Jacks Hill Primary Enthused About Labour Day 2014

Jacks Hill Primary and Infant School will be one of many institutions that are playing an integral role in the lead up to Labour Day 2014, by sensitising students about the positive environmental theme for the day, and the benefits of this focus.

Principal of Jacks Hill Primary and Infant School, Beverly Jones, told JIS News that teachers have been sensitising students about the value of cleaning up the environment, in keeping with the theme, ‘Take a stand… Beautify our Land’.

The school has been adopted by the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), a department of the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, as its Labour Day project.

Works to be undertaken at the institution include painting of classrooms, administrative offices, and bathroom, as well as general cleaning up and bushing of the school plant.

Principal Jones says she is elated by the RWSL’s decision, and is eagerly looking forward to Labour Day, on Friday, May 23.

Mrs. Jones made special mention of the water tank, which will receive attention.  “It’s a welcome idea because we really needed someone to step in and help us in that area. We wrote to different places and got some help before but not the big help like this,” she said.

She noted that through the efforts of the school she is expecting a strong turn-out from the community.

“I sent out letters to parents, through the students, and we have been reminding the students to tell their parents every day. The students are enthused about it … they are anxious to come out and work,” she told JIS News.

She noted that Labour Day projects are usually supported by the schools’ administration, friends of the school, and the community.

The Principal noted that the RWSL’s decision has reignited the community spirit.

“We are all very happy.  I sensitised the teachers about it and everyone is happy and is planning to come out on Labour Day. I’ve spoken with some parents and they have given their assurance to come out,” she told JIS News.

Teacher at Meadowbrook Preparatory School, Tenisha Malcolm, told JIS News that the initiative to focus on the environment for Labour Day 2014 is a good one. She noted that at her institution, students are sensitised on a daily basis about caring for the environment.

“We teach them not to litter and about recycling and we try to have a bin where they put the plastic bottles. Sometimes we may do a bottle drive so they get into the habit of disposing properly,” she said.

For Labour Day 2014, Miss Malcolm says the children are being constantly reminded about the day and what it means in terms of this year’s focus.

She noted that children are also being coached about what they can do to improve their home environment.

“We just encourage them to help clean up the yard, put away the garbage or any little thing to help mommy and daddy. If their parents are not doing anything then they can encourage them to take on something at home like clear up some garbage or throw out some things that are not needed to make their homes a little cleaner on the day,” she told JIS News.

She commended the Government’s decision to focus on the environment, noting that it will benefit children in the long term.

This year’s National Labour Day project will be the Climate Change Park, in Portmore, St. Catherine.

Labour Day is the culmination of Workers’ Week (May 18 to 23).  A number of activities have been planned to commemorate the week, including a church service held on Sunday, May 18, at the Covenant Moravian Church in Kingston.

A public forum is also slated for Emancipation Park, in New Kingston, on Wednesday, May 21, starting at 6:00 p.m., to recognise employees for Workers’ Week.

There will also be focus on beautifying police stations and posts across the island.  Parish Councils and the Social Development Commission (SDC) will be facilitating the registration of projects, with their personnel actively involved on the day.