Cristiano's Success Story - Tutoring Services

Please read if you are a parent of a boy who is struggling. It is not about the school. It is about the journey. I waited for days to post this one on my birthday. Combermere family!!! Up and Oners! Waterford University crew!! We got one bout deh! I apologise for that youthful outburst but this young man is not only going to my former school but he has the last name of one of the characters from Sir Arthur Canon Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective novels which was one of my favourite series to read. Mr. Lestrade started…Mr. Lestrade… Mum, I like de last name bad yah know! Anyhow, Cristiano’s mummy messaged on September 17 last year and wrote, “I would like to register my son Cristiano Lestrade.” I replied shortly afterwards saying, “Lovely, last name!” She said “Thanks, it’s Dominican. I learnt something that day. From that initial interaction, she was comfortable with her child coming to us and within a few weeks he started to improve. His marks before were well below and in several areas he did not understand topics and he fell short of the national standard. Boys require a different style of teaching but wha I know. Anyhow… His mother sent his first report in Class 4 on December 19, 2024. It was his first term with us after starting lessons during the middle of September. Mathematics: 62. “Fairly good results” was written in the subject comments section. Comprehension: 62 “Fairly good” Grammar: 75“Good work” His mother was pleased thus far. He had improved. When the new year came, she informed me that Cristiano was going to be absent on January 11 because he was getting baptised. I congratulated him and eventually I saw him the week after. On Friday January 24, his mother sent me a voice note at 5:18 a.m. after Cristiano’s school had a meeting the day before to discuss the Choice of School form with parents. She informed me that Cristiano wanted to go to Combermere but she knew that he wasn’t currently scoring the marks for there even though he was in Zone 2. Combermere is in Zone 2. Most parents would place Combermere as their third choice but I informed her about how the choice of schools “really work” and based on my many year’s experience teaching, as a marker and the reality of the situation to place Combermere first. His mother sent me a message later asking “Do you feel he us capable of going there?” to which I said in a voice note “He can but he has to bring up the Maths mark. The Maths is the most important part. That will be the deal breaker especially for boys.” At the very end of March Cristiano got the flu and he was missing lessons for quite sometime. I reached out to her and asked “How is Mr. Lestrade doing?” She told me “That flu mashed him up. He lost a lot of weight. I don’t even think he is 100% better yet.” This was a month or so before the BSSEE and when she sent me his Term 2 report on April 11, this was what was on it: Mathematics: 66. “Fairly good” Comprehension: 78 “Good work” Grammar: 78 “Good work” He was behind his goal. The flu had made a significant impact and I informed her that with those marks he has to work hard to get there. When Cristiano returned to lessons, the first question I asked him was if he was ready to work. I told him that if he wanted to get to Combermere that he needed a score of 85 in both English and Mathematics. I asked him if he will mind if I push him a bit and that he had to remove all distractions. Then I sang some calypso song and make a brilliant joke, not a corny one. I don’t tell corny jokes! I only give my students the best high-quality original jokes! He laughed and then continued on with the work which was set. Ask him ppl. This is why I keep saying. Every child is different. You must attempt different strategies. Try different things. Support the children. Make them laugh. Let them know when you are disappointed. Show them a path that they can follow. Cristiano, I am so proud of you. Not simply because you passed for the school you wanted to but mainly because you never gave up even when you were sick and unable to attend lessons. You listened and executed. Cristiano scored 89 in English and 80 in Mathematics. He passed for his school of choice. I know the Chief Education Officer spoke about the declining performance of boy’s but… But… But… When I received all of the marks for the boys who did lessons this year, everyone performed above the national average and some of these are students who scored 40s and 50s in English and Mathematics. This may not be everyone’s story but it is Cristiano’s story. Let it inspire some parent out there who does not believe that it is possible. Support. Love. Care. Our boys deserve better. Our children deserve better. Let us build our society by showing these children our love. Mum, I thank you for your trust in us. I thank you for your confidence in us but most of all I thank you for the support you give your son. Continue to give him this support as he moves on to Waterford University. Should out to Dad who I met at the photoshoot. PS: Your mother showed me your favourite pose when you were growing up. I will remember to do it when I see you sign up for volleyball! Remember to say “Up and On!”