Catherine Hall Primary’s Liam Russell shines in PEP

WESTERN BUREAU:

At just 11 years old, Liam Russell has made a big mark at Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School in Montego Bay, St James. The grade six student achieved stellar results in this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations and is confidently looking ahead to the next chapter of his academic journey.

Liam Russell may be only 11 years old, but the grade six student has already proven himself to be a scholastic giant among his peers at Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School in Montego Bay, St James.

“I felt very confident going through the examinations, and whatever I got, I just trusted the Lord that I did well on the test. I just studied and went through everything that I had learned, every important thing, and I just did well,” Liam, who aspires to become a teacher, told The Gleaner confidently.

His efforts paid off and he is set to move to Herbert Morrison Technical High in September. Liam scored 353 in mathematics, 346 in science, 348 in social studies, 349 in language arts, and 99 in the ability test. These results placed him in Pathway One – the highest of three tiers used by the Ministry of Education to assess students’ readiness. Pathway One is reserved for those who perform satisfactorily across the board.

Though he admits that he isn’t a big reader, Liam said he balances studying with watching videos and playing games.

“I studied alone, and I just studied everything I needed to study and then did what I wanted to do after. I am not really the type to read that much as I will get my information from the Internet more often,” said Liam. “I like learning new things, especially things like math and science. I want to be a teacher when I grow up because I do like helping people, and my parents are teachers.”

INQUISITIVE

Karim Russell, Liam’s father and himself a past student and former teacher at Herbert Morrison, told The Gleaner that his son has always been naturally inclined towards learning.

“From the time Liam was born, we realised that he had this natural ability to ask questions and be very inquisitive. We ensured that for every question he asked, we tried as best as possible to answer it, through whatever means, be it a video or research, for him to really understand,” said the senior Russell. “We did not leave it to the teachers alone because as teachers, we understand that teachers alone cannot do it. So wherever the teachers left off at school, we tried to pick it up.”

Venessa Daley-Russell, Liam’s mother and a former Herbert Morrison teacher, said that she and her husband made sure to establish their son’s learning foundation early.

“Liam is an independent person, and in his earlier years, we tried to build that foundation, so he became very independent in his studies. If there is something that he is having a challenge with, then he will come and ask us, but for the most part, he will try to research and read for himself.”

Meanwhile, Liam’s grade six teacher, Lushawn Troupe-Leslie, praised her young student’s natural leadership abilities, which have earned the respect of his peers.

“Liam is a tot, but he is a leader, and he has been group leader in our class, and he takes charge. The other students listen to him, and they respect him,” said Troupe-Leslie. “When it is time to work, it is time to work, and he takes his work seriously. He works well with his peers, and he is a friend to all.”