Coach Everton NelsonAS SEPTEMBER nears and our minds turn to matters of education, it is worthy of note that there are several new schools appearing and others which are less than 10 years old but already making their mark.
The experiment with education is a never-ending one, and every now and again, some of the new concepts succeed, adding to the educational landscape another institution of note.
One of those successful concepts appears to be Kingdom Academy, a Kindergarten and Preparatory School located in Moneague, St. Ann. Anther is Quest Preparatory in Kingston which in May, walked away with Kentucky Quiz competition prize. Yet another is Gateway Preparatory on Arnold Road in Kingston which opened its doors to students this summer.
Quest declared seven years ago when it opened, that its focus would be on "Academic spiritual and moral excellence". Today, Everton Nelson, coach of the successful quiz team says, "We are pretty young, but we are doing well in comparison to other prep schools which are much older."
In academics, the school claims 90 averages in GSAT, with 95 per cent of students at this level passing for their school of first choice. This year, students there received Blue Cross and VMBS scholarships.
Quest also excels in sports, Nelson says. "We are the winner for our zone in the football competition. In track and field, we were placed ninth out of 54 school at the inter-prep track. The champion boy overall is from Quest."
In swimming the school is also making its name with Nicholene Bryan in synchronised events. In netball the school has also made a name for itself. In the recent Kentucky inter-prep quiz competition, members of the team are Everton Nelson (coach), Roxanne French (captain), Tabia Hawkins, Gabrielle Watson, Yanique Dawson and Jermaine Johnson. According to Mr. Nelson, to obtain the KFC Quiz's prestigious award, they had to beat Hopefield Preparatory in the finals. Quest triumphed over their opponents once more with a 41 to 31 score.
Kingdom Academy
Kingdom Academy, located in Gierfield Moneague, and also a boarding facility, features a programme which emphasises Christian education for kindergarteners up to those who do GSAT. Kingdom academy is unique for its leadership training and has a track record of increasing confidence in children.
In academics, the ABECA programme developed by the Pensacola Christian college is used for kindergarteners at this prep school. All students do music, and computer and Spanish are mandatory. The older students follow the Government integrated programme which gears students for GSAT.
For children aged three to five, the programme represents a transition from nursery and school preparation. According to the principal, Georgia Benaiah "They are being sensitised to functioning in school system." Aspects of the programme include relating to other children, communication and there are community and home orientation.
"There is also home corner, the shop corner, kitchen corner health corner. We are establishing for them basic reference points in their lives. Social awareness is emphasised. In the academics, basic skills developed include the ability to listen."
The Christian emphasis is never left out. Scripture reading and story telling time are fun time at Kingdom Academy.
Another unique feature of this school is training in leadership. Leadership and lifestyle preparation, a subject taught at the school, facilitates the development of the whole person, clarifying for themselves their ethnicity and identity.
It also looks at gender issues, family and relationship issues as well as values.
A school for
special children
Gateway Academy, located on Arnold Road in Kingston (the former location of Liberty Prep which is now located at Priory) was created by Joan Spencer-Rowe and Doreen Faulkner.
Spencer-Rowe is from the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities and Dr. Doreen Faulkner is a former chief education officer.
According to Spencer-Rowe, who is currently with the Caribbean Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training at the UWI, "My association with the learning centre (children with disabilities) and Doreen's association with entire system, permitted us to realise that there are a number of children not able to find places in traditional school systems.
"The Learning Centre in Kingston took them for two years only and, at the Mico Care Centre of Assessment the intervention programme was limited.
"Parents have been advised to get them into the mainstream, but they have a hard time searching for places. Among the local prep schools, only a few will include the disabled child in their programme," Ms. Spencer Rowe noted.
Gateway Academy was therefore started with these issues in mind. It will also provide a grade seven to nine placement for children who have not done well at GSAT and who need specialised attention.
Gateway will also cater to the gifted and the talented who need special attention to maximise their potentials.
According to Spencer-Rowe, Gateway will also include regular students.
"We want Jamaicans to understand that an inclusive education doesn't mean that your child with normal needs will suffer from being around a child with special needs," she said.
Gateway will also be experimenting with the fibre classroom, using computers to provide an individualised approach to teaching and learning. Teachers will be facilitators as opposed to chalk and talkers, Spencer-Rowe said.
She also notes that the school will be keeping the class sizes down. On the matter of cost, she said, "Some parents already paying higher fees than we are about to charge. We are also thinking of seeking sponsorship for some and a scholarship system for others."
Avia Ustanny
