BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONCE again students of the George Moody Stuart School (GMSS), popularly known as ‘Factory School’, has made their teachers and parents proud with their recent win of the Primary Schools History and Heritage Quiz.
SKNVibes spoke exclusively with the winning students, Daria James and Jonathon O’loughlin.
Apart from the students being exceptional in academics, it was revealed that they are both 11 years old, cousins, in Grade Six and reside at Frigate Bay.
However, while this was O’Loughlin’s first competition, James had experience in representing her school in past competitions.
While in Grade Four, she first competed in the Courts Reading Competition and, although she did not place, James declared that she had gained invaluable experience and confidence.
James said that last year she had placed first in the Haliborange Spelling Bee Competition, second in a poetry competition and now winner of the Quiz.
She said she has mixed emotions about her recent win for the school, but knew from the beginning that they were going to be victorious.
“Jonathon was working very hard and I was confident because I was accustomed to competing,” she said.
O’Loughlin said that he felt very good about winning, especially in making his family members and school proud, while stating that all of his family members offered him congratulatory words.
The students said they were quizzed on Geography and Caribbean Affairs and won their individual categories, noting that they had only answered one question wrong in the final round in which they had to discuss the answer with each other.
In terms of preparation, the students said they researched a number of monuments in St. Kitts and Nevis and also logged on to various websites for information.
Their teacher, Jillian Musgrave-Archibald, said that James and O’Loughlin were chosen because they had the highest results upon leaving their last Grade.
Musgrave-Archibald said she also gave them some information to study and had quizzed them on a weekly basis to see how they were progressing.
O’Loughlin said that his way of practicing was by utilising his spare time in school along with finding a quiet place, such as his room, and practice with both of his parents.
James said she also liked to be in a quiet environment and would go to Rituals and order a beef patty and Mocha-chiller and practice with her mother.
They have already planned their future aspirations.
O’Loughlin said he would like to become an Electrical Engineer while James said she would like to become a Sports Journalist because she loves sports, specifically basketball, and her favorite team is the LA Lakers.
O’Loughlin said he also likes sports and enjoys cricket, football, reading Anancy stories and playing video games, while James said she enjoys spending time with family, playing games and reading Nancy Drew stories.
Were they given the opportunity to advise students entering competitions, O’Loughlin said he would encourage them to practice and work hard.
“Never give up and always have confidence in yourself and know you can do it. Confidence is the key,” she said.
Musgrave-Archibald said that since the school year began last September, the learning institution has been doing very well in competitions.
“The school has won the Reading Competition, Spelling Bee, we placed second in the Drama Festival and now we’ve won the this Quiz. We try very hard at this school.
“We don’t have the best school, but we have dedicated teachers and we try to push the students as much as possible.”
The Grade Six teacher said that the school is not the fanciest but they have some very good teachers who work very hard at their mandates.
“I think our school has benefitted a lot from some teachers from the government system. We have nine teachers on staff and, of the nine teachers, five of them are retired. And we have university-trained teachers as well as college-trained.
“If you’re trained at the College here, you are certified by the University of the West Indies. So we have five teachers in that category and the other four been working here for quite some time and posses a wealth of experience,” she explained.
The Quiz was held at the Anglican Church Hall (The Old Girls School) on Thursday, February 28 and the Semi-finalist teams were Bronte Welsh, Cayon, Estridge, George Moody Stuart and the Seventh Day Adventist Primary Schools.
