The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

BISHOP Michael Eldon School (BMES) is celebrating a standout year of academic achievement after recording the top BJC and BGCSE results on Grand Bahama, with students producing strong performances across a wide range of subjects.

The results were highlighted during the school's annual Prize Giving Ceremony, where students were recognised for excellence in academics and athletics. The ceremony also brought BMES alumni back to campus to present awards and encourage the next generation of students.

The school's BJC performance included 12 students earning three or more A grades, with two students achieving all five A grades in their examinations. Among Grade 9 students, three achieved eight A grades and one B, while others recorded all A grades.

Last year, BMES sent 38 Grade 8 students to sit the BJC examinations, with 37 students achieving at least one C or higher.

The school's BGCSE results were equally impressive. Thirty-two present grade 12 students wrote at least one BGCSE examination, and they all passed with grades A to C, while nine students passed all five BGCSE subjects. Overall, BMES students recorded 50 A grades, 125 B grades and 159 C grades, with 68 per cent of students achieving A to C passes.

Principal Cecilia Campbell said the results reflect the dedication of students, teachers and parents and reinforce BMES' position as a leading academic institution on Grand Bahama.

“Bishop Michael Eldon School continues to be the light of Grand Bahama in terms of what we are doing here academically,” Campbell said.

The school's BJC results showed particularly strong class performances, with seven subjects recording averages of 80 per cent or higher.

English Language led the results with a 98 per cent passes, followed by Art and Design at 90.5 per cent, Social Studies at 89.7 per cent, Mathematics at 88.24 per cent, Health Science at 85.46 per cent, Religious Studies at 85.29 per cent and Literature at 84 per cent.

Seven of the school's 11 BJC subjects improved over the previous year.

At the BGCSE level, BMES students also posted strong results across the school's 17 disciplines. Among the notable subject performances were 100 per cent passes in Combined Science, 88.8 per cent in Religious Studies, 88.2 per cent in Language, 82 per cent in Chemistry and 80 per cent in Food and Nutrition.

Eleven of the 17 BGCSE subjects showed improvement over the previous year's national examinations.

The school also offers Advanced Placement (AP) programme, which offers students who achieve A or B grades at BGCSE an opportunity to pursue advanced studies.

Last year, BMES offered seven AP subjects, including AP Art and Design and AP Environmental Science, both of which recorded 100 per cent pass rates. Human Geography recorded a 78 per cent pass rate, Chemistry 71 per cent, while AP Science, Pre-Calculus and Language each recorded 67 per cent. AP Physics recorded a 45 per cent pass rate.

VinuRaj Nair, vice principal, said the school is proud to provide students with opportunities to prepare for college and beyond.

Among the students recognised at the ceremony was Grade 8 student Rebecca Barnett, who earned five A grades in five BJC subjects. She also achieved the top Grade 8 GPA and the highest overall junior GPA in the school.

Her mother, Reteka Barnett, said she was proud to see her daughter's hard work rewarded.

“I feel like she deserves it because she is one who takes initiative in studying and making sure that everything she does, she tries to do it to the best of her ability,” she said. “I am proud that everything she worked for came through," she said.

The ceremony also celebrated the school's longstanding connection with its alumni, with former students returning to present awards.

Among them were Dr. Karis Thompson-Major, Nikita Mullings, CEO of Grand Bahama Power Company, and Dr. Shannon Smith.

Campbell said maintaining strong ties with alumni helps strengthen the wider school community.

“We believe that a community will only strengthen a school environment,” she said, noting that former students who attended BMES when it was known as Freeport Anglican, Freeport High or Bishop Michael Eldon School remain an important part of its history.

Mullings said she was proud to return and encouraged students to remain focused and determined.

“I would tell them to stay encouraged, never give up, face your obstacles and know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you,” she said.

She also spoke about the importance of athletics in developing teamwork, patience, fairness and sportsmanship — qualities that can benefit students later in the workplace.

For Thompson-Major, returning to BMES was an opportunity to reflect on her own school years.

“As I watched the kids come up on the stage for awards, I saw myself,” she said, adding that it was exciting to see the potential represented by the students. She was also impressed with the number of top male achievers.

Dr Smith, another BMES alumna, said she was heartened to see the school's “warrior spirit” continuing.

“I had a great experience from grade 8 through grade 12. I was active in sports, active in academics, and it is the values I was taught here certainly have pushed me in my later years. My biggest piece of advice to students would be just not to give up. “Everything is possible. Continue striving for your goals. No matter how large your goal seems, how far away it is, every step forward gets you closer to where you want to be,” she said.