While the national average is still bleak, there are some bright spots at the top. The top five schools are all private schools but there are surprises in the top finishers. This year's top finisher is Xux Ek Novelo from Hummingbird Elementary School. She received 374 points out of a possible 400. The second and third place students were close behind. Here are the stars of this year's PSE.
XuX Ek Novelo, First Place in PSE
"I really feel excited, I feel so overwhelmed."
And 12-year-old Xux Ex Novelo has good reason to be excited, overwhelmed, and proud. That is because not only did Sux Ex get a perfect score on math but this Hummingbird Elementary School student got the highest score on this year's PSE exam.
XuX Ek Novelo,
"When I first found out about it, I couldn't speak because I was so wow, I felt so overwhelmed, excited."
Keith Swift,
Did you expect to get this high?
XuX Ek Novelo,
"Not really, I expected to be in the top ten but not number one."
Xux Ek told us what was the key to her success.
XuX Ek Novelo,
"From the moment you get into standard six, your teachers give you a lot of things to do and you have to review it like every single day because if you don't, you might forget it. I'd like to give a shout out to all my teachers that helped me, my friends, and my family and the whole school, the principal, vice principal, and everyone for supporting me."
And a big part of that support came Xux Ex's teacher Hortence Wade, a 40-year veteran.
Hortence Wade, Teacher - Hummingbird Elementary
"I am happy for her. She is a hard worker, she is focused, she is organized."
Keith Swift,
How do you prepare these students well? What is your secret?
Hortence Wade,
"Actually I don't have any secret at all Keith."
Two points behind Xux Ex is Goolue Xie from the Bernice Yorke Institute of Learning. Goolue told me she perfected the art of preparing for the PSE.
Goolue Xie, 2nd in PSE
"I feel very excited because I didn't really expect to do this well
but I really want to thank my teachers, my principal, my classmates, especially Adriana Harris, and my parents and my brother because they have supported me all this way and I would really like to thank them."
Keith Swift,
What kind of work did you put into preparing for the PSE?
Goolue Xie,
"Well I really paced myself throughout the year: I studied today, reviewed tomorrow, study and I did most of my homework unless I am too tired to do it but I still do it."
Sharing the spotlight with Goolue at Bernice Yorke is 11-year-old Annie Li. Annie got a perfect score on the math.
Keith Swift,
You got a hundred on the math, how did you do that?
Annie Li, 100% on Math
"Well it was because of hard work, studying, encouragement from my teachers, parents, friends, family, and practice and practice so you get better."
Keith Swift,
Did you expect to get a hundred?
Annie Li,
"No I didn't. I expected a good grade but I didn't really expect the
full marks."
Keith Swift,
How do you feel to have done so well?
Annie Li,
"Really really good, I actually cried last night."
The results were also emotional for 12-year-old Aaron Stock from Queen Square's Anglican School. He got his results this morning and 7NEWS gave him, and his class, the good news that his score of 371 was the third highest in the country.
Aaron Stock, 3rd Place in PSE
"I am very happy and I am sure my mother is proud too."
Keith Swift,
I saw, I don't know if you were crying but you got very emotional just now, what happened?
Aaron Stock,
"It was very surprising so I was very happy so that's why."
Keith Swift,
You didn't think you would get this high?
Aaron Stock,
"Well I knew that I would do like something in the 80s but I didn't expect to do this well."
Keith Swift,
What do you feel like doing? Screaming?
Aaron Stock,
"I've already did my fair share of screaming already."
It is an incredible feat for stock but more so for his school - Queen's Square Anglican. It's been more than a decade since a student from the school placed in the top ten. The class teacher is Louburn Brown Martinez.
Louburn Brown Martinez, Teacher
"Today I am very excited. He has always been shining and he is very good."
Keith Swift,
What do you now say to those teachers who doubt your school?
Louburn Brown Martinez,
"Well people will doubt our school but I am saying that it doesn't take only the school, it takes the parents, it takes the community."
Keith Swift,
What do you say to people who say, how come he got so high and he goes to Queen's Square Anglican?
Aaron Stock,
"Anybody, as long as you have the will to do it and you pray to God, and so if you pray and you trust God and you study and you work hard, you can always accomplish anything."
And having conquered the PSE, Aaron and this year's crop of top finishers are looking forward to their next quest - high school.
We have to stress that Aaron Stock tied with Yasell Acosta from Louisiana Government School in the Orange Walk District for third place. Both received 371 points.
We must also mention Diomne Habet from Belize Elementary School who scored the highest in English. Milhelm Hernandez from Holy Redeemer and Adrian Young from Hummingbird both got perfect scores in science. Annie Li and Xux Ek Novelo again both got perfect scores in math. Lucio Nunez from San Pedro R.C. School scored the highest in social studies. It is also notable that the teachers, particularly, those at Queen's Square Anglican told us that Dr. Arlie Petters' guide to nathematics was pivotal. The students will honored at an award ceremony later this month.
In terms of schools Bernice Yorke was first, Hummingbird Elementary was second and Belize Elementary was third.
