Christmas Treat For Jack’s Hill Primary and Infant School

The students and teachers of Jack’s Hill Primary and Infant School in St. Andrew received much-welcome Christmas gifts on Tuesday (December 16), when they were presented with three desktop computers and accompanying software valued at approximately $195,000 by the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Chief Executive Officer of USF, Hugh Cross, made the presentation to elated Principal, Beverley Jones.

The donation was initiated by Board Chairman of Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), John-Paul White.

The management and staff of RWSL, who were on hand for the presentation, treated the students to a fun-day to cap off the Christmas school term. The youngsters received gifts and snacks, while enjoying various games and activities.

The donation and fun-day were among activities undertaken by RWSL at the school this year, which also included beautification of the grounds on Labour Day,

May 23.

Manager for Human Resources/Corporate Services at RWSL, Murie Bennett, told JIS News that the initiatives are consistent with the agency’s corporate social responsibility to sponsor activities at one school each calendar year.

“When we came in May to do the beautification, we saw the need for some (new) computers. So we approached the USF and, right away, they (agreed) to assist,” she informed.

Ms. Bennett said RWSL also received good stakeholder support for the fun-day, with several entities making contributions. These, she informed, include: National Baking Company Limited, Jamaica Biscuit Company Limited, Mother’s Patties, Nicies Foods Limited, and Sampars Cash and Carry, noting that “we are very thankful to all of them.”

The school principal, for her part, expressed gratitude for the computers, noting that “they will serve the children well.”

She noted that the computers in the school’s laboratory are out of service and teachers have been utilising their personal laptops and tablets to conduct classes.

In this regard, Ms. Jones said the new computers will “go a very far way” to further enhance the learning and teaching process.

“The students are very receptive of the technology…(and) have always been using the computers for research. I am sure (that) for the coming (Easter) term, (beginning) in January, they will be very enthused and anxious to come to the lab and use (the new computers received),” she added.

Ms. Jones said the students, teachers, and parents were also appreciative of the fun-day and treat, pointing out that the youngsters “really enjoyed themselves very much.

The school has a student enrolment of 72 for the primary and infant departments, with daily attendance averaging 65, and a total of five teachers, including the principal.

An agency of the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, RWSL has responsibility for providing potable water and sanitation services, primarily, in rural communities.

The USF, which falls under the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, is responsible for facilitating the provision of wide-scale access to information and communications technology (ICT), through the provision of broadband services and other inputs islandwide. This is financed from a levy on international calls terminating in Jamaica.