School feel good about themselves and like they are little kids again.

Their jobs are to look after the younger classes in the morning before the teacher arrives and in the afternoon if the teachers have to leave for lunch.

Also they make sure that the other students are wearing their uniforms correctly.

Joy Martin and Eugene Richardson, both 10, said they had fun looking after the classes when the teachers were away.

"It's fun taking care of the younger ones,'' Joy said. "They just have this way of playing that makes you have fun too.

"Sometimes I feel like they are my children and it's my responsibility to take care of them while the teachers are not there.

"I like to be around the them (the kids), it makes me feel happy.'' But Eugene and Joy agreed that there is a downside to being the head prefects.

Eugene said: "The hardest part about being the head prefect is when you have to write the students' names on the blackboard for being bad, because it makes me feel like I'm the bad guy.'' In the case of students not listening, the head prefect employed the very simple tactic of turning the lights off.

"When the younger students won't listen we have to turn off the lights and if they still won't listen we sometimes have to raise our voice but we don't yell at them,'' Joy said.

Eugene added that they have a bell for the P2 (Primary Two) classes and that when they ring it all the noise in the room is suppose to stop.

When Eugene and Joy found out they were going to be the head prefects they were both surprised.

They felt certain that some of the other students were going to get the positions.

Eugene said that most of his friends were jealous when he was chosen to be head prefect.

Joy added: "At first I had the feeling that some of the other students were jealous of us, but they treat us the same now.

"Really you don't feel special, because everyone is still treating you the same as they always did.'' Both students keep themselves busy by getting involved in activities in and outside of school.

Joy works with PRIDE, the anti-drug programme, and is a peer mediator, which she described as the school's court system for students who have problems. She also dances with the Majorettes.

Eugene earns a little money on the side by packing groceries as a part-time job.

As far as role models in their own lives Joy and Eugene both look up to their mothers.

They said that both Moms lead `nice lives' and have taught them what it means to be responsible and helpful.

With Middle School just around the corner, these two are beginning to have some concerns about what it will be like.

Eugene said: "I think it will be a tough challenge when I go to Middle School, but I know I can handle it.'' Joy was worried about the increase in their work load.

" I think I'm just worried about the fact that there are more classes than we usually have,'' she said. "I wonder if I will be able to keep up with all the work.'' As far as the distant future is concerned they both have an idea of where they are heading.

"I want to be a computer programmer because I like to play on the computers and the Internet,'' Eugene said. And Joy said: "I want to be a teacher or a dentist because I like helping people.'' Wherever Joy and Eugene end up, they said West End Primary School has given them a great start. -- Trish Ragbirsingh