Seven sets of twins at Gomea Methodist School

by Bria King Fri Feb 08, 2013

A phenomenon is taking place at the Gomea Methodist School, as it may be the only academic institution in St Vincent and the Grenadines with seven pairs of twins in attendance at the same time.{{more}}

The primary school has a twin in each grade, excluding grade five. Additionally, two pairs of the seven, belong to one parent.

Oswald Robinson, headteacher of the school, told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday that he is extremely happy to be the head of a school with so many pairs of twins.

“This is phenomenal,” Robinson enthused. “I don’t think any school in the world has seven pairs of twins.”

Kindergarten twins, Valuther and Valique Patterson, seem to be ahead of their time as they told SEARCHLIGHT that they are in Grade 1.

“I like to learn,” Valuther said in his tiny voice.

Skyla and Rhyla Davis are both in Grade 1 and share a fondness for mathematics, social studies and language.

“Cricket and dolly,” the girls said in unison when they explained some games that they like to play.

Elizabeth Austin, a teacher at the school said “Rhyla is an artist. She is very artistic.”

Sports also seem to be a common thread that connects the twins, as grade 2 pupil Maleek Providence said that he likes playing football and cricket. His fraternal twin sister, Maleeka, expressed her bright personality when she announced her love for the beach.

Grade 3 twins, Andres and She-Keira Jack also have twin sisters in grade 6. The pair show interest in different things; She-Keira has a knack for drawing, while Andres said that he likes to read.

High praise was given to grade 4 pupils Davenielle and Danielle Quashie, for being the best singers at the school.

“Davenielle and Danielle, they sing well…they can sing! Their voices just blend together,” said Leonora Bullock, a grade 3 teacher.

Davenielle explained that she liked singing songs from “High School Musical”, saying that they “sound good and people like them”.

“We sing duets together in church and in school,” her sister, Danielle added.

Also in Grade 4, Micron and Microy Daniel show interest both academically and athletically.

The brothers share a love for mathematics and like high energy games. “Catcher” and “Hide and Seek” make their list of favourite games.

Charmin Munroe, teacher of Micron and Microy, says she does not let them sit together in class.

“It’s very hard to tell them apart. If they sit together, I would not know which is which,” Munroe explained.

The teachers at the school say they rarely have trouble telling the twins apart if they are identical. However, some like to play pranks because of their similar features.

Munroe attests to this, saying that Micron and Microy enjoy being identical.

“They always tell me, ‘Miss we go fool you a day, you know. Me and me brother will exchange seats and you will not know which is which’,” she said.

Shannon and Shaniah Robertson, in Grade 6, are the older sisters of the twins in Grade 3. The girls are very academically inclined and said that they like doing homework together.

Bullock explained that all the twins perform on average at the school. She further said that of a pair of twins, one does not look to overshadow the other.

“Academically, you can say they are on par,” the teacher said.

Robinson, who is in awe at the occurrence, told SEARCHLIGHT that although it is difficult to pin down one variable, he believes that Gomea is a rich community where the soil is fertile, the people eat healthily and the gene for twins is prominent.

Many others attribute the existence of so many twins in one area to the spa water that Gomea is popularly known for.

Munroe, who has come in contact with 15 sets of twins since the start of her teaching career, said “my daughter attributes it to the spa water.”

Additionally, Austin, who is also the Literacy Coordinator, commented on the phenomenon, saying “it must be the spa water”.

The celebration of the seven twins is part of the school’s Literacy week which commences on Monday with a march, community reading and party.

The twins will be featured in a Comprehension Parade on February 12, which is only one of the many fun packed events that the school will stage within the week.