Maverly Children Benefit From Back-To-School Health Fair

Maverley residents are expressing gratitude to a group of young professionals following a clinic in the community recently, which provided more than 100 children with dental, optical and general screening in time for them to return to school.

The Back to School Health Fair was organised by the Corporate Area-based Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights.

“Even though the health centre is free, most times you have to find the bus fare. Right here, you only paying $200. you get to see the doctor, eye specialist and dentist,” said Nicola Lyons, who took her five-year-old daughter to benefit from the subsidised health care.

“I had to also make sure that my neighbour and friends send their children,” she added.

It’s the sixth year the event was being held in the community, was hosted by The Source by JN Foundation.

“It saves me what I don’t have,” said Shalie Cooke, who has attended the event every year since its launch.

“My kids benefit from it. The money that I would spend to do all of this, I can use to do back-to-school shopping,” the mother of two boys, nine and 10 years old, remarked. She also took her friends’ children.

Club president Horace ‘Hugo’ Matthews, said good health is important if children are to learn effectively.

“Very often, a lot of the attention is placed on getting all the back-to-school supplies in order and parents sometimes don’t have the time or money to take their children to the doctor to ensure they are in good health before they go to school in September,” he said, underscoring the reason for the health fair’s focus on children, although he noted that general and optical screening were also made available to the elderly.

Volunteer private doctors and medical professionals from organisations such as the FISH Clinic, and community members, as well as volunteers from JN Foundation ACT!ON corps and the Maverley Police Youth Club, were on hand to help coordinate the event, which allowed residents to access a range of tests and checks.

Adults at the event also had access to small-business advice and product information from sponsor, JN Small Business Loans.

The event also received support from the Chase Fund, which provided the bulk of the financing for the project, along with JN Small Business Loans, as well as contributions from jerk food specialist, Scotchies, Consolidated Bakers, through its Purity brand, Nestle, Jazz Juices and Eyeland Eyewear.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150901/maverly-children-benefit-back-school-health-fair

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Waldorf

A new approach to educating the nation’s youth

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. — Aristotle.

The hustle and bustle associated with a new academic year is here. However, to a great extent, the 2015/2016 academic year will commence similar to previous years beset by myriad fixable problems. It bears thought that, as a society, we have become satisfied with mediocrity. This is evident in our continuation to celebrate pockets of excellence scattered across all 14 parishes, three counties, and six regions of Jamaica’s education system. Disturbingly, there has been a gradual decrease in our pockets of excellence. This is unacceptable and clearly indicates that we need to become proactive in order to improve Jamaica’s education system.

The gravity of Jamaica’s education system is documented in the 2014 National Education Inspectorate (NEI) report which stated that more than 60 per cent of the country’s primary and secondary schools are failing in their education delivery to the nation’s children. As a result, more and more of our students continue to leave high school unprepared for the world of work or unable to matriculate to the tertiary level. This feeds Jamaica’s youth employment rate of 33.3 per cent. Clearly, this is a recipe for crime.

The genesis of the phenomenon of failing schools in the society lies with poor leadership and a lack of accountability. Sadly, too many of our school administrators are merely perfunctory leaders without the zeal and zest for human capacity formation. Added to this dilemma is the fact that we have a relatively weak middle management structure of senior teachers across most schools. According to Dr Renee Rattray, director of education programmes at the Jamaica National Foundation, “Many of the middle managers are promoted to positions of seniority without adequate preparation.” This is clearly a flaw in our education system and one that urgently needs to be remedied. There needs to be on-the-job training and workshops for those who are selected as senior teachers. Probably we need to examine how senior teachers are promoted in the first instance. It is an open secret that the promotion of senior teachers is based largely on the fancy of school administrators. In many instances senior teachers are lacking in the area of professionalism and many lack integrity and therefore are poor examples for their junior colleagues. This practice continues to frustrate the education system. The continued practice of principals’ pets becoming senior teachers is driving many talented and young teachers from the classroom.

Our policymakers and educators need to keep abreast of best practices and teaching trends elsewhere. It is rather troubling that a significant number of our students are leaving high schools without the necessary skill sets to critically analyse situations and arrive at solutions.

Jamaica could benefit by examining a different educational model such as the Waldorf Education which was founded by Austrian-born Rudolf Steiner, who was an educator, scientist and philosopher. Waldorf education is based on an understanding that the key to developing problem-solving skills for the 21st century is an active imagination and a commitment to pursuing one’s purpose in life. The Waldorf curriculum carefully balances academic, artistic, and practical activities to stimulate the imagination and prepare the students for life. Rather than relying on rote memorisation of standardised information, Waldorf education seeks to engage the whole child in the learning process. Our students need to view education as a seamless patchwork connecting all subjects, instead of compartmentalising the offering of the various subjects.

With the Waldorf model every subject is taught artistically, using movement, drawing, painting, music, storytelling, and rhythm; teachers bring the material to life and endow the developing child with a lifelong sense of wonder and a joy of learning. Whether our students become anthropologists or police officers, mathematicians or musicians, the creative capacities developed through a Waldorf education will give students the foundation they require to be successful and adapt to changing circumstances.

Interestingly, once you enter a Waldorf school you are struck by the care given to the school plant. The walls are usually painted in lively colours and adorned with student artwork. As a society we have paid little attention to the colour schemes of our schools despite the research that highlights benefits that bright and lively colours have on the teaching/learning process. Clearly, the Waldorf approach to education is student-centred and this serves to empower and motivate students as well as assist in their capacity to develop a yearning for lifelong learning.

Teachers using this model exhibit much enthusiasm, as teaching is presented in a pictorial and dynamic manner. This approach reduces the need for competitive testing. The Waldorf curriculum is broad and all encompassing covering three phases: from birth to age seven, from age seven to 14 years, and from 14 to age 18. We need to find a mixture of educational models that best fit the complexities of Jamaica’s educational landscape. This model must be consultative in scope and nature and must involved all stakeholders.

One important stakeholder we must have on board are the parents. They must become more involved in their children’s education. Data show that parents who spend quality time to monitor and offer support to their children’s school are rewarded by better returns on their investment. The ongoing gang violence in some areas will undoubtedly impact negatively on schools located in and around the vicinity. Those schools will require much support from the Education Ministry for their staff, and especially for those traumatised students. We can only hope that the Ministry of Education will be proactive and put in place the necessary support systems to facilitate a smooth opening of the new school year. We are at a critical juncture in our development especially as Jamaica recently celebrated 53 years of political independence. A well educated and skilled workforce is vital for us to have sustainable development and to pull ourselves out of the economic crisis in which we find ourselves. All hands are needed on deck to turn around Jamaica’s pockets of excellence to a widespread increase in the delivery of educational outcomes regardless of school. We are all accountable to the children of Jamaica. This academic year, let us draw inspiration from our athletes who recently competed at the 15th IAAF World Championships. It takes a team effort, dedication and commitment to reap success.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. — Malcolm X

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and gender issues. Send comments to the Observer or waykam@yahoo.com.

 

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/A-new-approach-to-educating-the-nation-s-youth_19226673

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image0

50 primary schools set for bathroom upgrades

FIFTY primary schools will receive new and upgraded sanitary facilities by the end of May as a result of the Food for the Poor and Ministry of Education sanitary upgrade project.

The initiative, which was officially launched recently at Bois Primary School in St Catherine, is also being funded by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation.

Andrew Mahfood, chairman of Food for the Poor, said the project will provide low-cost solutions to upgrade sanitary blocks in schools through the construction of concrete toilet facilities. He noted that the project has adopted the organisation’s “flush for life” objective, which was implemented years ago to remove pit latrines from schools in Jamaica.

“Through the “flush for life” project, we replaced pit latrines in approximately 40 schools with the help of corporate Jamaica and the JNBS Foundation. That sanitation project impacted thousands of lives, and we are now pleased to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and JNBS Foundation to continue delivering low-cost solutions by upgrading sanitary conveniences in primary schools,” Mahfood stated.

Ronald Thwaites, minister of education, endorsed the initiative as one that contributes to the overall learning environment for students, and a move by the Government to demonstrate its commitment to the eradication of pit latrines from schools.

“Two years ago the prime minister said to me that wherever possible, I should find the resources and partners to make sure that we eliminate pit toilets in our schools. This project is certainly a stepping stone for us to realise this mandate,” he said.

Contributing to the execution of the project with a grant of $6 million, Saffrey Brown, general manager, JNBS Foundation, described the initiative as a social partnership for the benefit of children.

“This launch is a demonstration of a socially focused partnership as we join forces to implement solutions to upgrade sanitary blocks for students, one school at a time, until we can say mission accomplished. These upgrades will provide a safe and comfortable environment in which our children can thrive,” Brown said.

Bois Primary is the first beneficiary of the sanitary upgrade project. The institution, which had pit latrines for six decades, officially opened the new bathroom facility at the launch event.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/50-primary-schools-set-for-bathroom-upgrades_18417295

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s20_7942

Say Click, Take A Pic! JN facilitates development of young photographers

Many youngsters have little or nothing to do outside of the school yard. Since 2003, however, the Resolution Project has given high school students in the rural area the chance to take advantage of the happenings around them. With the help of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation, students have been equipped and trained in the art of photography and youth advocacy. A little over a week ago, the JNBS Resolution Project Awards ceremony was held at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre to crown this year’s top performers, as well as announce the best photographs taken for each category. The theme for 2015 was “Rites and Rituals.”

This year, 25 schools participated in the competition, with over 12,000 images submitted. Naturally, this translated to a lot of work for the panel comprising of five judges – inclusive of chairman of the JNBS Foundation, Earl Jarrett. The panel was tasked with rationalising how the students brought across the theme. Throughout the event, it was expressed that the panel was very pleased with the direction of the project and the collection of the children’s work, which was published in a coffee table book last year. Jarrett and the general manager of the JNBS Foundation, Saffrey Brown were openly pleased with this year’s participation. Brown admitted that such a project is tricky to facilitate, “we are a very conservative organisation and believe in family values and being Jamaica, the work brought to the fore can be very disturbing… but we have to make sure we don’t censor [student photographers].”

Glenmuir High School dominated the awards ceremony with nine sectional awards, the next best was Anchovy High with two awards. The toast of the ceremony was Jeremy Anderson from Glenmuir High who took home all of five awards, including Best Male Photographer and the JNBS General Manager’s Best Photo Award for “100 miles in my shoes.”

Alesha Rowe, who has been involved with the project since 2012, took home the Best Female Photographer award. When asked how she felt about her award, she told the teenAGE Observer, “It’s good to be rewarded with a camera because it shows that the JN Resolution Project cares about me and expanding on my creativity.”

The Hampton High student, who is looking to take photography seriously going forward, provided advice for budding photographers, “Just go for it [entering the Resolution Project] even if you don’t think you’re cut out to be the ‘best’, because it helps you to develop your talent and become the best that you can be through workshops and the different themes.”

The outstanding photographs will not just end here, with some having the possibility of being exhibited at both international airports on the island as well as entered into JCDC competitions where they have done well. We say kudos to the JNBS Foundation for giving the youth such an opportunity to be creative.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/teenage/teen-jn-resolution-project

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run

Lets Go Running

Our #JNFoundation ACT!ONeers (ACT!ON Jamaica #volunteers) will be busy this weekend.

To start things off, our volunteers will be leading warm up sessions, distributing bibs, manning select water stations at the Road Safety 5K in Mona this morning.

LET’S GO TO THE BEACH!

Then come tomorrow we’ll be off to St. Catherine to assist the Braeton Police Youth Club with it’s clean up exercise at Helshire Beach in Portmore! Stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for updates ^_^

#GoVolunteerJA #JN #SpruceUpJamaica

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