Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter 
Top performing students in the Grade Six Achievement Test from the Holy Family Infant and Primary School in Central Kingston with their grade six teacher, Nicholas Mullings (centre). From left are: Zaire West, Tashana Blair, Nadinique McKain and Jerome Lennon. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Despite the violence in their communities during preparations for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), some students at the August Town Primary and the Holy Family Infant and Primary schools in the Corporate Area performed exceptionally well this year, with one scoring 100 per cent in mathematics.
Head girl at August Town Primary, Sachalee Harris, screamed when she found out that she would be going to St Hugh's High.
"I was surprised because when I was doing GSAT I heard gunshots and I lost concentration, so I didn't know that I would do so well," said Harris.
She scored 76 per cent in mathematics, 77 per cent in science, 86 per cent in social studies, 86 per cent in language arts and 9 out of 12 in communication task.
Harris, who lives in Bedward Gardens, August Town, said she was sometimes scared because of the violence in her area.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Javade Williams who lives in the same community. He will be attending Ardenne High School in September.
Williams attained 91 in mathematics, 91 in Science, 99 in social studies, 88 in language arts and eight out of 12 in communication task.
"The violence affected me a lot as sometimes when I was up studying I was afraid," said Williams who wants to become a lawyer.
Cecile Palmer, principal of Holy Family Infant and Primary School, Laws Street, central Kingston told The Gleaner that her students performed creditably in the GSAT, despite the odds.
There have been several incidents of violence in the volatile central Kingston between warring factions.
Elated
Sachalee Harris (left), head girl, August Town Primary School, St Andrew, and Javade Williams, head boy. The students from the school in the violence-plagued community attained commendable scores in the 2008 Grade Six Achievement Test. Harris will be attending St Hugh's High while Williams will attend Ardenne High School. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
One of Palmer's students, Tashana Blair said she was elated when she found out yesterday morning that she would be attending Campion College.
"I was excited," she said. "I just put my head on the desk because I was crying and I didn't want anybody to see."
Blair scored 99 per cent in mathematics, 98 per cent in science, 99 per cent in social studies, 99 per cent in language arts and 10 out of 12 for communication task.
Zaire West said he was surprised when he found out that he would be going to Wolmer's High School for Boys.
"I was shocked. I didn't think I would get those high scores," West said, adding that he studied before going to bed at nights and his parents quizzed him on the topics during the day.
A botanist in the making, West hopes to find a treatment for AIDS.
He scored 92 for mathematics, 86 for science, 99 for social studies, 94 for language arts and eight out of 12 for communication task.
Nadinique McKain is heading to Wolmer's High School for Girls having scored 100 in mathematics, 75 in science, 95 in social studies, 91 in language arts and nine out of 12 for communication task.
McKain who wants to become a paediatrician was a member of her school's hockey and netball teams.
It was tears of joy for Jerome Lennon who will be going to Wolmer's High School for Boys.
"I feel very well, even though I felt that I could have done a little better," Lennon said.
He said the support from friends, family members and well-wishers also motivated him.
Lennon who wants to become a meteorologist enjoys surfing the Internet.
petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com
