How is the school doing these days, academically?
I was pleased to see that the past students are active, planning to organise a reunion and fund raising activities. That's good.
It would also be good to track how the school is improving, academically, and get an idea what kind of help is needed to improve the situation.
Following from abroad, I am getting the impression that Black River High, in particular, as well as B.B Coke (the former Junction Secondary) are steadily improving.
It would be good to know whether Newell is making similar progress.

Newell High School Students are improving academically. As you may not know is that Newell doesnt get the students with the high scores in the GSAT exams so you must realize the level of students that they get.

However, last year the top student got 6 CXCs and quite a number got 5 and below. So I would say that they are doing a good job.

The school is currently in need of books for the library, a sick bay, paint, sports gears and the list goes on. The benefits from the reunion will assist some of these projects as well as the establishment of a website. This website will be interactive so past students will be able to link up each other across the world.

The school has many past students who are making contributions to the different countries they are in. They have succeeded academically, in their jobs and in business enterprises.

So the school do need every help they can get. The past students association will be willing to accept your contributions towards making these projects a success.

I am pro Newell as I have benefitted from it. I am proud of the school despite what others may say or think bad about it. I will forever cherish the great memories I have had there.

The class of 2000 have the best result in c.x.c in the school history no other year group have come even close to we have done. however im glad that they have finally finish the computer room as they didnt give our year group the chance to learn to use the computers as it was after we left the finish it.

Good to know things are improving at the school, Pro-Newell. I agree with you that the school should be supported, not only by the past students, but by the entire community.

Thursday, June 28, 2007 Newell High School will have its annual Graduation ceremony. It will be good to see what will become of these graduates.
The school got some students from the recent GSAT and you would be surprised to know that the majority of the students average is below 30%. What do you expect to become of these students? When we speak of equity in the schools it is highly impossible to give a school those level students with little or no resources to work with and expect them to perform like Munro or Hampton.

Where can you go with 30% average? Is it a lack of teaching skills???? I think our education system needs an overhaul. Anything/anyone given attention will always thrive. I someone from the Ministry needs to take a serious look at Newell School.

Too many of those students end up with such awful averages not because they are stupid but because they do not attend school on a regular basis. This is because their parents do not understand the importance of a good education. Do not blame the teachers but blame the parents. I think someone from the Ministry needs to take a look at the families who do not seem to care enough about their children. Newell does what they can with their students, but how can you teach a teenager who cannot even read?

I could really write a whole page on this article but I will sum it up in a few words instead.The entire thing is all based on an unfair system of placing students at the different High Schools in Jamaica. From the very beginning we all know that 'the cream of the crop' was always placed at the traditional high schools,then the rest were distributed to the different Technical and original Secondary Schools . Just like the donkey said,"This yah wul nuh level".

In my opinion,it is an unfair act which cannot be blamed on poor teaching skills.It needs what is called 'team work', and all parties involved should do their part to make sure that no child is left behind.We need the efforts of the teachers,the parents ,the child and the community to make sure our future generation succeeds.

On this note I would like to say a BIG thank you to Karen and her partners who are providing such a great incentive for the kids who have been working so hard to succeed.That's an excellent way of motivating the kids in the community to work hard and become successful.

As someone who has taught school in one of the worst areas of Washington, D.C. and who has been involved with the Treasure Beach community for more than 20 years, I believe I can add some interesting (and hopefully useful) observations to the vitally important topic of educating the young people.

Being preoccupied, I will do so in a day or two. Right now, we have guests from Treasure Beach visiting us -- and we are expecting approximately 50 people in several hours for a party to welcome them to the U.S.

Meanwhile, I urge the people who read TB.net to keep adding your comments. It is essential that people with varying opinions and experiences express their feelings about educating our youth.

I also wish to express thanks to all who have thanked Treasure Beach Foundation for the scholarship awards. Assisting all these students would not be possible without the help of so many who read TB.net on a regular basis. You are providing the funding, and we are doing our utmost to administer a successful program. Thank you for caring. Thank you for being so generous!

How does the Ministry of Education decide who goes to which high schools? How do the GSAT scores from Treasure Beach measure up against the GSAT scores from other parts of Jamaica? Do some high schools the Treasure Beach students attend have better teachers than others?

Sandy B., I believe that another post in the past week or so addressed your questions. If you use the Search link in the upper left corner, you should be able to locate it.

Good luck.

California- to address how can you teach a Teenager who cannot read- to get to that level and cannot read is pretty bad- lets look at our Primary school teachers! How about the parents who cares but cannot afford to send the children to school.

California--
As someone who has worked as a literacy instructor for adults for almost 20 years, I have to say that it is absolutely possible to teach people -- at *any* age -- how to read. I have worked with students as old as 80. Please don't write off teens who don't yet read. They can definitely be taught, and they are still quite young, which often makes the learning easier for them. In addition, students who haven't had the opportunity to go to school often learn quite quickly because they have a hunger for it. I have seen that happen many times with adults in literacy programs.

Also, don't forget, there is more to 'learning' than reading. I have taught history, math and science to adults who were only just beginning to learn to read. A person's level of literacy almost never has anything to do with their level of intelligence and their ability to take in and retain information.

Sorry if I sound as though I'm up on a soapbox, but this is a very important subject for me. I get so upset when I hear non-readers dismissed and 'unteachable.'

Stacie

WHY WON'T OTHER PERSONS HELP WITH OTHER SCHOOLS. FOR EXAMPLE GENEVA AND PEDRO PLAINS. THEY ARE GROOMING YOUNGSTERS TOO AND ANY HELP WOULD BE ACCEPTED. JUST DROP THEM A LITTLE HELP. GOD WILL BLESS YOU ALL

I agree with you very much "Goodgirl". Maybe if these schools had the opportunity of winning scholarships like Sandy Bank they would be motivated to do better in their academics. Sandy Bank has always been fortunate to receive support and I hope the same can be said for other schools in surrounding districts.

So, for anyone who supports Goodgirl and I, write your thoughts and pray that someone who can help see our messages and become The Good Samaritan.

Hi all
I'm just a bit curious to find out how the other primary schools in the area (Pedro Plains, Geneva, Newcombe Valley etc.)did in their GSAT this year?

To Concerned/ Goodgirl:
There you go again, looking to others to do what you are not prepared to take steps towards doing yourselves!
You may not be able to do it, as an individual, but if you are really serious, why not find some like-minded persons and organise an initiative, not matter how small, as a sart?

To "al":
The only thing I know about the GSAT passes this year is that Pedro Plains got one pass for Munro.

To YN:
The best thing I can do right now is encourage others because I am only sixteen and my parents are struggling to finance my education. I do however try to send school supplies to children in my community. That is the best I can do to help right now.

And by the way, this same TB net has caused a lot of good to happen because people like Goodgirl and I spread the word to others. There is no harm in trying to get other people involved.

THE PASSES WERE OK FOR SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS.AS FOR CONCERN AND MYSELF WE ARE SPREADING THE WORD. THE PEDRO PLAINS AND SURROUNDING SCHOOLS NEED HELP. PAST STUDENTS TRY TO FORM AN ASSOCIATION FOR YOUR OLD SCHOOL BECAUSE I AM CERTAIN THEY PLAYED A WONDERFUL PART IN UR LIVES. THEY GAV U A PUSH START AND FROM THEN MOST PERSONS HAS NOT STOP.GIVE A HELPING HAND TO UR FIRST SCHOOL.

LISTEN ALL SCHOOLS HAVE AN EXTRA LESSON PROGRAMME AND MOST PARENTS REFUSE TO LET THERE CHILD/OR CHILDREN BE APART OF IT AND WHEN THEY FAIL THEY (PARENTS AND OTHERS )BLAME TEACHERS. TEACHERS NEED THE HELP OF ALL TO BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY

TO YN
IF I COULD DO MORE THAN I AM DOING I WOULD THATS WHY WE USE THIS MEDIUM TO GET HELP

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Thanks TB Net for referring readers to the link on e-mail etiquette; very informative.

As a passt student at Newell, I can certainly appreciate the effort being made to get support for Newell. I've allways beleived "the Lord help those that help themselves", Could we ask the students/pupil at each of the schools in the area to prepare and post a newsletter to keep us informed of the happenings and to make a pitch for assistance when it is required. This would have to meet school's approval for sure.

Stacy-Ann Levy
When I pasted the GSAT to attend Newell, I was so distraughted, because of all the bad things I was hearing about the school. However I believe that dispite the negative things ie. the underqualified teachers and poor averaged students u can still excel. This is obvious of all the past students who have accomplished great things. But it would be great to have a past students reunion and be able to find ways to improve the school.