CHERISHE IS TOBAGO’S TOP SEA STUDENT

At first encounter, one would describe Cherishe Alleyne as quiet and reserved, but when the layers are peeled away her brilliance immediately shines through. The bashful 12-year-old student of the Signal Hill Government Primary School scored Tobago’s highest points in the 2005 SEA examination and placed 88th nationally. Two other students from the school, Elizabeth Franceisca, 12, and 11-year-old Jehu Saunders, took the second and third positions. They were all assigned to the Bishops High School. This is the first time that students from a single school have taken the island’s top three SEA positions.

“All I wanted to do was to go to my first choice, Bishops High School. I didn’t expect this at all but I am very proud of myself to know that I have actually acheived this, and all of my hard work has paid off,” she said. She also credits the support of her teachers and parents for her success. Cherishe said that when she received the good news on Thursday, it triggered a screaming frenzy among herself and her friends, and later with her parents. School Principal, Verleen Bob-Lewis, described Cherishe as “a quiet, unassuming girl with a lot of potential, you have  to pry to get a response, but very, very intelligent.”

Cherishe recently placed second in the Lambeau Credit Union Verse Speaking Competition and was a finalist in this year’s Tobago Primary Schools Storytelling competition and National Primary Schools athletics meet. She is also an avid musician who has now “moved on” to playing the trumpet. Cherishe plans to rest over the eight-week summer vacation and will “gear up for Form One.” Meanwhile, the  number of students falling under the 30 percent mark has continued to decrease. Following Thursday’s SEA exam results, the THA Education Division reported that only 64 of the 946 students who sat the exam, (53 boys and 11girls) had fallen below the 30 percent mark. The girls were said to have yet again outdone the boys.