The Exceed Schools succeed with 100% in PEP

According to Principal Monique Cunningham, the goal was simple: get every student performing at their best.  And they did just that.

“All 15 of our students passed for top traditional high schools, and on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rate our PEP performance a 9.5,” said Cunningham, who is also a Grade 6 teacher. “With this set of students, PEP preparations weren’t a challenge, but we still had to put in the work. Even on holidays, we were at school doing extra classes because we were aiming for the top and we wanted everyone to get above proficient.”

Founded in July 2011 and located in New Harbour Village II, the school continues to build a strong academic reputation — with this year’s PEP results further cementing that status. 

Leading the pack is Cayleen Moore, who scored a remarkable 378 out of 400 points earning her at spot at first-choice institution, St. Andrew High School for Girls.

The driven 12-year-old — an only child who hails from the community of  Willowdene, a suburb situated on the periphery of west of Spanish Town. Cayleen is known among her peers and teachers not only for her sharp intellect but also for her calm and disciplined approach to learning.

“She is such a bright student, always willing to learn, always giving her best and it was truly a pleasure having her in my class,” said Principal Cunningham who had the privilege of teaching the top girl. 

Cayleen’s success didn’t come as a surprise. The aspiring veterinarian consistently remained on the honour roll, ranked among the top in mock exams and was particularly strong in Mathematics, copping the ‘Super Star’ award in her class from grade four, five and six.

“Even though I have always done well, I was shocked when I heard how well I did. The exams weren’t that difficult but for the Language Performance task, I faced a bit of challenge because I didn’t understand everything on the paper, but I managed to overcome the obstacle,” said Cayleen.

Her mother, Caydia Dawes-Moore who is a pharmacist, beamed with pride as she spoke of her daughter’s achievement. “I was super excited when results came out,” she said. “I wanted her to go to St. Catherine High because I am a past student but she did her research and told me she wanted to attend a higher ranked school so I had to just hold my composure. I am so proud of her and happy she pass for her first choice.”

Her parents ensured she got extra help and benefited from any extra classes that were held at her school. Their teamwork and commitment to her academic success played a key role in her stellar performance.

“She did a lot of Maths and English during Saturday classes,” Dawes-Moore explained. “So I focused on Social Studies which was my favourite subject in high school. I wrote notes from her books, colour-coded topics, and made Q cards. Her father would go through past papers with her, give her work then mark them to see how much she got and helped with any questions she struggled to answer.”

Cayleen’s strong support system and self-motivation helped her stay focused throughout the academic journey. But she wasn’t the only one raising the bar. Standing tall beside her is The Exceed Schools’ top-performing boy, 12-year-old Kristoff Knowles, whose academic journey is just as commendable. Knowles, of Longville Park, scored an impressive 366 out of 400 points, earning him a place at Munro College.

As the older brother to a younger sister, Kristoff paved the way with focus and dedication that didn’t go unnoticed. “He absolutely loves books and is always exploring new ideas; his curiosity and steady focus really stood out,” said Cunningham, who also taught him.

Known for his quick grasp of concepts and strong work ethic, Kristoff’s academic excellence began as early as kindergarten, especially in Mathematics, which remains his favourite subject to this day.

“I feel really good about my passes,” Kristoff shared. “The hardest subject for me was Social Studies, and the easiest was Mathematics. Before PEP, I studied a lot at school on the weekdays and also at home on the weekdays.”

Outside of the classroom, Kristoff enjoys playing basketball, tennis, and golf. He also harbours a deep love for writing and hopes to become an author in the future. Raised in a home where education and purpose are valued, he holds his parents’ expectations in high regard and is determined to make them proud.

“Following in my parents’ footsteps motivates me and helps me stay focused. Mommy chose Munro College because she and daddy are very busy with work and wouldn’t be able to take me to school every day. So I did my best to pass for our first choice,” said the top boy.

Kristoff’s parents, Garry Knowles and Stacey Lalor-Knowles — both pastors — have been driving forces behind his success.

“My husband and I have been pushing him from early because we knew he had the potential,” said the proud mom. “We also knew he needed a little encouragement sometimes, so we made sure to provide every opportunity for him to excel.”

She added that they see Munro’s boarding structure and extracurricular offerings as ideal for helping their son become well-rounded. “We want him to grow in discipline and leadership, and we believe this is the right environment for that,” she said.

Both Cayleen and Kristoff were named valedictorians at The Exceed Schools’ recent graduation ceremony, a fitting honour for the two most outstanding students who also represented their school well in the finals of the Math Olympics held at the University of the West Indies.