Glowell Preparatory had much to celebrate at its recent prize-giving. In addition to students who excelled academically in each grade cohort, the 20 students who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test in March were all placed at traditional high schools.

Family members, friends and well-wishers congregated at the Bayside New Testament Church of God multi-purpose building in Portmore to cheer on their young relatives being recognised for good behaviour, as well as their application of knowledge in various scholastic areas.

The awards ranged from most outstanding boy and girl for each grade group, to merit awards for most improved and most disciplined.

The theme for the occasion was ‘Reflection: Honouring the Past, Living in the Present, and Envisioning the Future.’

 Now in its 20th year of operation, the privately owned co-educational school, which opened its doors on September 6, 1996 at premises in Independence City, Portmore, with an enrolment of six, long outgrew that space and is now located at much bigger premises in Cedar Grove.

 Asked what was most challenging over the years, former education officer and founding principal, Gloria Jack, explained that, “when there is a passion for something, then it does not ever feel like a challenge; more like an opportunity to grow.”

She also made reference to her faith as something that takes her and her staff through rough times.

“I constantly pray to Him thanking Him for all the blessings and for the continuous success of my students,” Jack said.

Jack sees discipline as a must for all academic institutions and explained that for this reason she “specifically and deliberately” chose the school’s motto: Discipline, Faith and Hard-work.

In addition to academics, Glowell also does well in the arts. The school’s senior dance troupe won nine medals at the last Jamaica Cultural Development Commission competition, including a national gold, seven silver and a merit. The audience got a glimpse of this when the senior dance troupe performed its Pink Panther routine, much to the delight of the crowd.

The principal closed out the ceremony with a few words of encouragement, imploring students to “break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar”. She also reminded them to “always have goals and pray to almighty God for them to come true”, she said.

Source: Jamaica Observer