QC celebrates 'sweet 16'

Wed, Jan 28th 2015, 09:51 AM

While senior Rebecca Henderson led the senior national examination charge, not to be missed was the fact that Whitley Deleveaux, a ninth grade student at Queen's College attained seven "A" grades in the Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) examinations and was presented with the Most Outstanding Student in Independent Schools awards.

Whitley along with 10 of her peers earned 16 of the top scores for individual subjects in the 2014 Bahamas General Certificate Secondary Examination (BGCSE) and BJC examinations -- and as a result the school has dubbed the students the "Sweet 16".

The awards were handed out at the recent Ministry of Education, Science and Technology's Annual National Awards Ceremony.

Whitley who was graded at "A" for her results in language arts, mathematics, general science, art, social studies, religious education and craft study, posted the top scores in the BJC health science and religious education exams.

Arron Edgecombe received subject awards for BJC mathematics and health science; Llando Chea received awards for BJC craft and social studies. Nanditha Guruvaiah received top BGCSE awards in biology and geography; and Farion Cooper received top awards in BGCSE mathematics and physics.

Adonis Sasso received a top award in BJC mathematics; Naya Maycock received an award in BJC art and design; Namratha Guruvaiah received the BJC social studies award; Takia Gordon received the award in BGCSE food and nutrition; Alexis Mackey in BGCSE religious education and Anna Carla Grillo in BGCSE Spanish.

"The fact that we had students who received 16 top awards, and that there were a number of students who attained two top awards in the country -- Farion Cooper got the top prizes in the country for mathematics and physics [in the BGCSE]; at the BJC level, Arron Edgecombe got the top prize for mathematics and health science, as well as several others, speaks to the hard work that teachers and students have put in," said Queen's College Vice Principal Shawn Turnquest.

"It also speaks to the level of excellence that the entire school is committed to. We try to inspire all of our students to do their very best that they can. We remind them always to make sacrifices and to focus on what is important and to always do their very best, and certainly this year and every year -- but this has been a really special year the students have certainly put their best foot forward."

According to Turnquest, the school does its best to maintain the culture of excellence that has been established and seeks ways to improve upon it. She said they have found that the graduating class provides inspiration to their peers coming up behind them, and provides positive pressure for them to do well.

"Students vicariously experience the success of others and they see the results of hard work, and all of that has helped to promote an amazing culture of excellence at Queen's College."

Turnquest was not only proud of the results by QC students. She said the recent honors ceremony showed that all is not lost and that there are hundreds of young people who are embracing the opportunity of education and who are doing well.

"Children who were honored came from across the length and breadth of the country, from government schools and private schools, and it was a very proud moment for all educators, because even though we are attached to a particular school, we are still all Bahamians. And so we are very proud when we see Bahamian students perform and do well. It was a proud day for education in The Bahamas," said Turnquest.

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