Eltham High Lends Support to William Knibb Memorial High in Trelawny

Officials of Eltham High School, Spanish Town, in St. Catherine say the school is committed to assisting with relief efforts at institutions in western Jamaica to show solidarity with those affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Led by Vice Principal, Dr. Gregory Allen, a delegation made up of educators and members of the school’s Manning Cup football team, travelled to the badly affected William Knibb Memorial High School in Falmouth, Trelawny, on November 12 to lend humanitarian support where possible.

The delegation was received by William Knibb’s Principal, Linvern Wright, where relief efforts are being organised to assist with plans for the school’s reopening.

Dr. Allen said that the visit to William Knibb was “just a prelude to what is to come,” as the Eltham team, including staff and Manning Cup players, do understand the urgent needs of affected schools in the western region and the necessity of a coordinated, sustained response.

“We were not badly affected by Hurricane Melissa, so immediately our thoughts were on our brothers and sisters in the western region and how best we can assist,” the Vice Principal told JIS News.

“We approached our Manning Cup players who were willing to assist without hesitation and here we are,” he said.

Dr. Allen said that the plan was to make an assessment of the damage at hand and to see the areas of immediate needs.

He said the fact that Eltham was lightly affected by Melissa, gave them “the leverage and clarity” to channel resources and efforts towards the less fortunate institutions.

Among the announced plans, Dr. Allen mentioned, is an interim programme for students from western areas whose schools have been closed due to the hurricane. This programme will allow the temporary hosting of students who have relatives in the Spanish Town region, ensuring educational continuity while their schools remain closed.

“We are not limited to a single visit; we want to help as many schools as we can in the west,” he said.
Eltham’s long-term vision is to maintain a steady flow of support and collaboration with institutions in the region.

The Vice Principal said that despite budgetary constraints, Eltham is willing to do what is necessary with the available resources to benefit as many students as possible, and not just those at William Knibb.

Fundraising and resource collection efforts, he said, will be driven by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and students. “If we move this through our PTA, we can mobilise more people and secure a meaningful contribution in donations and practical support,” he said.

The aim, Dr. Allen added, is to create a domino effect of solidarity that also reaches other schools in the western region, including future visits to institutions such as Herbert Morrison and Belmont Academy.