Author’s edit: It has been reported that transfers will be considered this year, a variance from the usual stipulation of waiting an academic year.
Congratulations to the students who received their results for the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination today. Well done! You worked hard and no matter the result or school, we are all proud of you. Preparing for and taking such an important exam during a pandemic is no small feat. You are a warrior and you remain undefeated!
I know that with this time there is not only celebration, but also some frustration, especially when it seems as if the grades and the allocated schools do not seem to match. Do not forget, the cut-off marks for schools change every year and depend on the overall performance of students. Each school has a specific number of spaces to fill. Trying to break it down to its simplest calculations (The Ministry’s system is a bit more sophisticated), if School X has 100 spaces in 2032, and the 100th student who has that school as the first choice gets an average of 85%, then the student who gets 84% is allocated to their second choice. If that same school has 100 spaces in 2033 and the 100th student who has that school as the first choice gets an average of 91%, then the student who gets 90% is allocated to the second choice. So there really is no predictable marker for “HC marks” or “Foundation marks.” This is not something that can be forecast or determined by history.
For parents who are still not satisfied with my explanation above, pounding down the doors of the Ministry of Education today or tomorrow will not give you the solution that you desire. The Ministry of Education has clearly documented annually that transfers will only be considered after a student has spent one academic year at their allocated school.
I understand the disappointment, but celebrate the achievement. Your child has been through the storm of the pandemic exam and came out unscathed on the other side. A new school brings with it new opportunities for excellence and adventure, so even though you are frustrated, don’t let them see it. Let them face their future with positivity, and maybe feeling their joy may help you face the future with positivity as well.
It has been announced by Minister Santia Bradshaw that although the school term will begin as intended on September 20, 2021, it will be in the form of online learning. This is in response to the recent COVID-19 surge in Barbados.
We have been waiting and waiting for some indication of when the results for the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination would be released. Could it be this week? On Friday, August 27, 2021, Minister of Education, Santia Bradshaw stated that she expects the results by month end or early September. Considering that the month ends on Tuesday, this is a positive sign.
This has been such an unusual period for our exam-takers, and I know parents are not looking forward to the rush to try to get uniforms and everything in place that would be particular to their children’s schools. By now, I know you have the basics: the pencil cases, rulers, pens, the pencils, erasers, sharpeners, school bags, maybe glue stick, scissors and pencil crayons . . . as much as can be anticipated without a school supply list. You have done your best, but at least now, there is more light emanating from the end of the tunnel hinting that you can get those more school-specific items that your children will need soon.
We will continue to pay attention and stay tuned. Wishing you a blessed week ahead.
The exams have been completed. The results are in. You square your shoulders and put on a brave face as your baby bird prepares to leave the nest and fly into the world of an overseas university education. Besides your own mental preparation of releasing your child into adult responsibilities and aspects of the world you may have missed preparing them for, there is the other kind of preparation, their practical needs for their time overseas.
By now you have identified funding for their tuition and suitable accommodation, but what kinds of things should your child do to make their stay more comfortable?
The exams have been completed. The results are in. You square your shoulders and put on a brave face as your baby bird prepares to leave the nest and fly into the world of an overseas university education. Besides your own mental preparation of releasing your child into adult responsibilities and aspects of the world you may have missed preparing them for, there is the other kind of preparation, their practical needs for their time overseas.
By now you have identified funding for their tuition and suitable accommodation, but what kinds of things should your child do to make their stay more comfortable?
Research, Research, Research
It is important for your child to understand the culture in which they are going to live, for their own comfort and so that they may not accidentally offend others. It is essential that they are aware of the weather and climate so that they may be appropriately dressed. It is also imperative to check that their passports are up-to-date, all necessary vaccinations completed, all mandatory COVID-19 tests booked. Your child’s school should be a treasure trove of information and assistance regarding student visa requirements and important documentation with which your child should travel such as copies of the university acceptance letter, tuition payment receipts, accommodation address, and other important documents. Such can be placed in a portfolio folder along with your child’s passport, ticket, and any other required travel documents.
Allow your child to ravenously consume all of the information on the school’s website, or information sent by email. Information on classes, extra-curricular activities, the closest supermarkets, etc can always be found if the time is taken to look. Student Services may also be useful in identifying resources for medical attention, where your child may open a bank account and whatever else is needed to assure a safe and comfortable experience for your child. Also make use of any email addresses the school sends to facilitate queries. Information will always be your child’s greatest friend.
Resist the Temptation to Overpack
Unless your child is going to a university that is far from any form of civilisation, there will be opportunities to purchase basic needs. The entry requirements for countries keep changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so travel with enough travel items to survive quarantine and the first couple of weeks after (a check list will be provided below). Also pack specific or personal items which cannot be easily replicated. It may be more convenient, and possibly even cheaper, to buy particular items on arrival if there is no quarantine.
If quarantine is required, some universities give students the option of receiving a quarantine care package on their arrival.
Also remember to check your airline regarding what you are allowed to put in your carry-on including size of liquid containers, etc.
Hair
Speaking of items that may not be easily replicated, it is good to research if your child’s destination has stores with hair products specific to your child’s hair, or hair salons that specialise in your child’s ethnicity. You may be surprised that in some regions, especially if your child has natural, Afrocentric hairstyles, that products may need to be ordered online or your child may need to expand their repertoire of hairdressing skills. Take note of online options before your child leaves and stock up on some favourite products just in case. Local stores may not necessarily have the Shea Moisture, Kinky-Curly, Ecostyler, Cantu, and other favourite brands on which your child has come to rely.
Also research salons that do Black hair if your child does not plan to be doing their own hair. Be sure to look for the specific services that you need. Black people appearing in an ad for the salon does not always mean that they cater to the wide array of services that Black hair needs. Sometimes the advertising is false advertising.
Skin Care
If moving from a tropical to temperate climate, it is good to know that the air tends to be drier when it gets colder. Lotions that may have worked in Barbados may have your child’s skin literally cracking up with amusement. Creams and body butters are a good investment. Also be sure they have a small hand cream to walk with. Sometimes static electricity can give you a painful spark if you touch metal with hands that are not moisturised.
Your child’s hair may also need more moisture and treatment during the winter. Protective styles are also beneficial.
Caribbean Cuisine
Encourage your children to embrace going to a new culture. Their lives will be richer for it. One of the ways to fully immerse oneself in culture is to expose oneself to new foods. Still, it is understandable that your child may want to enjoy the tastes of home from time to time. Their new location may have Caribbean restaurants to satisfy their palates. If not and they want to make dishes at home, there may be an ethnic section in their local supermarket or a Caribbean corner shop where they can find supplies.
Currently, I live in a region where there is not a specific Caribbean store, but I have been able to find familiar ingredients in the few African and Asian shops that do exist.
Checklist
The list below is not exhaustive, but here are a few suggestions for travel items
Travel documents including passport
Folder with important documents such as acceptance letter, tuition payment receipts, etc
Foreign currency/ credit card
Luggage Scale
Mobile phone (unlocked, Dual SIM is ideal)
Phone charger
COVID-19 test results (dependent on entry requirements)
COVID-19 vaccination certificate (optional)
Masks
Hand sanitiser
Small disinfectant spray
Small disinfectant wipes
Tissues
Laptop
Charger
Blowdryer (optional, may be purchased overseas)
Hair products
Hair bonnet/scarf
Face cream
Face wash
Body cream
Perfume
Floss
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Bath slippers
Warm slippers
Deodorant
Liners
Sanitary napkins/liners
Lip balm
Adapters
Footwear
Clothing that suit the weather
Clothing for home, class, formalwear, working out etc
2 canvas shopping bags (may be purchased overseas)
Washed twin bed sheet set (if your child is going straight to the dorm and not a hotel first for quarantine )
Washed towel and washcloth (if your child is going straight to the dorm and not a hotel first for quarantine)
Purchase list for overseas:
Clothes hangers
More Adapters
Raincoat
Winter boots
Other seasonal clothing
Stationery:
Notebooks
Pens
Planner
Pencils
Stapler
Staples
Highlighters
Folders/Organisers
Textbooks
Kitchen items:
Bowls
Plates
Cutlery
Mugs
Glasses
Tupperware
Bottle opener
Can opener
Saucepans
Kitchen knife set
Frying pan
Baking pan
Oven mitts
Foil
(Towels, grater, dishcloths, sponges)
Bedroom items:
Bed sheets
Duvet/Comforter
Pillows
Pillowcases
Duvet cover
Mattress protector
Clothes hangers
Laundry bag/basket
Doorstop
Earplugs
Trash can
Mini sewing kit
Full length mirror
Bathroom items:
Towels
Hand soap
Hand sanitizer
Bathroom cleaner
Toilet cleaner
Mirror cleaner
Air freshener
Cleaning sponges
Paper towels
Bathrobe
Shower shoes
Mini first aid kit:
Alcohol
Cotton wool
Witch Hazel
Disinfectant cream
Plasters
Toilet paper
Miscellaneous:
Flashlight
Febreze
Change for washing machines, bus fares etc
Alarm clock
Batteries
If I have forgotten anything, be sure to let me know in the comment section. Also feel free to let me know if you have found this to be useful and share with those who benefit. Bon voyage!
Parents have been left to wonder if their children would have sufficient time to prepare for the impending exam. Some may make the choice to defer, as some did this year, but for the parents and children who have decided to stay the course, what are some of the things that they can do this summer?
2021 Primary School Graduates are breathing a collective sigh of relief now that they have completed their examinations. In the meanwhile, the next crop of Class 4 students are preparing for their turn. The last academic year taught them new skills in online learning, but the subject matter of their courses took longer for them to grasp. Face-to-face school provided opportunities to socialise with friends at a safe distance and more comprehensive attention from teachers, but some did not benefit from the completion of the curriculum.
Parents have been left to wonder if their children would have sufficient time to prepare for the impending exam. Some may make the choice to defer, as some did this year, but for the parents and children who have decided to stay the course, what are some of the things that they can do this summer?
Let Children Be Children
The first thing I am sure many parents realised was that it was necessary to let their children rest. The academic year of 2020 – 2021 needed to roll off their little ones and dissipate like a mist through slumber. They also needed time to play and other fun activities. All of this can occur continuously through the summer to rejuvenate your child after a hard year, but it is a good idea to intersperse this with other activities that help your child feel settled and prepared in September.
Extra Lessons
One or two extra lessons a week with your child’s teacher or other chosen tutor can benefit some children. The pressure of school is off but they are able to get the close attention they need to fill any academic gaps. They also benefit from completing practice papers under teacher supervision, which helps to give them confidence in September.
Check Google Classroom
Some teachers are still using this critical tool to help their students during the summer. While online class sessions may not be available, work may be posted so that your child can get the necessary practice. While new work may not be posted, there may be sufficient information there that you may see what your child needs to review.
Previous Academic Year Review
Summer is a time that seems to wash children’s brains of what they learned during the year. Reviewing what they did during the academic year with the help of their textbooks and notebooks could be useful to your child. Also, some teachers and parents from this year’s yield of students may be willing to share past papers and answers with you to help your child. The Ministry of Education has past papers as well, which you may purchase at a cost of $50.
Help Prepare Your Child For Any Eventuality
If there is one thing that children learned this academic year, it was to expect the unexpected. It is important that they are prepared for anything to happen again this coming academic year. Children can be quite resilient but the calm support of parents does much to help them stand strong. Remaining calm and focused is half the battle when it comes to exam preparation. For more tips on how to keep your child calm and focused this academic year, click here.
Final Thoughts
So, to recap, this summer, let your child have fun, but also help them to remember their curriculum from the academic year that has just passed. This may be through paid means such as extra lessons and purchased past papers, or a simple review of what they learned previously via their textbooks and exercise books or work left by their teacher on Google classroom.
In the new academic year, work closely with their class teachers. Remain aware of the topics taught so that you can reinforce them with your children. Teachers are important to this process, but the adults who always make the most difference are you as their parents.
After so many delays and so much uncertainty, your child is several steps closer to the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination which convenes on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. They have been taught, they have learned and they have practised, and now they are on the cusp of finally sitting the examination for which they so ardently prepared. There are some important tips and reminders for this year’s exam which you can find here. I will briefly outline what their day could be like in the simple scenario below, with important considerations appearing in bold:
After so many delays and so much uncertainty, your child is several steps closer to the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination which convenes on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. They have been taught, they have learned and they have practised, and now they are on the cusp of finally sitting the examination for which they so ardently prepared. There are some important tips and reminders for this year’s exam which you can find here. I will briefly outline what their day could be like in the simple scenario below, with important considerations appearing in bold:
Lisa does not live very close to her examination centre, so her mother wakes her at 6:30 am. Ideally the centre is thirty minutes away by car, but with the anticipated traffic, Mrs. Brown anticipates an extra half an hour could be added to their commute.
Lisa had been so anxious about the possibility of being late that she had asked her parents to let her have an alarm clock, at least for that morning. Mrs. Brown, however, did not think that was a good idea to have her daughter startled into consciousness. She was concerned that such a sudden waking may cause or exacerbate any anxiety so she chose instead to gently wake her little girl at the appropriate hour.
Lisa says her prayers beside her bed, then goes to brush her teeth and get her shower. She feels the last sediments of sleep drain off from her as she turns the faucet off. She temporarily dons home clothing since she does not want to get her uniform dirty. She heads to the dining room to eat and her mother has prepared a balanced and healthy breakfast which she enjoys. By the time she finishes she feels full yet alert and it is around 7:00 am. As she leaves the table and goes to brush her teeth and dress, she sees her mother emerge from the kitchen with her light healthy snack for her break and puts it next to the Ziploc bag full of stationery and supplies that her father had placed on the dining room table.
The family completes their last minute preparations and leaves home by 7:30 am. As anticipated, once they reach the highway they sit in gridlocked traffic, slowly easing forward in between short bursts of free movement. Thankfully, they reach their destination at 8:25am and Lisa enters the examination centre at 8.30 am after sanitising at the gate and having her temperature taken.
The invigilators ensure that the children are settled at their desks that are separated by the appropriate social and exam distance. The first paper, Composition, starts at 9.00 am, and is collected after thirty minutes. The English paper is then distributed and Lisa and her friends should be completed in one hour and twenty minutes. Once those papers are collected, the children earn a well-deserved thirty-minute break where they can use the bathroom and eat the snacks at their desks. Once they have returned, the Mathematics exam is convened.
Lisa finishes everything by approximately1.15 pm and leaves the examination centre to go to greet a very happy and relieved Mr. and Mrs. Brown.
The Ministry of Education has issued a statement indicating that, due to Union meetings, all schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, April 22, 2016 at 12:30 pm.
Good day, readers. The School Calendar for the School Year has been adjusted. So while the Ministry’s official school calendar states that the Term ends on Thursday for students, they have announced that that date is actually this WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016.
A question was asked about student visas for foreign nationals to attend school in Barbados. I will try to write a proper article during the week. For now, please check the following links:
BAJAN MOM 