TOP GRADE

The St. Vincent Girls’ High School is again the nation’s top school in the annual Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Certificate of Secondary Education (CSEC) exams. And this time, they not only have the best school results overall, but also the top two performers nationwide, in their students Calicia Charles and Candida DaSilva (see accompanying story). {{more}}

2005 valedictorian, Raquel Frederick, 2004 Secondary School’s Public Speaking champion, Joanne Marshall and 2005 multi-prize winner, Jordanna Laborde are also in the school’s top-five line up. Frederick returned nine passes with eight grade ones and one grade two, while Marshall and Laborde were both successful in ten subjects with seven grade ones and three grade twos.

Four other students of the school, Tamisha Browne, Kimberley Cambridge, Jodie Dennie and Priya Darshani Ramsamooj were also successful in eleven subjects. 17 students got 10 general subjects and 29, nine subjects.

The school achieved an outstanding 92% pass rate overall, with their 131 students achieving 100% passes in History, Clothing and Textiles, Home Economics Management, Integrated Science, Music, Office Procedures, Principles of Accounts and Social Studies. They also achieved a 98.5% pass rate in English A, which includes 85 grade ones, 98% in Principles of Business and 97% in Geography.

Speaking to Searchlight on Monday, Headmistress Andrea Bowman said “I am fairly pleased with their performance, though I know they could have done better.” She added, “Students have to recognize the importance of remaining focused and making the necessary sacrifices.”

The country’s only other all girls’ school, the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown also returned commendable results. According to principal Calma Balcombe, the 70 students writing the exam had an overall pass rate of 80%, with Vacquel Questelles being the most outstanding performer. She was successful in all nine subjects she wrote and obtained one grade one, six grade twos and two grade threes. The school returned 100% passes in English B, Social Studies, Home Economics Management, Food and Nutrition, Integrated Science, and a 92% pass rate in English A and 96% in Principles of Business.