PEP talks for primary students in time for 11-plus exam

Sixty-nine students from Deacons Primary and Grazettes Primary received a fitting send off to the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) on Thursday, the last school day before the exam.

Representatives from CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s Risk Assurance Department visited the urban schools, during the morning session, armed with the supplies for each of the 37 pupils from Grazettes Primary and 32 from Deacons Primary who will be taking the 11-plus exam on May 2.

CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Shernelle Grant said it was a “small gesture’ by her department aimed at ensuring that each boy and girl would be able to focus on the examination readily furnished with adequate supplies. The exam packs contained pencils, rulers, erasers, plastic holders, clear bags and clipboards.

During their visit to both schools, the CIBC FirstCaribbean team was accompanied by motivational speakers, Monique James and Timothy Kellman, who passed on some words of wisdom and encouragement to the children. James’ pep talk focused on helping the children see that they were all winners, while Kellman gave them tips on “the transition from primary to secondary school.”

Grant said that talks were aimed at confidence building, and added that the bank hoped the children would be furnished with the skill sets necessary to go forward in their endeavours.

The presentations were part of the bank’s outreach to the community through its “Adopt-A-Cause” programme. The initiative allows employees to identify projects in their immediate community for which they can provide both financial and voluntary support.