Jaya Debnath of the New Grounds Primary School has taken the top spot in the Common Entrance Exams as her school continues to enjoy a series of successes. The latest moment of pride surfaced with the release of the 2005 Common Entrance and School Leaving Examination results.{{more}}

Jaya aged 10, scored 93 in Math, 88 for General Paper, and 80 for English. She is daughter of surgeon Dr. Subbendu Debnath and Georgetown Secondary School teacher Shanta Debnath.

The institution, built ten years ago in South Central Windward, also enjoyed some satisfaction with 12-year-old Omark Andrews placing fifth for boys, and 12th overall. He scored 88 for General Paper, 86 in Math, and 75 in English.

Jannah Browne, aged 11, endorsed the school’s record by placing 18th for girls and 29th overall. Her marks were 86 for Math, 85 for English and 70 for General Paper.

The New Grounds Primary School also performed creditably in the School Leaving Examination through the efforts of students LaFleur France, Carmica James and Cindy James.

The New Grounds School, with a population of 301 and a staff of 18 has had literacy as the hallmark of the institution. That has engendered a sense of purpose and direction with the motto being “Strive for Perfection in Education”.

The school has a library, from which the students can borrow books and teachers access research material. SEARCHLIGHT newspaper is also sold there.

The library seems to have been paying off as evidenced by the school’s string of successes.

The school took the first, second and third places

in last year’s Fisherman’s Day Story Writing Competition through the efforts of Jaya Debnath, Jannah Browne and Strongson Soleyn respectively.

Vatalie Caesar who won the Leo Club’s Reading Competition and Kemuel Walters the Spelling Competition also highlighted the school’s appetite for heights.

Success was also achieved in the Kingstown Co-operative Credit Union Quiz with Omark Andrews and Jannah Browne being finalists.

The school is located on spacious grounds, and served as the site for the community’s Christmas Light Up venture which itself propelled the community to win the title during last Nine Mornings and Christmas Lighting up competition.