Three Schools in St. Catherine Benefit from JIS Donation

Three St. Catherine schools on Friday (Nov. 27) received educational materials from the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) valued at approximately $10,000.
The schools are Newlands Basic in Portmore; Sargeantville All-Age in Harker’s Hall; and Seafield Primary and Infant.
Acting Radio Manager at the JIS, Mrs. Alva Lindsay Blair, made the presentations to the schools. A total of 385 students are expected to benefit from the donation of books, flags, and pictures of the country’s national heroes.
In her remarks to the teachers and 65 three to six year-old students at Newlands Basic School, Mrs. Lindsay Blair expressed delight at handing over the gifts on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the JIS, Mrs. Donna-Marie Rowe.

Acting Radio Manager at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Mrs. Alva Lindsay Blair (right) listens keenly to grade 3 student, Etteneva Edwards, ahead of the JIS’ donation of educational materials to the Seafield Primary and Infant School in St. Catherine on Friday, November 27. Seafield was one of three schools in the parish to receive books, flags and pictures of the national heroes valued at about $10,000.

She urged the school community to use the publications wisely for their development. “I am honoured to present these informative materials that will assist you with research and make you more knowledgeable about Jamaica’s culture and heritage”, she said.
Principal, Ester Gogoul, stated her gratitude that the school’s request for heritage posters was honoured by the JIS.
“The posters and educational materials are of great value to us and we will pass on the information to our children,” she stated.
During the presentation ceremony at Sargeantville All-age School, the grades five and six students were treated to a film on traditional dances, featuring leader/ choreographer for the popular L’Acadco dance troupe, L’Antoinette Stines.

Principal of the Seafield Primary and Infant School, Hazel Bradford (left), accepts a donation of educational materials for the school’s refurbished library from Acting Radio Manager at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Mrs. Alva Lindsay Blair, while students look on. The donation of books, flags and pictures of the national heroes, is part of the agency’s efforts to raise national consciousness.

Grade five teacher Bhanmattie Deodat said that each class will be exposed to the JIS materials. “After the classes have used them individually, then they will be placed in the library for the students, past students, and the rest of the community to do research,” Mrs. Deodat informed.
At Seafield Primary and Infant, Principal, Hazel Bradford, also stated her delight with the JIS donations.
She explained that the school recently converted two classrooms into a library following a change from all-age to primary status.
“With the JIS contribution, our students will be very knowledgeable about their heritage,” she stated, while informing that the materials will be added to the library’s collections.