Marlie Mount top boy and girl secure seats at prestigious Campion College

The 11- year-old and his family were thrilled that he not only earned a spot at the prestigious institution but was also named the top male performer at Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School following the announcement of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) national exam.

Indeed, his countless hours of hitting the books have been rewarded with him scoring in the 94 percentile overall. PEP, he said, was not that hard, though he did not take the rigours of the rounds for granted.

“I was excited and happy with myself and really happy to be going to Campion,” he tells Old Harbour News.

The future entrepreneur shared he’s relieved that this phase of his education is behind and now with the lazy days of summer stretching ahead, he can once again indulge in his hobbies of playing football with his friends and playing on his device.

Expectations were high for mom Angella Palmer but she tried to temper them and not let unnecessary stress get to her child. When the results were finally revealed it was such a relief for the family that they still have not come down from that euphoric high.

“I was elated, I was screaming for joy. I expected him to do well but when I heard he passed for Campion, I was thrilled as it really is the icing on the cake,” said the proud mom.

Kevaughni, she stated, is not necessarily a child with a set study pattern as he naturally grasps things the first time learning about them.

“I really see him in the science field but according to him he wants to be an animator,” Palmer added.

The tax administrator who hails from New Harbour Village said that balancing work and helping her child was at times a challenge though he took extra lessons during the week. But come weekends, she was right there in the academic trenches, allowing him to comprehend the intricacies of the various subjects. 

For Stacy Ann Evans, her daughter Michaela is really a diamond, as pressure has moulded her into a true gem. Michaela, she said, is able to work, think and cognitively process things on a different level. Therefore it was never difficult to get her to buckle down and study.

“I tried to prepare myself for the worst but I was still hopeful when I saw how dedicated she was. I was excited as it was always a dream of hers to go to Campion as that is the school that her older sister attends,” Evans said.

Scoring 393.7 overall, she heads off to the school that aligns perfectly well with mommy’s wish for her child to be academically scaffolded.

“I want her to be the best at whatever it is she wants to be. I want her to be better than I am so I want her educationally to achieve great things,” stated Evans.

Striking that balance between school and social life has never been a challenge for Michaela as short-term gratification never held sway over long term goals, Evans informed Old Harbour News.

“She is the one that does her school work first,” she said. “I remember one day she really wanted to go to the park but she knew she had to study and she chose to stay in and study as she knew that the park was not going anywhere. She has always made sound, wise choices without being forced or being prompted.”

Michaela, who turns 12 in a few weeks, is a good basketball player with a knack for mathematics. While she admits that PEP was no cakewalk, remaining calm and collected was the name of the game if she wanted all the extra lessons and weekend classes to pay off.

“I don’t really keep track of the hours I study but I knew I worked really hard so I am very relieved to be going to Campion. It was worth it to have all my friends rejoice and family praise me that my hard work came to fruition,” she told Old Harbour News.

The future chemist also shared that knowing that she is walking in the footsteps of her older sister was a big inspiration for her as sister Alyssa is actually her role model. 

“I don’t have to ask her to help me, she is just automatically always there,” Michaela said of her older sibling. “She knows when I am in need and will go the extra mile without complaining and give without any expectation.”