UPDATE- ‘I feel relieved, excited and grateful’ says top scholar Maia Bertrand (with pictures)

“I feel relieved, excited, and grateful.” Those were the words of the top performer in this year’s Grade Six National Assessment (G6NA) Maia Bertrand, a student of the Ebenezer Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School. The results were released during a press conference held at the Public Service Union (PSU) Building on Friday.

During an interview with the media, Bertrand said when she heard the news she was surprised.

“I was surprised and did not expect to be the top performer,” she stated.

According to Bertrand, her success would not be possible without practice and help from God.

Her message to students who will write the G6NA next year is to, “Always work hard and trust in God and He will work it out for you.”

Betrand said she will be attending the  Arthur Waldron Seventh-Day Academy in the new academic year. In terms of preparation, Betrand said both her parents were very supportive.

“My mother helped me with my compositions and she helped me to remain calm and focused,” she stated. “And my father helped me to have a little fun in between so  I won’t get too tired and drained out.”

She also thanked her teachers, parents, and principal.

Eleven-year-old Thierry Lauture of the St Mary’s Primary who placed second on the list said he felt very proud of his achievements.

“It wasn’t really much of a shock to come up so high in the [Grade 6 National Assessment],” he revealed. “I am just really proud of myself.”

He plans to attend the St Mary’s Academy (SMA) in the new academic year.

“Because I just want to continue my St Mary life,” Lauture noted.

He advised students who will write the G6NA next year to follow their dreams, and “do your best in your exams. Study and mainly listen to the advice of your parents.”

Lauture said he wants to become a zoologist in the future.

Mother of Thierry, Mrs. Jacelyn Lauture said she was confident that her son would perform exceptionally well.

“We expected him to do well, we were just not certain where exactly he would [place],” she explained. “He has been a very committed student, very dedicated since pre-school, so we knew at that stage he would have made us proud.”

Mrs. Lauture advised parents to always be there for their children.

“Support and love are very important and everything else will fall in line,” she advised. She gave thanks to God and everyone else who worked with her son to help in his success.

Principal of the St Mary’s Primary School, Norissa Peter was also overjoyed following the results.

“I am so excited and elated,” she said. “The Lord has really blessed SMP today and to God be the Glory, great things He has done for the school.”

She added, “We are very proud of Thierry and we are proud too of our achievements because we have been in the top-performing school this year, so we are very happy. Thank God for that.”

Mrs. Peter pointed out that from Grade-K Thierry has been a diligent student throughout, that he has represented SMP with class and he is leaving with excellence. She thanked all the teachers for their effort, commitment, and dedication.

D’Andre Barrie of the Ebenezer  SDA Primary who placed third said he is excited and happy that he received a scholarship. Barrie said he was surprised at the results, although he did anticipate a scholarship. In preparation for the exams, Barrie said he did a lot of practicing and reviewing with his parents as well as his teachers. He thanked God, his parents, and teachers for helping him to prepare for the exams.

Barrie advised students who are preparing to enter Grade 6 in the new academic year to try their best, and work hard to succeed, “no matter how challenging it may be.”

“Even if you go through some rough patches or you may not get the results you want to see at first you have to continue pushing until you get what you want,” Barrie stated.

He wants to attend the Arthur Waldron Seventh-Day Academy in the new academic year.

Ken-G Delsol of the Kelleb John Laurent Primary School placed fourth, while 11-year-old Qitara Beaupierre of the Pioneer Preparatory School placed fifth.

Beaupierre said she was confident she would be among the top students. She wants to attend the Dominica Grammar School in the new academic year. Beaupierre also plans to become a Lawyer in the future.

She told students who will write the G6NA in the new academic year that it is better to study when their minds are fresh, “and if studying ever reaches a point where you have a headache it’s best you take a break.”

She thanked her parents, principal, and teachers for supporting her.

Meanwhile, her father Andy Beaupierre said he was excited when he heard the news.

“I was more excited than her. I didn’t expect her to do terribly, I expected her to do good, but the top five is more than I could ask for,” he said. “ She has always been performing well.”

He believes that the fathers who play a part in their children’s lives, “they are doing good.”

This year a total of 820 students participated in the examination, with 407 females and 413 males. This year the Ministry of Education awarded 79 scholarships to 39 females and 40 males. While 70 bursaries were awarded to 43 females and 27 males.

Penville Primary School was named the top-performing school this year. Out of the five candidates who wrote the exams, four received scholarships.

On the basis of this year’s results, the government has decided to award scholarships to all students who obtained a total of 18, 19, or 20 points, that is four A’s, or three A’s and one B, or two A’s and two Bs, or three A’s and one C.

Bursaries are awarded to students who obtained totals of 16 or 17 points, that is two A’s, one B and one C, or one A and three Bs, or three A’s and one D, or three A’s and one E, or two A’s and two Cs, or one A,  two Bs and one C,  or two A’s, one B and one D, or four Bs.