One Mile Primary School secures top NGSA spot for Region 10

– aspiring dental surgeon tops Region 2

The top student in this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has credited her achievement to both her family as well as teachers at the nursery and primary levels.
Eleven-year-old Britney Peters of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, also secured a spot in the top one per cent and placed sixth in the country, with 521 marks out of a possible 528, and was awarded a place at Queen’s College (QC).
The aspiring doctor from the One Mile Primary School reminisced on the journey to success.
Peters told Guyana Times that while the COVID-19 pandemic would have presented some challenges due to the sudden closure of schools, her family and teachers played a major role in her success.
“It wasn’t easy, it was stressful but I put a lot into studying and it paid off. I used a lot of prayers and it helped. The love and affection from everybody and the encouragement, it helped a lot,” the young lady related.
Peters’ mother, Althea Mcdonald, praised the collaborative effort between family and teachers whom she noted played significant roles.
“First of all, we must say thank God for the journey because it was a very long journey…I would like to thank her aunts Bridgette and Samantha, her grandfather Brentnol, her teacher Miss Gullen; and then she had some teachers from Wismar Hill (Primary) that worked along with the extra lessons, the teachers at One Mile school…and my family members who support me in every way possible – I really want to thank them,” Mcdonald said.
She noted that she expected her daughter to do well in the exams since she was always a high achiever.
Nevertheless, Peters enjoys reading, singing and playing cricket. She told this publication that Science was one of her favourite subjects in school. Peters encouraged those who will be writing the exams next year to stay focused.
“I would say just keep pushing and encourage yourself, you’ll make it through,” she stated.
Also in the top 10 for the Region are Shanel Storm of Amelia’s Ward Primary and Ariel Mohanlall of Royal Halls of Learning, who both secured 519 marks; Kesyne Baggot of One Mile Primary, with 517 marks; Jasmine Griffith of Watooka Day Primary, with 516 marks; Yohance October of Regma Primary, with 515 marks; Syesha Fraser and Kenroy Jameer, both of One Mile Primary, who secured 515 marks.
In addition, Rheann Retemeyer of Watooka Day Primary and Shania Lawson of Regma Primary, who both secured 513 marks. They were all awarded places at Queen’s College.
Meanwhile, over at Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 12-year-old Sotana Singh of CV Nunes Primary, who secured 514 marks at the exams, has topped the Region.
During an interview with Guyana Times, Singh noted that she grew up with her grandmother who always used the quote “a parrot speaks his way through but an eagle fly the great heights”.
She noted that those were the words that motivated and gave her the strength to focus and concentrate on her studies. Being a top student for the Region, she added, is the first step in fulfilling her dream of becoming a dental surgeon.
She would have celebrated her 12th birthday on September 15. Singh praised her grandmother, Phyllis Welcome, and her grandfather, Charles Spellen, for her success.
Her grandmother noted that Sotana is a very quiet and mannerly child who is filled with love but has a few friends. She is also a church lover.
Sotana loves to read, watch television, cook and play football. She advised others to listen to their parents and teachers, be kind to each other, beware of bad company, open their minds to new things, spend their spare time doing something good, go to church and follow their dreams.
Coming in third for the Region was Ted Fraser, also of CV Nunes Primary. He secured 509 marks. Coming from a poor family, Fraser faced many difficulties but was able to stay focused and managed to earn a top spot in the Region.
Fraser resides at Onderneeming Sand Pit and travelled miles on a daily basis with his mother, Yasha Alisa Fraser, to attend school at Anna Regina.
Ted’s mom, who works with the National Insurance Scheme, explained that after school, her son had to travel to Affiance to take lessons. She would pick him up after work and they would return home together.
His sacrifices, she noted, has definitely made them proud parents. The young lad stated that he will continue to focus on his studies so he can get a well-paid job so that he can assist his parents and two sisters.
“Money is not everything but dedication, effort, and parental support can work wonders for you,” he noted. He thanked his parents, teachers, friends and all who supported him during his struggle.