AMELIA’s Ward Primary School’s Tiana Blair and Regma Primary’s Oswald Haynes were the joint best performers in Region 10 (Upper Dememerara/ Berbice at the annual National Grade Six Assessment Examination. Blair and Haynes gained 544 marks each to earn a 105th overall position from a field of approximately 18,000 children who wrote the examinations.

Akeesha John of the Christianburg Primary School and Arlene Andries who is also from Amelia’s Ward Primary, were the next best from the region after obtaining 541 and 540 marks respectively.

Tianna Blair

Tiana Blair

A easy going Tianna Blair said she worked very hard for the examinations by being up late at she thanked “God for the wisdom and strength.”

She is the daughter of Godfrey and Tracy Blair and credits her class teacher Ms Carol Braithwate, Hyacinth Thompson and her grand mother Ms Veronica Blair for the time spent with her leading up to the examination.

She says her career choice is to become a medical doctor and even quoted a famous speech spoken to her which is always in her thoughts as she faced the many challenges while studying which inspired her to success “the heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight but he while his companions slept were toiling onwards through the night.”.

Tiana wasn’t bit surprised to have been the best Lindener and now that she has been given a place at the prestigious Queen’s College School.

Oswald Haynes

Oswald Haynes

Oswald Haynes is the son of Dr. Joseph Haynes and Esther Ann Haynes. Oswald exudes confidence as well and is one who seemingly knows what to expect in life, as he was not surprised at all with the results he gained.

He remembers how he was religiously studying each day as he awaited the National Grade Six Assessement Examinations. He said he was fortunate to have extra lessons, but did acknowledge he worked hard into the nights for the results he got.

According to him “my parents helped me a lot by keeping me focused, which meant no television and games”

He acknowledges that his class teacher Lynette Babb for his success which he shared with former Green Acres School head teacher and class teacher for their input.

Dr. Haynes did not leave things to run its course as he was praying and fasting and supporting in every way possible to ensure his son gets the results he worked for which has landed him a place at Queen’s College.

He likes reading a lot and has chosen to become a pilot as he focuses on his future academic pursuits.

Asheeka John
Aseeka John has come across as one who believes in the wisdom of thanking the Almighty God for success in life.

However, that favour only comes to those who put in to get out and she outlined that the hard work was put in for the desired results achieved. She thanked her parents Joseph and Nichola John for their genuine support and not forgetting the support of her grand parents and God brother Nola Clarke. The Queen’s College bound John thanked her class teacher Tamicka Lees who was there throughout for the hard work and advice given.

Her father Joseph was even more proud of her performance and he is confident that she will live up to the high expectations the members of the Christianburg community have in the youngster.

Asheeka is eyeing a teaching career as she loves to give back to children, especially at the school level to mould their young minds for the future ahead.

Arlene Andries
Arlene, who gained 540 marks to finish fourth in the top performers from Linden, was very satisfied with her performance saying “I did well I did excellen, I studied. I didn’t get to sleep good at nights and I had to stay up with my mother and, she too was tired at times but she stayed up with me and I am glad with my performance.”

The 12-year old says that her mother was her biggest inspiration while her teachers, especially Ms Carol Braithwate, were there for her throughout, as well as her friend Tiana Blair who topped the region.

Arlene said “usually before examinations I used to go on the computer and do lessons on my language and that helped me improve my English. I would also go to the library and borrow books.

I like reading.” She added “I feel great about the change, that I have completed my primary school life.”

Obviouly proud indeed she said “I will be going to the second highest school and I feel great about it and I will strive to gain even higher percentages and continue bringing first at my school.

I was always at the top.”

Boasting about her excellent primary career Arlene informed “if I didn’t bring first I would bring second, and at one time I brought third: that was because I didn’t understand long division too properly but I still climbed up the ladder.”

She said for a period she attended Maths lessons at one Mr. Featherstone in Amelia’s Ward when she was in Primary Two and it helped her with long division which allowed her to return a second place showing, after placing third at one stage.”

Looking ahead she said she wanted to become a surgeon. Her teachers told her that she should set your goals from now because one might change career paths at Form Three in Secondary School, as one starts studying different subjects at the school. But she was adamant saying “I would put my goals to whatever, but I really want to be a surgeon.”

She attends the Amelia’s Ward Church of Christ and this has helped her along the way as she wrote the SSEE Grade Six Assessment examinations saying “I went up to the pastor to pray for me and because of that I know I did good. Even before I wrote on the examinations, I prayed. And God has inspired me.”

The most difficult subject at the SSEE Grade Six Assessment for Arlene was science but she found the maths easy and this was because as she puts it “I get through easy with calculations even without using a calculator.”

Arlene will be attending Bishops High School and her mother Diana is also proud of her daughter as she recalled “many times she would come home and has work to do she would sit down to do it and I would sometimes say Arlene I really want to sleep, leave some for next day but she would say no, she want to do it out. Yes very pleased.”