A win for the community

In a vibrant display of school spirit and community pride, students, staff, and parents of the Mona Heights Primary School gathered for a jubilant motorcade on Thursday to celebrate their historic triumph in TVJ’s Junior Schools’ Challenge Quiz 2024.

With horns blaring, pom-poms shaking, and drums pounding, the sea of green, yellow and white flowed through the streets of Mona and Liguanea in St Andrew.

“It cements our place as one of the schools of choice in the country,” Principal Alex Hepburn proclaimed amid the rhythmic drumming.

The quiz team – comprising Mikhail Wynter, Johnathan Dixon, Aaron Edwards, and Israel Edwards – defeated St Richard’s Primary 26-16 in an exciting match-up on Tuesday.

They were hailed as heroes during the celebratory motorcade, as they displayed the winning trophy proudly through the sunroof of a vehicle.

“It feels awesome to be the first one. It feels really good to have done this for my school. It is very exciting,” team captain Israel Edwards told The Gleaner.

The 11-year-old shared that the training, which lasted for more than a year, required a lot of sacrifices, including setting aside time to practise on weekends and after school. He is happy it all paid off.

“It is a great feeling,” teammate Mikhail chimed in. “It makes me feel good that we are sharing the victory with the whole community.”

Principal Hepburn shared similar sentiments, noting that the Mona community is a key stakeholder in the school, and that this victory is equally momentous for them.

“We have been looking for this sort of celebration for years. It means a lot to the community; it means a lot to the students,” he said.

Retired Mona Heights Primary teacher Margorie Gordon watched excitedly as the motorcade passed her home. Although it has been more than a decade since she left the profession, she took as much pride in this significant achievement.

“This victory is well deserved. They have been trying very hard over the years. They have come very close, and they have worked hard,” she told The Gleaner.

Coach Mark Clarke said the win is a validation of the hard work of the team and its support system.

He noted that last year, the team did not make it past the preliminary stage of the competition. He is hoping that the victory will inspire more students to become involved.

“It will encourage other students to dream, and dream big. I am certain that there are a lot more parents who are going to be looking at the school and wanting [their children] to attend there; and a lot more students are going to turn out for endeavours of this nature,” he said.

Therese Morris felt gratified that her two sons – Aaron and Israel – contributed to the history-making moment.

She said both boys were previously homeschooled and matriculated into Mona Heights Primary School at grades three and four, respectively.

Morris, who is a teacher, said she availed herself to help the team in whatever way possible.

“I was there almost every evening and Saturdays, and then when it came close to the finals, we were [there] seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. So I am there with them providing snacks, muffins, drinks and also participating in quizzing them and stuff,” she said.

She noted that the training sessions were really intense, but said she is proud of how her sons managed.

“It was a learning experience, a growing experience for them to understand that at different times, you’re going to have different demands on you, and it’s a period – everything is for a season – and at another period, you’re going to be so relaxed and chill,” she said.

Papine Division Councillor Darrington Ferguson also joined in the celebrations and pledged further support for the institution.

“We challenged them, the last time we were here, on their performance level, and we would increase support to them once they can [achieve] the target, and therefore, this is just a continuation of what the principal spoke about, and his promise to deliver,” she said.

While hailing Hepburn for his dedication to the school, St Andrew Eastern member of parliament hopeful Patricia Duncan Sutherland said the strategies employed at Mona should be replicated at schools across the constituency.

“We know education is the key; and where excellence is achieved, we must celebrate and support,” she said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com