Jahdane McFarlane the only Old Harbour Primary student going to St George’s College

But his performance in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) – an entry-level national exam into high schools – left her in total disbelief, in a good way that is.

Wheatle’s son Jahdane McFarlane recorded a placement score of 318.7 from a maximum of 350 or 91% to secure a berth at the famed all-boys institution St George’s College.

The prodigious sprinter and footballer is also the only student from his now alma mater, Old Harbour Primary, to matriculate to the ‘Light Blues’ of North Street in Kingston.

“It’s like I went numb for a while and then mi just start scream. I was so elated. I read it (the message) about three different times over to make sure I was reading the right words,” Wheatle said laughing as she recalled her reaction on the day the results came out.

It was also a special moment for Wheatle. In her moment of celebration, flashes of her struggle when she became pregnant with her first child at the age of 17 came to the fore. It made her cry. 

“That’s why I cried to know how far we are coming from… I called him, because I wasn’t with him at the time I got the results, and I said to him ‘Jahdane a far wi a come from, it’s been a journey and the journey is only just going to start, but for this leg I am so proud of you’,” said the Spring Village native and New Harbour Village IV resident.

The mother of three boys, said she’s expecting great things from her first born who is “a well behaved child”.

In the future Jahdane hopes to start his own business or become a professional athlete. His mother isn’t too perturbed about his career choices either, as her main goal is to ensure he stays on the right track.

“So what I try to do is to steer him in the right path. Try to let him know that if he’s on the right path then he should continue on that path and I will support him to the very end,” Wheatle said.

Jahdane attributes his success to the “blessing of God” but admits he will miss his primary school teachers the most as he looks towards starting high school.

But with such a bright future ahead of him, all Jahdane wants to do “is to make my mommy proud”.

To the disappointment of Kingston College and St Jago fans, Jahdane original desire was to attend either schools, but he’s at a good place nonetheless and is expected to do well on and off the field.