By Lesroy W. Williams

Observer Reporter

(Basseterre, St. Kitts)—“We are back to our former glory”.

These words were expressed by Mrs. Urlene Bloice-Roberts, Principal of the Basseterre High School, in speaking of her school’s top performance in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC).

The Basseterre High School attained the highest overall pass rate in St.Kitts for the 2008 CSEC with an average pass rate of 81.36 percent. The school also realized a marked improvement in the number of distinctions. A record of 185 distinctions was awarded, making this the best number earned over the period 2005-2008.

The school had 703 entries. There were 10 subjects with 100 percent passes and 9 subjects with 80 and above percent passes. Subjects such as Accounts, Economics, Information Technology, EDPM, French, Spanish, Human and Social Biology, Home Management, Biology, and Agricultural Science received 100 percent passes.

Three students of the Basseterre High School did exceptionally well. Calvin Duggins passed 11 subjects with nine distinctions; Mark Flemming passed 11 subjects with 8 distinctions and Xavienne-Roma Richardson passed 10 subjects with 9 distinctions.

Apart from the academic success of the school, Mrs. Bloice-Roberts shared that the school has done excellently in the area of sports over the past year. The Basseterre High School is currently the Inter-school Track and Field Champion, 2nd Division Champion of the National Football League and National Bank Under 15 Netball League.

The school has produced Tameka Williams who is a national track star studying in the United States on a sports and culture scholarship.

In 2007, Emerald Williams competed in Puerto Rico in the Tourism Youth Congress Debate and won with a prize of US$1000.

On March 17 of this year the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) presented EC$1200 to the school for winning the paper sculpture contest among high schools and primary schools.

Mrs. Bloice-Roberts said that the nurturing environment at the school challenges students to achieve the highest level of academic rigor.

A caring staff supports the students in their pursuit of their academic and career goals by supported them with the skills to take them beyond high school. The school has a student population of 858 and 83 teachers.

“There is a place for everyone to excel at Basseterre High School,” Mrs. Bloice-Roberts said.

“I would like to thank the members of my staff for their hard work, commitment and sacrifice made over the last academic year and also I would like to thank the parents of the students for their support,” she added.

Mrs. Bloice-Roberts paid tribute to her teaching staff for a commendable job by giving them tokens of appreciation in recognition of the outstanding performance of the school in the 2008 CSEC Exams.

She encouraged her staff to maintain the high quality of education offered at the school.

“Basseterre High is not just about preparing students to survive economically but more so preparing them for citizenship: Principia Non Homines (Principles not men). The school remains committed to the pursuit of excellence,” Mrs. Bloice-Roberts stated.