The Sandy Bank Primary School family wishes to show much gratitude to Mr.Colin James, a past student of this institution for providing hardware, including switches, time and patience in implementing a local area network and connectivity to the internet, accessing the GO GSAT server to improve students' performance in the GSAT examination.
The Treasure Beach Foundation,spear-headed by Mrs.Karen Kennedy loaned two lap tops for this great venture and also the payment of fees for students to access the server.
This venture provides us with much needed tools for our institution and we are indeed grateful for such generous contributions.

This is wonderful news to hear. Thanks to Mr. James and Mrs. Kennedy for making this happen.

What is the GO GSAT server?

GO- GSAT is a GSAT Test-prep website that parents/schools can sign up for to give their students an opportunity to prepare for the test.

It was created by a bright group of young Caribbean entrepeneurs who sought to fill a void in the online opportunity to prepare students for the test.

It offers timed tests, with results tracking and even tutoring assistance.

I signed up my daughter Anath with Go-Gsat when she was in Grade 5, I feel like it may have helped her in doing so well on GSAT. There are many testimonials from other parents and students who have utilized this resource and had great results.

Thanks to the Treasure Beach Foundation and Mr.James for making this happen! When I went to see Ms.Zane yesterday it was a wonderful surprise to see students absorbed in their work online at the school. I think we will see a dramatic increase in GSAT scores overall this year with this assistance.

What am I missing here? Didn't the school already have a local area network and internet connectivity? What about the computer room that was constructed for them?

Sandy Bank Primary School does have a computer lab. Over the years, many people and organizations have donated computer equipment for this lab, but it has fallen into disrepair. There is no Internet connectivity in the lab; I’m not sure there ever was.

So, the teachers at Sandy Bank gave up their small lounge for the purpose of a real computer center, complete with Internet connectivity. Colin James spent a good deal of time setting this up, complete with a local area network that will accommodate up to 16 computers.

This new computer center is being used as a learning center, featuring the GoGSAT online program.

As most readers of this Forum know, all students planning to go on to high school in Jamaica must take the GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test). This is a very rigorous two-day series of exams. The results of the GSATs determine to which high school a student is accepted. Those with the highest scores are accepted into the more competitive high schools—and so forth.

Students from Treasure Beach compete with students from across the entire country of Jamaica, many of whom come from environments in which it is not uncommon for each student to have his own computer at home. Many primary schools have online computer labs, including schools such as Black River Primary. GoGSAT is the program that is most commonly used. It has been proven to raise students’ scores measurably. Until now, the students from Treasure Beach have been at an unfair advantage competing against all the students who have had regular access to GoGSAT.

We are proud to have implemented this program at Sandy Bank. And we are thankful that Colin James used so much of his time and materials to ascertain we had a center with Internet connectivity.

There is a real need for additional laptops for this center. They must be in excellent condition and have anti-virus software. If you are willing to donate one, you will know you are helping provide opportunities for these wonderful students. (Right now they are all sharing two laptops—and are using them on shifts.) If you have a laptop to donate, or if you are willing to donate money toward buying a laptop, please get in touch with me. Yes, U.S. residents may take a tax deduction for donating laptops.

What happens to the GO GSAT program after the exams are given? They will be held soon. Then what?

I had no idea our students were competing against others who had this tool at their disposal. Excellent to learn the students in Treasure Beach finally have this program.

In response to GOGSAT Question above.
Gsat exams are held in March each year.When the current batch of students have done their exams, the Grade 5 students who will be doing the exams next year can start getting busy with the software.As a matter of fact, the test material covers Grades 4-6 curriculum.Happy practising and I am looking forward to the results.

There will always be students sitting for GSATs. (They are given toward the end of March each year.) After the grade six students who are sitting for the tests coming up in March take them, the GoGSAT program will then be used with those who are sitting for the GSATs next March.

If Miss Zane and her staff decide the GoGSAT program is assisting the Sandy Bank students, Treasure Beach Foundation will gladly pay for another set of school licenses for Sandy Bank for the 2010-2011 school year.

Great job Colin. Although I completed Primary Sch up the hill so many years ago, Sandy Bank holds special memories. I join Miss Zane in commending you for your work.

Thanks Oldie.


I have recently confirmed with Carol Ebanks-Wright that she will be donating two new Laptops to the Sandy Bank Primary School.

Carol is the CEO of Home Care Professionals in Florida, who is also a past student of Sandy Bank Primary School.

Much Appreciated Carol.

This is an excellent thing to have implemented at the school. Congradulations to all involved.

It is so nice when someone gives back to the community. Thank you Mr. James.

Thank you Mr. James and Karen for your hard work to make this happen. And you got it all together in time to help this year's group of students before the exam is taken! The UVa students should also be able to use the tool to do an even better job of coaching as well. Good job and great timing!

Here are photos of students using the new computer lab at Sandy Bank.

Using the GoGSAT program


Learning how to do better on their upcoming GSATs


Thanks to Nickell Hill for taking these.

We need to do all we can to have our children compete fairly against everyone else sitting for the tests. It is a shame we did not have this before but it is a blessing we have this now. Thank you to Mr. James and Mrs. Kennedy for making this happen.

It is heartwarming to see this story and pictures on these pages. No controversy. No complaining. Merely another example of unselfish work done for Treasure Beach residents by a good NGO working on behalf of the community.

Not saying they are not important issues but I am so tired of hearing about the wall and the environmental problems and all the other problems in TB, I am glad to hear about things that are 100% positive. Keep up the good work Treasure Beach Foundation.

Stephanie, it sounds like you signed up your daughter to have Go-Gsat in your home. I am wondering how this was done because I know a few students who could benefit from having this at home in addition to school. I am wondering how I might help pay for this. Do you know if it is less expensive if it is somehow tied into what they are doing at Sandy Bank?

I love this. Thanks to everybody who made this happen.

Gogsat.com has the instructions for signing up for individual accounts.

GoGSAT.com grades 4, 5 and 6: 1 month: $3,353, 3 months: $7,650, 6 months: $9,369, 9 months: $11,088, 1 year $12,807.
Intensive Literacy Course: $8,415 per year.
GoGSAT Mobile: $300 monthly.
Personalized Virtual Classroom tutorials: $10,000 monthly.
Personalized Tutorials at the GoGSAT eLearn centre: $10,000 monthly.
GoGSAT eLearn centre programmes: $2,000 monthly


I just copied the current rates-

from the site for you.

They offer something for schools which must be what Sandy Bank Primary is doing, however I don't think you can get a discount in conjunction with the school for an individual subscription. It does indicate children can pay the principal for subscriptions if they attend a partner school, which Sandy Bank may be one, I am not sure.

I am very pleased to learn that Sandy Bank now has access to this tool. I visited Treasure Beach several times with the UVA group of student volunteers, and often struggled to find creative and effective ways to prepare students for such an important standardized test. I hope to donate my college laptop computer to the Treasure Beach Foundation (if it passes the "excellent condition" test), and hope that many others out there will choose to do the same.

When are the GSATs given? When do the results come out?

Students sit for them the end of next week - Thursday and Friday. Not sure when the results come out.

They sit for the exams on 18 & 19 March.

The results are due out in mid-June. The tentative date is June 18, but that is subject to change.

Keep up the good work Mrs. Kennedy and your team! Thanks for all the contribution that you have made to our beloved community. The youths will surely make a difference to our society, I have seen the evidence already by them achieving high grades. The parents must feel proud too. I have no doubt that you are doing a lot of work behind the scenes. It definitely has not gone unnoticed.

Please note that the exams were pushed back for one week in March, this year. Therefore, remember the kids as they shine on March 25 & 26, 2010.The results are promised for the same time in June, before the Summer Term ends.

Thanks for the clarification, Jerry. This is great news because it will give the students an extra week of practice on GoGSAT. Miss Zane tells me the students are so excited about the program they are doing their best to find computers with Internet access to be able to practice in the evenings and on the weekends.

Stephanie gave the prices for the different programs and said
They offer something for schools which must be what Sandy Bank Primary is doing, however I don't think you can get a discount in conjunction with the school for an individual subscription. It does indicate children can pay the principal for subscriptions if they attend a partner school, which Sandy Bank may be one, I am not sure.

I am wondering if anyone knows if there are ANY possible discounts. Miss Kennedy, is this something you could check for us.

A discount program for GoGSAT is in the works. 99% of the details have been arranged and I am waiting for one last piece of the puzzle to fall into place. I'll be announcing something on the Forum fairly soon.

Looking forward to the numbers.

I was told the students sitting for the GSATS take exams in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts and composition. Are ALL those subjects covered with the GoGSAT program? When they take the exams do all five areas count equally? Sorry to keep asking all these questions.

Maths, Language and Social Studies comprise 80 questions each: Science comprise 60 questions.Scores are given as a percentage.
Communication Task ( could include areas such as letter writing, composition, completion of forms) is marked out of 12.

Jerry, you know lots and lots about the schools and your answers here are very informative. Are you connected with a school? Are you willing to say who you are? Even if you don't wish to reveal your identity I thank you for sharing your knowledge.

I am a proud past student of the Sandy Bank Primary School and a son of Treasure Beach based in Kingston. Mother, brother, sisters and many other relatives are still in TB.I am a parent who is very involved in my sons' schools and I have a passion for the classroom and education in general. Unfortunately, I am in a different field.That should be more than enough clues to my identity, and you already know my first name.

Ah ha!! Thanx.

Still waiting for the numbers. Miss Kennedy, I trust you will be able to work out some affordable costing.

Starting in September Treasure Beach Foundation will be paying for several different GoGSAT interactive online learning programs at Sandy Bank Primary School.

These will be:
• Grade 6 GoGSAT program, and the
• Grade 5 GoGSAT program, and the
• Grade 4 Literacy Test (GFLT).

These will be free-of-charge to any students using them at Sandy Bank, and these programs will be available for the full school year.

As promised, here are the special reduced prices for GoGSAT pricing if any family wants to purchase a license for their home. The regular cost for a school year license (September through June) is JA$11,088. We have negotiated a price of only JA$4,500 (about $52 U.S.) for them. This is 41% of the regular price—a savings of more than half. Miss Zane will be collecting this money at the beginning of the school year. It will need to be paid all at one time—not in installments.

Good job. Thanks to you Miss Kennedy.

Very happy to see the program at Sandy Bank is expanding to grades 4 and 5. Excellent discounts for those who want to install this program at home. Kudos to Treasure Beach Foundation.

Great work being done for great kids. I know they will take advantage of these programs in school even if they are not fortunate enough to be able to obtain them for home use.

Well done Miss Karen, as always!