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The Guyana Chronicle in focusing on these ten outstanding Region 10 children found that they came from an equal spread across the bauxite region, making their parents and guardians, teachers and schools proud.
Jamicka Rutherford of Independence Avenue, Linden said of her results: “I am overjoyed, flabbergasted. I really do not know how to explain it. I just feel really happy. It was a surprise as I was not expecting to do this well. It was harder as I had to do extra lessons at weekends and there was a lot of nervousness as I was not sure I would have done so well and get the school of my dreams, Queen’s College.”
She related that it was sleepless nights and “the most difficult was the Social Studies Paper 1 because there were a couple of questions that I think I did not revise on but I did my best. I was always among the best in my class and I would like to thank my mother, my father and my brother but especially the teachers of Watooka Day Primary School, mainly Ms. Rhonda Rose, Ms. Charris Joseph, Ms. Melville.”
She hopes to be a teacher like her mom, Jamella Bailey, who teaches at the Mackenzie High School.
Meanwhile, Zoe Sills of Riverside Drive Watooka shared the spotlight with Rutherford and when contacted about the examinations, she said: “I first learnt of the results when we were in school. I went downstairs to see the teachers to know if they heard anything pertaining to the results and then there was a scream from the office. As I was downstairs my teacher came outside and she hugged me, took me upstairs and she called Jamicka and held us together and told us that we had topped the region. It was around 1:30pm. I was very surprised because it just took me by surprise in spite of my potential. I am happy that my friend Jamicka and I topped the region.
“I think the biggest challenge was the Social Studies because there were some questions that you were uncertain about the answers and I prayed it through.
All my credit goes to God, my parents Pastor Selwyn Sills and my mother Leah and my teachers mainly.”
She added: “…I had to make a greater sacrifice and had to study very hard and there was more work than play.”
She wants to be a pediatrician but would choose Mackenzie High School in preference to Queen’s College, where she says she will be comfortable and at home. She believes that MHS has the necessary teaching staff to help her achieve her goals in life as she joins her brother who a few years ago qualified for a top school in Georgetown, but decided to attend the region’s leading secondary institution, the Mackenzie High School instead.
The Praise Tabernacle A.O.G. Church member advised that Grade Six students study hard and put their trust in God, and if there is any concept that they do not understand, that they approach their teacher and have him/her explain it.
Amelia’s Ward 12-year-olds Ajay Persaud and Serina Roberts came next and were tied on 530 marks behind Sills and Rutherford.
Ajay of South Amelia’s Ward remarked: “I was very surprised because there was an incident on the second day that I thought I would have got some questions wrong as one side of my glasses broke and I had to go through the day just like that so I thought my vision would have gone bad. It was not very hard but the most difficult subject was math, slightly, but generally it was very easy.”
He said the preparation was very tough “as we worked very hard with our teacher who carried us all the way – teacher Annetta Assannah and my parents, Dhanraj Persaud and Jayanta Singh. I always wanted to go to Queen’s College. I was not always the best but I want to be a scientist. I want to give thanks to my God, my mother, my family and teachers and friends. I would advise them to very attentive to their teachers and do not take their work for granted.”
Serina Roberts said that in her view of the SSEE: “It was not as I expected it to be. I expected it to be extra hard. The first day I was a bit afraid but the second day I was much more confident. What was the most difficult was the English Paper I.”
However, she said she made a lot of sacrifice as she had to give up much of her recreational activities, but did play a little. The aspiring veterinarian who said her dream was to attend Queen’s College is grateful to her teachers as well as her parents, Wayne Roberts and Daloth Frank and other family members.
The Lot 652 South Amelia’s Ward resident proudly related that she was always among the top three during her primary school days and always got marks in the 90 per cent range.
Twelve-year-old Abdul-Bage Marshall of Central Mackenzie was cool and collective as he spoke: “I was not surprised as I always knew that I had the ability to do my school work. Some of the questions were a bit tricky but I tried and answered it to the best of my knowledge. For me the Social Studies subject was the hardest. I thank Allah for giving me the strength and health and also my parents, Roy Marshall and mother Ederle Marshall.”
In addition he acknowledged his Class Teacher, Ms. Charris Joseph and Ms Cheryl Wills who gave him extra-lessons. He conceded that for the examinations he had to be a bit more serious and to stay focused. He intends to become a lawyer and thanks everybody who gave him their support to succeed at his SSEE.
Marissa Hilliman, an 11-year-old from Hippani Oval, Retrieve, Linden who scored 526 marks proudly said she attended Royal Halls of Learning Christian School, where she has been for the past three years.
Of her results she confidently said: “These were not surprising as I was expecting to get a place at Queen’s College. This is because I know that I am intelligent. I will say it was very difficult with some questions but I would say it was alright. The English was the most problematic but I was confident as in my class I was one of the best over the years. When I grow up my career choice is to become a forensic doctor. I would want to give credit most of all to God and secondly my mother who is the Regional Executive Officer of Region 10, Yolanda Hilliman, and my class teacher Desiree Ann Rohleir.” Her advice is that you can do anything anyone else can do, but you have to work hard in order to achieve it.
Social Studies Most Challenging
When Guyana Chronicle visited Ryan Crandon, who scored 526 marks also, the 11-year-old from Amelia’s Ward Primary School had gone on an errand but he soon returned. He stated boldly: “I was delighted with the results as I was prepared but the Social Studies proved the most challenging since some of the questions were tricky.”
He admitted he had many sleepless nights before the examinations and said “first of all I want to thank Almighty God and the pastor and members of Cigate Full Gospel Church along with my teachers at Amelia’s Ward Primary School, namely Teacher Carol, Sonia, Sherry, Sandra, his mother Ulda Cooper and grandmother Vulda McGregor and all who contributed to my success in some way or another throughout my career at this school.”
He advised those who will be sitting the SSEE next year to study hard, keep focused on what they want to achieve and to pray without ceasing.
Eleven-year-old Jose Maksyhung of Regma Primary who gained 525 marks said: “I was very surprised and overwhelmed. I thank God and I was praying for Him to give me a good school. I want to also thank my parents, Ronnel Inniss and Sharon Murray and my teachers. The hardest part of the examinations was the Social Studies which proved the most challenging. I’ve never thought about what I want to become.”
The Seventh Day Adventist Church member is an active member of the church’s Pathfinder Club and he said he studied and prayed hard for his success.
Canisha Primo gained 525 marks and from September last year attended the Alcan Primary School on the Corentyne, but sat the examinations at Kwakwani Primary School where she got her foundation. She said that she knew quite well she had to overcome obstacles to achieve what she wanted.
Her parents Michael and Cassandra Primo took her from September last year before the examinations to the school on the Corentyne because they felt it was necessary. She however, proudly gives much credit to her upbringing at the Kwakwani Primary School and said, “I feel happy and overwhelmed with my achievement. First and foremost I would like to thank Almighty God because without Him I could not have done it. I also want to thank my parents for encouraging me all the time and all those who were praying for me.”
Asked about the examinations Canisha said: “It was hard in some areas as some of the questions you had to use commonsense and English Paper Two was somewhat difficult.” She said from Monday through to Friday she was not able to watch television because of her preparations for the SSEE.”
Completing the region’s top ten list of performers for 2013 is 11-year-old Chelsea Chapman who like Maksyhung and Primo scored 525 marks. She quipped: “I was really surprised as I knew I always did well from Grades 1 right through to Grade 6. This examination was challenging, particularly the Social Studies.”
She noted that she had studied hard but did not know the answers to some questions that came but did great in the end. She thanks her father, Alwyn Chapman and her mother, Shelly Sam for their steadfastness behind her and her class teacher, Leslyn Major. The budding scientist would advise those who will be writing next year’s SSEE to try hard and keep their focus and persevere “because they can achieve any goals they set and want to achieve.”
