Working Together to Improve the Standards of Our Adopted Schools

In continuance of its ardent support of education and children’s welfare, The Sandals Foundation on Labour Day, Monday May 24, undertook several projects at schools across the island.

Guided by the National Theme “Our Children … Show Them We Care”, scores of team members from Sandals and Beaches Resorts worked diligently to execute major upgrades and facelifts, valued at over J$650,000 at their designated adopted schools in St Ann, St Mary, Westmoreland and St. James.

According to Mrs. Heidi Clarke, Sandals Foundation Director of Programmes, the Labour Day theme “fit perfectly with the Sandals Foundation’s 2010 commitment to begin bringing our adopted schools to an accepted standard of safety and creating environments conducive to fostering the learning process for hundreds of our students. For a number of these schools, Monday’s projects marked the first phase of what will be a sustained programme of infrastructural improvements and educational development throughout the year.”

The St. Ann/St. Mary regions boasted the largest projects spanning three schools. With resorts’ staff and representatives from the schools’ PTAs working together, the Great Pond Basic (St Ann), Parry Town Primary (St Ann) and Boscobel Primary (St. Mary)  each benefited from fresh paint jobs as well as plumbing, carpentry and landscaping work.

A beautification initiative was the highlight of the Boscobel Primary project which included grounds clean-up, the creation of drainage and an outside study area for the students. At the Great Pond Basic School, the computer & library room was enhanced and four (4) computers donated. The students’ recreation area was also improved. Finally, extensive repair work was done to Parry Town Primary’s roof and work also began on a large mural on the school’s outer walls.

Over in St. James, the main focus was creating a fun and comfortable Reading Room for the students at the newly renamed Leonora Morris Basic School (formerly Happy Venture). In achieving this, a brand new four-tier wall book shelf was installed, resort craft vendors assisted with the painting of Sesame Street characters on the reading room walls while a donation of carpets and cushions for a special reading corner was made. General painting of classrooms, external school walls and repairs to furniture were also carried out.

The West End Basic School in Negril, Westmoreland was also repainted and four new fans installed. Further south, the Whitehouse Early Childhood School was the site of major construction where a new ceiling was completed for a classroom built recently. In the school yard, two new tyres were placed at the play areas, trees were planted and the area generally pruned. The school also received a donation of books and toys for its library.

The reaction to the projects at each location was one of great appreciation to the Sandals Foundation.

In St. James for instance, Principal Tracy Ricketts, was particularly grateful for the upgrades done to Leonora Morris Basic School’s Reading Room.

“It’s wonderful that the Sandals Foundation could implement so many things today, but we are especially thankful for the work done in our reading room. The children will enjoy this area so much. I know they will be very excited as this has been transformed into a fun and inviting environment that will get them even more interested in reading.”

“Over the years the Sandals Foundation has helped us in so many ways and today is no different. We are so thankful from the support not only from our parents but from the staff at the resorts. We are so pleased with the Foundation’s interest in the development of Education in this area and the work they are doing does not go unnoticed,” said Ms. Sophia Shacklewood, Principal of the Negril-based West End Early Childhood Centre.

And, Whitehouse community member Julene Scott, whose four-year-old daughter attends the Whitehouse Early Childhood School said, “I believe the Children of a Nation are everybody’s responsibility and I’m happy that Sandals Foundation has decided to make Whitehouse Early Childhood their project for Labor Day.”

Councilor for the Whitehouse Division, Valdence Gifford, also applauded the Sandals Foundation for their tremendous efforts within the community and their latest efforts at the school.

Formally established in 2009 but active for several years preceding its official formation, the Sandals Foundation has been deeply committed to assisting the sector of education by way of scholarships, teacher workshops and training; book, computer and sports equipment donations as well as effecting key infrastructural additions to institutions.