I am curious to learn how they are doing. By now some of them are in 9th grade. My recollection is they don't automatically get a scholarship each year but I could be wrong. Could we get an update on their progress?

I would like to know too.

Our scholarship students are doing wonderfully, and we are exceedingly proud of them.

In the past three years, we have provided scholarships to 17 talented, enthusiastic students as they graduated from Sandy Bank Primary School. These students have been attending Black River High, Hampton School, Manchester High, Munro College, and STETHS (St. Elizabeth Technical High School).

Scholarships are awarded for one full school year, starting in September and going though July. They cover school fees, transportation, uniforms and shoes, books and school supplies, lunches, and several other expenses. They also covered tuition; however, tuition has finally been waived by the government. (This represented roughly 10% of a student’s estimated expenses for the year.)

To receive another scholarship for the following year, the student must demonstrate continuing good character; must tutor another student on an ongoing basis; must send progress reports to our Board of Directors; and must maintain superior grades. We allow first-year students to achieve a grade-point average that is somewhat lower than those in grade eight and above, as we realize it is a tremendous adjustment to move from primary school to high school.

Of our 17 scholarship recipients, 13 of them have managed to do all that’s necessary to continue to receive scholarships. Several are now in their third year of progressing though high school on continuing scholarships. If a student has not achieved the necessary grades to receive a scholarship for the following year, they are encouraged to re-apply after they raise their grade point averages for a full year—and we will most definitely consider reinstating their scholarship.

As a member of Treasure Beach Foundation board, I am very proud of the students who have earned scholarships. The process to qualify for a scholarship is stringent and to be awarded one is a high honor. We know these students are going to do very well this year and look forward to hearing from them and their teachers.

Thanks for organising this TB Foundation Board.

My concern is for those that were not awarded scholarships. All cannot be funded by the existing TBF fund, just please don't let some be forgotten.

All of the children need support, if scholarships can't stretch, give them encouragement and kindness and those things $ can't buy.

Best wishes.

The scholarships, unfortunately, cannot stretch to assist each deserving student. However, we are doing our best. That is the main reason we have chosen to help all the students and teachers at Sandy Bank with the bookshelves, books, assistant teacher, and heavy-duty copier.

The level of accomplishment at Sandy Bank Primary has come way up in the last several years under the supervision of Mrs. Norma Moxam (just retired as principal), as well as all the dedicated teachers. The staff at Sandy Bank is exemplary; one indication of how much they care was them choosing to give up their spring vacation to be in special teaching classes. As an FYI, this was offered to the staff at other area schools, but they would not give up their vacation time.

We also bring in enthusiastic students from the University of Virginia each spring to work at Sandy Bank, providing a lot of one-on-one attention to the students.

I sincerely hope the students' parents or guardians will volunteer more of their time at the school, participate in the PTA, and do other things to encourage these wonderful children.

I mean all of us, not just our worthy TB Foundation.

Without going into private details - meaning who got what grades - is it possible to say anything or give us any information about any of the scholarship recipients?

I would also like to know more about what's happening with the kids. Do they send any letters that could be posted or could a portion of a letter be posted?

The students -- and ocassionally their parents or guardians -- do send letters on a regular basis. We also get copies of their report cards. Depending upon the particular high school, these reports are issued either twice or three times during the school year.

Without disclosing any confidential data, I will do my best to post some grade reports and snippets from these letters. I truly think these would be of interst to may of our readers, even if the information was not attached to a particular student's name.

I am delighted to report Treasure Beach Foundation's scholarship students are doing incredibly well in high school. Their grade point average (all students combined) at the end of the 2007/08 school year was 81.29. More than half of them had grades sufficiently high enough to place them on the Honor Roll. In addition, two of them received Silver Medals and another two received Gold Medals for their scholastic achievements.

The entire community should be exceedingly proud of these students. What they are achieving takes an ongoing commitment to excellence.

Excellent results!! I am very proud of these fine young people. Keep up the good work.

I too am exceedingly proud of these marvelous students. I know they may not have had this opportunity without Treasure Beach Foundation, but they are succeeding on their own. That takes a huge commitment, and I find that heartwarming.