Wayne Boothe (left) and children Danielle (second left), Brandon (second right) and Chrishani strike a pose for the camera. Wayne and his wife Denise have found a strategy to help their children succeed. The Boothes also have a five-year-old. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Freelance Photographer

Eureka! It seems the Boothes have found the secret formula to drive their children's success.

It is something they have worked hard at for years, and now it finally seems everything is falling into place. Everybody seems to be doing just great in school and parents Wayne and Denise are happy.

The oldest of their four children, 17-year-old Danielle, recently received the results of her Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and her grades were not just good, but excellent.

Danielle sat seven subjects, including chemistry, physics and biology, and received seven distinctions. Add that to the English A which she sat and passed a year ago, and now Danielle has eight subjects, all with ones, taking her one step closer to achieving her dream (and her parents' as well) of becoming a medical doctor.

Fellowship

"Every Sunday morning is fellowship. Fellowship is just about anything that affects you over the course of the week. It's an open forum, so if you have something against your mother 'Say it now'," explained her dad. "At that forum, you will not be chastised, we just talk to them, hear their grouse, and we talk about schoolwork at the same time too."

However, it's not all study for the children, though. The Boothes take the time to ensure their children are well rounded. Each one has to be involved in extra-curricular activities at school, church and in the community, and they have to make time too for fun.

Danielle herself was able to get all eight subjects while playing hockey, doing community service and being involved in a number of clubs and societies at the Immaculate Conception High School.

"You try and occupy each and every moment of their time so as not to get them on the bad side where peer pressure says 'Let us try drugs, guns, let us try this'," Wayne told The Gleaner.

"You try to be an integral part of their life all of the time. If they are going to a party, you know which party they are going to," he added, saying he took his teenagers himself to the usually highly anticipated Appleton Temptation Isle held in Negril, Westmoreland, annually.

Working well

The Boothes' strategy is also working well for their two sons: 16-year-old son, Chrishani, who is attending Calabar, and 12-year-old Brandon, who was successful at his Grade Six Achievement Test. Brandon will be attending Jamaica College this school year, while Chrishani will be entering fifth form, with three CSEC subjects - with distinctions and credits - and two units of CAPE already behind his name.

"For any child to succeed, the parent is going to have to play an integral part in helping you to choose the career path. Too often, children get nine ones and then the nine ones take you nowhere," Wayne advised.

If your child attained excellent results in this year's CSEC, email editors@gleanerjm.com.