Carlene McCalla-Francis, principal of Kensington Primary.
NESTLED IN Greater Portmore is one of the education sector's biggest secrets.
Kensington Primary, founded in 1996, is making a name in the 'Sunshine City' with a strong emphasis on discipline and helping children get the most out of their primary education. Most Portmore schools might have the same architectural design, but Kensington's principal Carlene McCalla-Francis is determined to be different in other areas.
"Our emphasis is on reading. Even when the children are at play, they should be reading. Teachers get here as early as 6:30 a.m. and they open their classes for students to start reading," she pointed out.
Break time is not for play; just for the children to refresh themselves and head back to class. The only play is done at lunch and physical education sessions.
The walls are not decorated with cartoon characters and the stereotypical idioms. Instead, they bear a tapestry of educational material, from diagrams of human organs like the heart and ear to detailed maps of the world.
FUTURE LOOKS PROMISING
Participating in the spelling bee since 2000, lessons start at grade one. The school competition is in May, with the winners (top boy and top girl) representing the school in the parish finals. Students from all grades compete and the future looks promising. In the last competition, a grade two student finished third overall! But despite all the promise, the school had never been successful in the St. Catherine spelling bee. Until now.
"Regina (Bish who holds the St. Catherine spelling bee title) was a little nervous before the parish final, but we just encouraged her and told her to give it her best shot," Mrs. McCalla-Francis recalled.
Part of what makes Kensington's plans different is that many of the teachers hired are recent graduates. The reasoning is that new teachers conform to the school's system better than those who enter with rigid (and sometimes incorrect) strategies and beliefs. Another innovative tactic is that the students make their class rules and heavily enforce them among themselves.
Mrs. McCalla-Francis feels that the participation of parents can improve student performance.
PARENT MUST BE INVOLVED
"Education is not just about school. The parent must be involved. When the parents show interest, you find that the students do better," she pointed out.
With a list of clubs and societies including the Boy Scouts, Speech Choir and others, there are plenty of activities to aid the development of all 1,153 students.
But the ultimate goal is constant.
"I want every child leaving here to be literate and numerate, reading at or just above their level," says the principal.
One example of how the school environment has inspired its pupils is Regina, the pupil who put the school in the public eye.
She repeated grade six because she wanted another chance to compete in spelling. Now she even helps weaker students in her class. The lower-school teachers have even asked her to tutor the upcoming spellers. That might ensure more trophies for Kensington.
