Marlie Mount Primary finally off shift system

This was made possible by the school’s parent-teacher association as the body galvanized support from corporate Old Harbour.

Classrooms on the newest block built in 2020 were retrofitted just before the start of the new school year to accommodate all students on the single shift programme for the first time since 2001.

“We have at least six streams for each grade,” said Principal Calvin Harris. “Our grade one took a little bit more because what happen we have parted the classrooms and the classroom size is smaller, so we have to split some of the classes, so have no more than about 27, 28 students in one class, particularly at the lower school. The upper school is a little bit more.”

“We concentrate grades one, two and three on the new block that has been parted by the stakeholders involve in the process,” he added.

Having reverted to straight day school will now begin at 7:30 and ends at two o’clock in the afternoon, Harris told Old Harbour News “which gives us more than the five hours of contact time along with about an hour and a half for the other engagements for the students”.

Based on studies done by the Ministry of Education this is a very important step forward and is in keeping with international best practices. 

Making the point of the many benefits of operating on a single shift, Harris said: “Now we are able to expand our enrichment activities. So far we are thinking what we will engage our students with after school. Our after school programme will involve swimming, will also include karate, will include gymnastics and a few others that will be coming on board.

“So we see our dream is being realized where we can be holistic in our approach to teaching and learning.”

Evidence of this was further highlighted during a six-year pilot programme in which a select batch of students operated on straight days. Notwithstanding the advent of covid-19, that particular batch performed better on average compared to the other groups on the shift system, Harris noted.

“We are sure and positive that we are going to see improved performance. And what we have done now is that we are now able to concentrate on subject-based teaching,” said Harris. “Teachers can concentrate on particular subjects, starting with grade four to six. So the children are more exposed to the teachers who are more adept in particular subject areas.”

Meanwhile, President of the Marlie Mount Parent-Teacher Association, Treacha Reid commended stakeholders “for responding positively at such short notice”.

“But we all share a common vision for this institution, hence we were able to achieve the desired outcome we all shared,” Reid said at Monday’s official opening of the school year during devotion.

After she acknowledged each sponsor publicly, Reid stated: “It wasn’t easy getting the school ready for the new school year so I’m going to be making an appeal starting with the teachers, parents, students to take care of the classrooms, please. A good teaching-learning environment is dependent on all of us not just the Ministry of Education alone.”

Approximately 1240 students are enrolled at the primary level with just over 150 registered at the infant department.