Principal Hyacinth Norine conducts a free summer school for children at the Robin's Bay Primary School in St Mary. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Hyacinth Norine, principal of the Robin's Bay Primary School in St Mary, has taken the initiative to decrease the level of financial stress parents undergo by designing ways to offset extra charges throughout the school year.

Like most primary schools, after-school lessons and weekend classes for Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) students are all part of the activities, but at the educational facility hidden away in the small rural community, these are offered for free.

"The school is located in a poor community so the parents wouldn't be able to afford to pay for the classes so, along with my dedicated staff, I decided to still give them the extra tutoring they need," she said.

As if that were not enough, to assist people in receiving a solid education, the principal went an extra mile to improve literacy in the school.

Thirty students from grades one to four were chosen, based on an assessment done at the end of the last school term, to participate in a summer programme.

"When I came up with the idea of having the summer class, I thought long and hard as to how I could manage to offer the classes free to these students," said Norine. "Then I remembered these students who graduated as top students from the school, so I asked for their help."

Eager children

At the school, the level of interest was obvious among the children as they took time out to carefully pronounce the words, based on instructions from the volunteers.

Eight-year-old student Orville Taffe said he was elated to have the opportunity to improve his weak areas.

"I am happy that the principal put on the summer programme and I will be working hard to improve on my reading skills," he declared.

The committed school manager said she was willing to make sacrifices in order to meet the objectives of the school-improvement plan. The plan stipulates that at the end of 2010, all the students should be reading at or above their grade level.

The principal, who is also the president of the Adventist Youth Fellowship for central St Mary and the treasurer for the Robin's Bay Citizens' Association, said she would continue to contribute to the development of the community.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com

Hyacinth Norine (third right), principal of Robin's Bay Primary School in St Mary, conducts a free summer school for children at the school with the assistance of daughter Simone Norine (second left) and Santana Jumpp (right). - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer