St. Thomas Students Receive Back-to-School Supplies

More than 150 students received back-to-school supplies at the recent St. Thomas Students Essay Competition, organised by United States (US)-based Jamaican national, Audrey Thomas.

The event was held at Eastern Gas Plaza in Yallahs and saw 16 students participating in the competition.

Scores of students from across the parish were gifted with computer gadgets, school bags and other educational items. Several teachers and outstanding community persons were also awarded at the function.

Miss Thomas told JIS News that the inaugural initiative aimed to equip students with crucial literacy skills and to provide support to their educational development.

“It is also geared towards encouraging young minds to improve on their writing skills, and to expand on their imagination,” she said.

“Each year I try to do something special to commemorate my survival [from cancer]. Giving back is more gratifying than receiving, and once I told my friends what I wanted to do, everybody was literally on board,” Miss Thomas said.

Retired Principal of Yallahs Primary School, Michelle Buchanan, said the competition will help the children to build their creative skills.

“When I saw what they produced in a short space of time, there is hope. The essays were really good,” she said, adding that the gifts, especially the computers, are “perfect tools” for their educational pursuits.

For his part, Principal of Yallahs High School, Mark Malabver, who was recognised at the event for his contribution to education, said he was impressed with the views from the students, which centred around Jamaica’s Independence and the extent to which the country is truly independent.

“It was a good way to get the students to be thinking critically about Jamaica, and our independence. I heard some good essays, and it is good that young people are thinking in such a way,” he said.