Sameika Petagaye Maitland Achiever and Trailblazer Graduation

Sameika Petagaye Maitland at age 12 years, the daughter of Juliette Mullings from New Savannah, New Market, saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies, Beersheba Primary School Alumna who unlike Sameika who received her primary education at New Road All Age School across the border in the parish of Westmoreland, all her other siblings received their primary education at Beersheba Primary School; was the Valedictorian at her graduation ceremony that was held on July 3, 2014.

The gut wrenching decision to send Sameika her daughter and “wash belly” (last child) to New Road All Age School instead of Beersheba Primary School was not easy by any means emotionally. Nevertheless, because of deteriorating low morale, decorum and division between the Academic Teaching Staff and the Academic Administration on the one hand, and parents, the Academic administration and Academic Teaching Staff on the other hand – this was verified and confirmed in a Comparative Analysis that was done by Dr. Trevor Hamilton, Management Consultant, Beersheba Primary School Alumnus  from raw data that was collected in a survey by the Secretary/Treasurer, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) – Juliette considered it in the best interest and welfare of her last child, to avoid the ongoing conflict in Beersheba Primary School Environment.

Samieka and her Mom

When Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) became aware that the Ministry of Education had placed Sameika at Hampton School, Malvern, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies as a result of her excellent performance of 91.2 in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) in 2014, the Association got immediately involved when it came to its attention that Juliette was about to send her daughter Sameika to an unassigned school because she could not afford boarding and tuition cost at Hampton school.

Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to place on record its admiration and appreciation for the hard sacrificial work done by its Secretary/Treasurer in finding sponsors to ensure that Sameika attended Hampton School where the ministry of Education placed her. The Association also wishes to publicly express its sincere gratitude to the following philanthropic organizations and individuals that have provided financial assistance to Sameika, financially challenged student to assist in defraying the cost of her boarding and tuition fees at Hampton School where she maintained her excellent academic performance as an A student grade 7 (first form) up to her graduation in grade 11 (fifth form) as a member in the Class of 2019 on June 16, 2019:

• CIBC First Caribbean International Bank
• JMBBS Joan Duncan Foundation
• Caribbean Broilers Group
• Jamaica Broilers Group
• FLOW Foundation
• Mr. Luther Buchanan, Member of Parliament NE Westmoreland
• Merlene Holness-Pryce, RN
• Winston and Sheila Hamilton
• Howard H Hamilton
• Dr. Trevor Hamilton, Trevor Hamilton Associates
• Mrs. Gloria Smith-Meredith, B.Sc., Beersheba Primary School Alumna

In the pursuance of Sameika appropriating the motivation advice that she received from Dr. Maurice Smith, International Consultant on Education to the World Bank, Keynote Speaker at the graduation ceremony that she is to look inward, outward and upward; Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) is appealing to all its readers with a philanthropic heart, to pitch in and help Sameika to defray the cost of JMD 78,000.00 per academic school year  for her tuition when she returns to Hampton School as a six form student in September 2019 where she will continue her formal education that will prepare her to go to College/University to realize her goal to become a Forensic Pathologist.

Donors can make their contributions either by depositing them into Beersheba Old Students Association Account Number 5501336655 at any Branch of Sagicor Bank Jamaica limited or they can make their checks/cheques payable in the name of the Association and mail them to Vincent Samuels, Secretary/Treasurer Beersheba Old Students Association, 99 Jacaranda Avenue, Flat Rocks Subdivision, Black River P.O., Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies.

All financial contributions received from donors will be promptly acknowledged.

Sameika and BOSA Secretary/Treasurer, Mr. Vincent Samuels.

Sameika and her siblings