Pride of St Winifred’s

Dariya Samaroo is feeling relieved that the hard work she put into preparing for the 2021 Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (BSSEE) has paid off.

Dariya, of St Winifred’s School, placed seventh overall on the island, scoring 98 in Mathematics, 97 in English and an A in Composition with a total of 244.64.

Though Mathematics is her favourite subject, Dariya said she definitely had to spend extra hours studying to ensure she was able to smile when the BSSEE results returned on Monday.

“During the weekdays I wasn’t allowed to use my electronics, but on the weekends, I was allowed to. I thank my teacher Mrs Shepherd and my dad. I couldn’t have done it without him because he was the one who pushed me.”

Dariya said she has not chosen a career path as yet, but she admits to having an interest in law and medicine.

Teacher Wendy Shepherd, who has taught many of St Winfred’s high-performing students said Dariya has given her a memorable retirement gift. She described her as a good student who worked hard, never complained and followed advice and suggestions.

The educator recalled that following the July examination, Dariya told her she was concerned about whether she had appropriately answered one question on the English paper.

“And yet she got 97 on the English paper and I am so proud of her. St Winifred’s school has always been producing top students and I have been a part of that journey and I am proud to say that being at St Winifred’s school couldn’t be better for me as a teacher. The students who pass through this school get the best that we can offer,” Shepherd said.

Another St Winifred’s student Alexander McGaw, scored 96 in English and 100 in Mathematics and a B in Composition, and placed sixth in the island.

Principal Kim Lewis said while the school was overjoyed about having two students in the top ten, she was just as pleased with the performance of all of her school’s students who sat the examination this year. She explained that the school’s performance in the BSSEE was well over the national standard with the majority of students passing for schools of their choice.

“I know that they all worked very hard for an exam that just seemed to not come. For all the students who sat this year, I think they should be very relieved, because honestly, they didn’t end last term until those results came out yesterday. All results received yesterday were met with tremendous cheers and shouting and applause in every household,” Lewis noted.

St Winifred’s will celebrate its 100th anniversary next Monday. (anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)