Leeward District SDA records 100% passes for a decade

This academic year has seen an uptick in success for leeward schools; among them, the Leeward District Seventh Day Adventist School (LDSDA), which recorded a decade of 100% passes in the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA).

From setting yearly challenges, to developing the whole child, the school is proving that despite its location, it is a force to be reckoned with.

Marsha Batiste, the deputy principal and experienced educator, with over 24 years of shaping young minds at LDSDA in Buccament, said she credits the school’s success over the past decade to its holistic approach to education.

In an interview on Tuesday, June 26, she explained that, “If the child does not have what they need to have, I’ll probably ask why they don’t have it, because we all have excuses, but the thing is, I want the work. So you get them to be accountable. What’s to be done is to be done,” she told SEARCHLIGHT, adding that “it works well” for them because, for some students, you do not actually get them to do much, except if they are challenged to do so.”

She emphasised how crucial it is for children, parents, and educators to have positive relationships. The deputy principal said in the past, when she marked a student’s test and noticed that something was off, she reached out to the parents to inquire about their well-being because she is familiar with the student and their work habits.

“… in a lot of cases, teachers check in with parents in ways that its like they are their second mommy, and the things that teachers check in for, sometimes parents don’t even think of- they don’t expect it.”

She explained that clear goals are established at the start of each year, and along with the students’ academic and social growth, a special emphasis is placed on spiritual growth, as the school’s first subject of the day is ‘Bible’.

“We do have spiritual activities at the school that help the children to make decisions in that space, and we do engage them in community work in terms of [tract] distribution, singing, or sharing out of memory verses on the streets. So we try our best to help them have a more rounded life. We try to cater to the head, heart, and hand.”

While performance in the CPEA has improved overall during Batiste’s tenure, she acknowledged that the school has faced challenges of not having technological resources and, flooding in the past has caused some students to leave the school. Notwithstanding, Baptiste told SEARCHLIGHT there has been a significant increase in student enrolment which she attributed to their consistent achievement of a 100% pass rate over the past decade.

The school currently has no extra-curricular activities which the deputy principal said is due to a lack of staff, but there are plans to formalise a few activities and integrate technology into the teaching/learning process.

“One thing we realise down here is the fact that they were born in the [technological] age, it’s not like you can take it away from them. So what you have to do is to teach them how to use, how to manage, and to incorporate it well. Technology does have its downsides but I’m telling you, in terms of teaching and learning, it can be a very useful tool for children.”

Baptiste told SEARCHLIGHT that the Leeward District SDA Primary School remains committed to educating the “whole child” for lifelong success, and she encouraged all educators to see each child as an individual and help nurture their confidence, accountability, and faith in being able to achieve their highest potential.