary schools.”

The room, which will also double as a tutoring centre for students with reading problems, is the culmination of ten months of hard work by the staff….

Gayle Thompson
“We had this room already available and Katie and I worked determinedly to get it renovated, furnished, and stocked with books of a wide range of reading levels and interests. We begged, we cajoled, and sometimes we even felt like threatening.”

… Peace Corps volunteer Katie Jumbe.

Katie Jumbe, Peace Corps Volunteer
“We had to go item by item, bookshelf by fan, by chair. But the people who contributed did so very graciously and so in the end it was all good.”

… And the students.

Jamal Belisle, Student, Excelsior Jr. High
“I help with the painting, wiping down the walls and other stuff.”

Katie Jumbe
“I am very proud that it came together and the students managed to pitch in and put in a great effort this week to make sure that it looked great and that the room was ready.”

Allan Genitty, Deputy Chief Education Officer
“The importance of reading and developing comprehension skills is critical to the success of students and all efforts presented by schools to enforce this foundational platform on which learning hinges must be applauded.”

And while they now have a new resource centre … in a couple months Excelsior will get a name change. Today Deputy Chief Education Officer Allan Genitty announced that the Ministry of Education plans to upgrade the institution back to a four-year high school.

Allan Genitty
“The renovation and furnishing of the building will create additional classrooms, consequently allowing the school to expand its offering and the quality of teaching as it moves into becoming a full fledged high school in September 2007. [Applause] All students will therefore be able to continue their education at this school and graduate from here.”

So what has changed since 2005 when M.O.E. had to step in and take over the Excelsior? According to Genitty and Head Teacher Gayle Thompson, a lot.

Allan Genitty
“Back in 2005, the school was facing several challenges and one of the major challenges at that time was the whole administration of the school and a significant part of the problem back then was financial support.”

“We came in and we worked with the existing staff, the community, the parents, the students and we have done some restructuring to programmes, to offerings, and we are at the stage now where we feel that we need to do further investment within the institution.”

Gayle Thompson
“All being considered, yes I would say that we have grown with the two-year programme that we did, we saw that grow and we saw where it is now feasible for us to move on to four years.”

“The staff is excited, the morale of the students here have been boosted because they know that they will be able to continue to come to fourth form here at Excelsior.”

One student who’s happy to be able to continue his education at Excelsior High School is eighteen year old Jamal Belisle.

Jamal Belisle
“I was planning to stay.”

Kendra Griffith
“What do you intend to continue studying?”

Jamal Belisle
“The science and T.D.”

Kendra Griffith
“How do you all ensure that there is not a repeat of 2005?”

Allan Genitty
“A big part of the problem in 2005 was a decay occurring within the entire fabric of the institution and we can now see that with the support that we give to our schools and with the monitoring of the institution, we will ensure that definitely the focus and the way forward is such that we don’t revert to that.”

Excelsior currently has an enrolment of sixty-five students. Applications forms for the new school year can be picked up from their campus on Faber’s Road. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

In preparation for the new school year, M.O.E. plans to improve Excelsior’s food and nutrition and clothing and textile departments, as well as upgrade the science and computer labs.