Janelle Christie
Wednesday, June 22, marked a grand celebration for Ferncourt High School’s Class of 2017.
Their graduation ceremony was on that day held at the Beechamville Methodist Church in Claremont, St Ann. This marked another milestone as they graduated their second batch of grade 13 students, amidst what school Principal Lenworth Sterling calls a “very unusual year.”
Eleven upper six students and 119 grade eleven students were given the privilege of being a part of this year’s graduating batch. Of that 119, twenty five graduated with great honours (gold certificates), 35 with honours (silver certificate) and 59 with pass (bronze certificate). Students were placed in these categories based on the number of points they acquired over a two-year period through the school’s points system. Points are awarded for excellence in academics, punctuality, conduct, leadership, co-curricular and voluntary service. Those students having over 100 points were awarded gold certificates while silver certificates were given to those with 90-100 points and bronze to others having between 75 and 90 points.
Pastor of the Beechamville and Bensonton Circuit of Methodist Churches, Reverend Barrington Litchmore, called the ceremony to order just before the raising of the Jamaican Flag by a group of guides from the school.
The graduates were then received by Mr Sterling and acting board chairman, Reverend Christopher McCatty.
Pastor of the Walkerswood Circuit of Baptist Churches and Ferncourt’s examination supervisor, Reverend Gary Johnson led the devotion and shared a word of prayer, especially for the graduates.
Student Kelly-Ann Smith delivered the welcome, introduction and regrets.
Having successfully gone through the “very unusual year,” the graduation would not have been complete without reflecting on the achievements of the 2016-2017 academic year and this was done by the principal.
Members of the audience and graduands were touched by the salutatorians’ address done by Student Council president Daveen Scott and upper sixth former Taffeya Dunkley. Both girls expressed how they have learnt from “the trials and worked against the odds” and how they were empowered through different school programmes. They left food for thought for their fellow graduates. “We are leaders of tomorrow…as you march on, focus on your goals, press on… don’t be afraid to dream big, however, dreams without a goal are just dreams”.
A word of encouragement was also given by, former minister of youth and culture and member of parliament (MP) for South East St. Ann, Lisa Hanna. She urged each graduate to take advantage of the era in which they live and make use of what they have as time is moving faster than people can. She said “open the world to yourself, you have everything at your disposal, everything will evolve”.
Pastor of the St Ann’s Bay Circuit of Baptist Churches, Reverend Karen Kirlew was the guest speaker. Her message was well received by the graduating class who were able to quote her method of success, which includes being “diligent, dutiful and dynamic”.
The programme also included items from the class of 2017, the school choir and the grade eight dancers.
Several students received special awards for high academic achievement and community involvement. The awards are as listed:
Sixth Form awardees for CAPE unit one
Tyrone N Bell– Accounts, Caribbean Studies, Management of Business, and Information technology
Taffeya Dunkley– Communication Studies, Computer Science, Management of Business
Raneisha Hanniford– Chemistry, Physics, Pure Mathematics, Electrical and Electronics Technology
Tyrone N Bell– Best community service report
Grade eleven awardees
Mathematics – Danielle Tucker
English language– Kemian Henry
English Literature– Whitney McKoy
Spanish- Shadene Cameron
Biology– Kemian Henry
Physics- Kawanna Francis
Chemistry- Shadene Cameron
Social Studies– Jason Grindley
Geography– Nadjae Simms
History- Kemian Henry
Religious Education– Thorn Francis
Physical Education-Janice Hall
Agriculture Science– Samantha Anderson
Principles of Accounts– Kadia McLaren
Principles of Business– Kawanna Francis
Information Technology– Daniel Walker
Visual Arts– Theodore Golding
Building Technology– Romario Hanniford
Electrical Technology and Technical Drawing– Assani Whilby
Home Economics– Kemian Henry
Other award included the Principal’s Leadership Award and Best Community Service report. Daveen Scott and Keshaunna Watkis were the respective awardees.
Six parents who have had a great impact on the school throughout 2016 and 2017 were recognized during the service. Likewise, two persons were acknowledged for community service.
A Golden Torch Award from the Jamaica Teachers’ Association was given to former vice principal, Hirfa Grant-Arscott who also took part in the ceremony.
The class of 2017 thought that there were some persons who were deserving of being highlighted as outstanding members of staff. Seven members of staff were nominated and received a token of appreciation.
Graduate Kemar Harrison responded on behalf of the graduating class after which Reverend Dougald Alexander closed the ceremony with the blessing of the graduating class.
2017 Ferncourt grads are high achievers – principal
Principal of Ferncourt High, Claremont, Lenworth Sterling in his stewardship report on the academic year 2016-17 lauded the achievements of students. He was speaking at the school’s graduation ceremony, on Thursday, June 22.
“You the members of the Class of 2017 are a privileged group of students. You are special and I must bring the good news that in this group are a set of high achievers”.
Excellence in academics and co-curricular activities were highlighted. “Raneisha Hanniford was able to outperform her colleagues not just in Jamaica but in the entire Caribbean to be on the Merit List in electrical & electronics technology. At the CSEC level, Criston Jones was also on the Merit List in agricultural science. Five years ago Danielle Tucker was identified out of the Cohort of students leaving the Claremont All-All School as the Top GSAT mathematics student, received a trophy from me, came to Ferncourt and by Grade 9 she sat the CSEC mathematics, got a Range 1 with all ‘A’ profiles and today she will receive that Mathematics Trophy as the Top Mathematics Student in the grade 11 group. A few weeks before the January sittings of the CSEC, Daveen Scott, our student souncil president and Shadeen Cameron the first vice president, were instructed to lead by example and to sit mathematics and English ‘A’ in the examination.”
Mention was also made of non-academic achievements. “In music the school entered twelve pieces ‘Sold Out’ gained a silver, ‘Because of who you are’ got a silver, ‘All I could do was cry’ — silver, Peace in my soul- bronze, Me can’t sleep- silver, Sunshine Day- bronze, Mamma Love- bronze, I will stay with you –silver, Take me to the King –bronze, He knows my name –silver, and both drum solos won Gold and bronze medal respectively.
“In dance gold medals were received for the Creative Folk A and the Praise Dance Category. In speech you got three silver medals and six bronze medals. In the clubs and societies the Science and Environment Club was second in Jamaica in the Video Competition, the Geography Club was first in the island with The Institute of Jamaica Earth Day Award in the Annual Earth Day Literary Competition. The Tourism Action Club produced the Junior Tourism Minister in Thalia Morris and went on to the Caribbean Competition in Barbados. This year Hugeoleen White has passed through Round 1 of the same competition and will move on to the other round in early July.
“Sangee Orrett won the TAJ and COTA competition winning for herself and the school a number of prizes, and Doraine Clarke won the Earth Day Competition out of a field of 76 students. She was awarded an all paid summer scholarship to the Edna Manley College of the Performing Arts, $12,000 cash award, day passes to Hope Botanical Zoo, and Day Passes to Chukka Cove along with trophies and certificate.
“There were some highlights in the ISSA Boys and Girls Championship with Jerome Palmer, Kevon Reid, Roderick Willis and Jonte Ferguson from the Grade 11 Cohort and Taffeya Dunkley from Grade 13 representing this Class of 2017 with excellence. In cricket, Rickone Harris and Jordon Pengelley went through to the ISSA Awards Function and Rickone Harris was selected to train with the Jamaica under 15 Cricket Squad. Nakisha Barnett, Kahlia Hamilton and Kawana Francis were successful in the ICWI Essay Competition and received examination scholarships,” Mr Sterling said.
