O’Brien Osborne, the principal of Somerset Primary is giving back to his students by offering to host a Saturday morning math lesson, free of charge to his P6 year. The sessions will start on Saturday at 8.30am and will last for an hour.In an interview, Mr Osborne explained why he was offering the classes:“In an effort to solidify the teaching of mathematics at the Primary 6 level, I am offering Saturday morning tutorials.“The purpose of the tutorials is to close some of the gaps that students may have, boost levels of confidence, help prepare them for the Cambridge Check Point Examination, and to generate excitement about mathematics.“The sessions are free and not mandatory; however, I am hopeful that parents and students will see the benefit of the sessions and make accommodations for the students to attend.”What response have you had from the parents?The response has been very, very positive form the parents. Despite their children already committed to extra curricula activities, many have said they will reschedule activities. The proof will be in the pudding this coming Saturday.”What about the students?As you know students can be brutally honest, so of course many—about half—said they did not want to come. Equally, however, they still verbalized how this excise is going to be beneficial to them.What made you decide to give up his Saturday morning sleep- in to offer free mathematics classes?Sleep? What is that? My wife has me cracking in the morning. Then there is tending to Mom and my wonderful aunt, her sister. I call it driving the daisies! I would rather teach maths all day, every day!Do you think this may spawn other teachers to give back and offer extra Saturday morning classes in other subjects?This is not something that is out of the ordinary to me. It comes naturally and I enjoy doing it. If other teachers do it, great! However, it is not something that I would push; it has to come from within.What are the key character building lessons you are leading at Somerset Primary?We stress key buzzwords throughout the school year. We call them our ‘bee-attitudes’. They are, along with the look fors/indicators, posted throughout the school: politeness, patience, fairness, honesty, courtesy, responsible, tolerant, warm and welcoming, responsible for choices, dependable, optimistic, fair, confident, industrious, and self-controlledHave you taught maths in the past, if so where?I am trained and I have taught math at the primary, middle, high school and college levels.What sort of mathematics are students at the P6 level learning?There will be a heavy emphasis on geometry, fractions, and problem solving.When are the Cambridge Check Point Examinations?April 2013