Sudbury Primary and Infant School in St. James now has a new, fully equipped playground providing students with a space for physical activity and social development.

The facility boasts four swings, two seesaws, and a jungle gym.

It was established at a cost of approximately $800,000 through donation from owner of All Seasons Vacations in Pennsylvania, United States, Wanda Keefer, which was facilitated by Sandals Foundation.

Addressing the recent opening ceremony, Principal of the school, Susan Davis, noted that the new playground is a timely addition to the school’s efforts to promote an active lifestyle among students.

She underscored the importance of play in fostering the holistic development of the pupils.

“Play helps our children develop socially, physically, and educationally. They need to play and interact with one another so that true learning can take place. This dedicated play area will encourage students to continue learning beyond the classroom, fostering cognitive development and essential life skills such as socialisation and teamwork,” she said.

In addition to the new recreational space, students at the institution received three large boxes of school supplies.

Principal Davis expressed gratitude to the donors, noting that the contributions will leave a lasting impression.

“You’re making a profound impact on Jamaica’s future,” she said.

Ms. Keefer said that the idea for the playground was borne five years ago when she visited the school and donated more than 300 backpacks filled with supplies.

Despite facing challenges, including delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the vision endured. With the help of her team and the Sandals Foundation, the idea bore fruit.

“Reaching this point feels like a miracle, and I am forever thankful to my team, my family and, of course, the Sandals Foundation for all the support and logistics that made this dream a reality,” she shared.

Ms. Keefer was touched that the school named the facility ‘Terry’s Playground,’ in honour of her late husband, Terry Kershner, who passed away from cancer 14 years ago.

For her part, Regional Public Relations Manager at Sandals Resorts, Rochelle Forbes-Reid, told JIS News that the project reflects the Foundation’s commitment to education and creating safe, nurturing environments for children.

“At the Foundation, we believe that every child deserves access to quality learning spaces so that they can be inspired to grow, to be creative and really to have a lot of fun while they’re at school,” she said.

“It’s not just about building a structure; it’s about building hope, joy, and a sense of community. For us, working with our travel partners is very, very important,” Mrs. Forbes-Reid added.

Several primary schools across St. Ann are celebrating remarkable success, following the release of this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results.

Among the standout performers is Breadnut Hill Primary School, where Principal, Sherron Minott, expressed her delight at her students’ stellar accomplishments.

“I am very proud of our students’ performance this year. Some  have secured placements in some of the most prestigious high schools, and some even achieved their first or second choices. It’s a testament to the dedication of our teachers, students, and the entire school community,” she told JIS News in an interview.

Ms. Minott highlighted that although Breadnut Hill is not as large or as historically renowned as some of its counterparts in the parish, the school has been steadily building its reputation for academic excellence and vibrant extracurricular activities.

She credited her dedicated team of teachers and the supportive parents for creating an environment where students can thrive.

“Our teachers go above and beyond, working tirelessly to ensure every student reaches his or her potential. Our parents are also very involved, which makes a big difference,” she said.

At Ocho Rios Primary School, Principal, Suzette Barnes Wilson, shared her enthusiasm about the results.

“We are very pleased with our students’ performance this year. Many achieved placements in their high school of choice, while others secured spots at their second option. It’s a reflection of our strategic approach to teaching and learning,” she told JIS News.

Principal Wilson explained that the school employs an innovative rotation strategy where teachers are periodically rotated across different subjects and groups. This approach helps keep students engaged, focused, and on par with their peers, fostering a collaborative and dynamic learning environment.

“Excellence is our motto, and these results show that our efforts are paying off. Our steady improvement over the past three years confirms our position as a key feeder school for high schools in St. Ann, and we remain committed to maintaining and surpassing these standards,” she said.

The achievements across the parish have garnered praise beyond the school walls. Councillor Michael Belnavis, Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay and Chairman of Ocho Rios Primary, expressed his pride and optimism in the schools’ performance.

“It’s truly heartening to hear about the excellent grades attained by our primary-school students. These results are a reflection of the hard work of teachers, students, and parents alike. They also reflect a significant boost in student achievements and the schools’ rising reputation as critical feeders into Jamaica’s secondary-education system,” he said.

Councillor Belnavis emphasised that the structure and strategic initiatives of the schools are instrumental in their continued growth.

“Parents are becoming more involved in their children’s education, which greatly supports our schools’ efforts. With such collaborative efforts, I am confident that our schools will continue to improve and produce even more outstanding results in the future,” he said.

Minister of Education Skills Youth & Information, Senator Dr. the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon (second right) accepts a painting from President, Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA), Tamar McKenzie (right), during a courtesy call by JISA members at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on Tuesday (June 3). Sharing in the presentation (from left) are Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kasan Troupe; and Director, Liberty Academy at the Priory, Susan Williams, who painted the artwork.

The Jamaica Library Service (JLS) has received an additional 200 laptop computers from e-Learning Jamaica Limited.

This brings to 400 the total number of devices that have been donated to the JLS by e-Learning Jamaica.

The investment forms part of Jamaica’s broader national digital transformation plan spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOESYI), aimed at ensuring equitable access to technology for all citizens.

At the handover event, held at the MOESYI on June 2, Acting Chief Education Officer, Terry-Ann Thomas-Gayle, spoke to the significance of the initiative.

“This is another step forward in our TRENDing, Transforming Education for National Development. e-Learning Jamaica continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring that no student or community member is excluded from technological progress. With these 400 laptops now in the hands of the JLS, our libraries will be better positioned to serve communities, particularly in enhancing literacy and numeracy in schools,” she said.

The JLS operates a network of 109 public libraries across the island, serving as vital access points for academic research, digital literacy, lifelong learning, and social inclusion.

These libraries play a crucial role in providing equitable access to information and technology for diverse groups, including students and senior citizens.

The JLS is aiming for a target of 800 units, and these 400 new devices account for 50 per cent of its immediate technology upgrade needs.

Director General of the JLS, Maureen Thompson, thanked e-Learning Jamaica for this latest donation.

“These devices will significantly boost our ICT capabilities and help us better serve the evolving needs of 21st century users. As our libraries continue to transform, this contribution ensures that digital progress remains a national priority,” she said.

She pointed out that these developments are crucial to closing the digital divide and guaranteeing that Jamaicans in every parish have modern reliable access to the tools and information needed to thrive in a digital economy.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of e-Learning Jamaica, Andrew Lee, said the agency is proud to provide these additional 200 laptops to the JLS.

“Public libraries are essential pillars of access and opportunity in Jamaica. This partnership helps us advance our mission to equip every public institution with the necessary technology to support education, research, and digital connectivity,” he asserted.

With half of its current technology goals achieved, the JLS is actively pursuing public-private collaborations to acquire an additional 400 laptops and to upgrade its wide area network (WAN) infrastructure, further enhancing digital access.

The last major upgrade to the JLS’s technology infrastructure was in 2016, through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries Initiative, which saw the deployment of 800 desktop computers, wireless access points, and staff training, marking a notable milestone in the modernisation of Jamaica’s libraries.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOESYI) is reminding schools across the country about the importance of adhering to the Interim Guidelines for Beverages in Schools.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), the Education Ministry implemented guidelines, which came into effect January 1, 2019.

They serve as a vital tool for promoting student health by encouraging the provision of nutritious beverage options until the formal National School Nutrition Policy and Standards are formally approved and implemented.

In a recent bulletin, the MOESYI reiterated the need to reduce sugar consumption among students and to foster lifelong healthy habits.

To support this initiative, the MOHW has established a Voluntary Registry of Compliant Beverages, which provides a vetted list of beverage options that meet the interim standards.

This registry aims to assist school administrators, food service providers, parents, and other stakeholders in making informed choices when procuring drinks for students.

A key element of the guidelines is ensuring beverage compliance.

Beverages are deemed compliant if they are unsweetened or if sweetened, contain no more than 2.5 grams of total sugar per 100 millilitres (equivalent to 6 grams per 240-millilitre serving).

The Bulletin said members of staff at schools are advised to verify labels and documentation carefully during procurement.

It also noted that once the National School Nutrition Policy is fully adopted, beverages containing artificial sweeteners will no longer be allowed.

The 2025 Voluntary Reference List, which includes beverages registered in accordance with the interim standards, is intended to facilitate better decision-making among school canteen operators and purchasing committees.

The Ministry encourages all stakeholders to utilise this resource to create a healthier nutrition environment in schools.

For further information or assistance, schools and stakeholders can contact the School Feeding Unit at the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information at 876-967-7934-9.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has welcomed assistance from the Council for Creative Education (CCE), to strengthen mathematics instruction.

The CCE is a pioneering research organisation based in Finland, committed to redefining education through creativity and innovation.

Addressing the opening of a three-day National Mathematics Workshop, which commenced on Tuesday (May 27), at The Mico University College, Dr. Morris Dixon noted that Jamaica is experiencing a “crisis of mathematics”.

The workshop is being led by CCE Director, Heramb Kulkarni, in collaboration with The Mico University College and the Phillip and Christine Gore Family Foundation.

Dr. Morris Dixon shared that only 60 per cent of students were proficient or highly proficient in the 2024 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination, and at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level, only 33.4 per cent of students received a passing grade in mathematics.

“I’m hoping that, through this, you will write to me and give me some solutions or policy-based solutions. Many of you are experimenting in really very interesting ways and you’re seeing results. We need to know about that,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

She encouraged the 60 teachers who will be benefiting from the workshop to share the knowledge with their colleagues.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Phillip and Christine Gore Family Foundation, Christine Gore, told JIS News that the Foundation is committed to supporting every transformational opportunity that presents itself.

“Our main focus is really early-childhood education because that is the most effective investment in education. But we can’t ignore the older children, and so we have become involved in scholarships to university, at-risk youth programmes and, more recently, remedial education,” she explained.

Mrs. Gore reasoned that Jamaica shines on the track, on the stage, and in tourism and it is now time for the country to shine in education, particularly in mathematics.

“It’s 60 teachers, but we’re now talking about a way of recording the classes and putting them on a website, so that more teachers can access it. We also want to ensure that we support these 60 teachers when they go back into their classroom. So, I’ve asked Mico and CCE Finland to develop a system to continue to support them and monitor them when they go back into the classroom,” she said.

Mrs. Gore further noted that she has asked them to devise a system of assessing the teachers’ performance, so that rewards can be offered to those who are the most innovative and most effective in spreading the knowledge in their schools and communities.

For his part, President of The Mico University College, Dr. Asburn Pinnock, said the institution’s mandate is to ensure that it trains competent mathematics teachers for Jamaica.

“We realise the importance of mathematics to the development of our people and the development of our nation. There’s a close alignment or link between the mastery of mathematics and economic development because this is a basis for the key professions in commerce, engineering and medicine,” Dr. Pinnock said.

He pointed out that mathematics must remain high on the agenda of subjects for which educators receive continuous training.

“One of the greatest challenges we have, though, is to reduce the anxiety level or the fear of mathematics. Persons are willing to say that I can’t do maths, but they are embarrassed to say I can’t read. I want that embarrassment to also cover mathematics,” Dr. Pinnock said.

Scores of persons gathered at the Celebration Church in Portmore, St. Catherine, on Wednesday (May 29) for prayer and worship as they asked for God’s blessings for the nation’s children and their families.

The National Day of Prayer was organised by the National Child Month Committee (NCMC) as part of activities in observance of Child Month in May.

In attendance were children from various institutions in St. Catherine, who were joined by members of the NCMC, Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, church groups, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.

Pastor Sean Williams of the Fellowship Tabernacle in Kingston, who gave the keynote address, called on Jamaicans to value every child, lift them up and ensure that they are always protected.

He said that the church must lead the way in protecting children and not designate that responsibility to others.

Chair of the NCMC, Nicole Patrick Shaw, in her remarks, noted National Day of Prayer was designed to create a platform “that allows us as a nation to pause, acknowledge the power of prayer, and seek divine intervention for our urgent needs, especially those of our children”.

“As a faith-based nation, prayer is deeply entrenched in our culture, reflected even in the scripting of our national anthem. Prayer is more than a ritual; it is an act of hope, a declaration of faith and our rallying cry for justice, protection, and healing,” she declared.

Mrs. Patrick Shaw said that this year’s Child Month theme: ‘Act Now! Stand Against Child Abuse and Exploitation’ is not just a gentle suggestion, it is a call for urgent action.

She noted that too often persons have remained silent or looked the other way in the face of abuse of children.

“Today, we are reminded that standing against abuse begins on our knees in prayer. But prayer must be coupled with action,” she said.

Mrs. Patrick Shaw called on Jamaicans to become “earthly defenders” of children, advocating for safe spaces, accountability, and healing within families.

She urged Jamaicans to work together, transcending differences, to create an environment where every child can grow in peace, dignity, and love.

The service was punctuated with intercessory prayers offered by the Archbishop of Kingston, the Most Rev. Kenneth Richards, representing the Jamaica Council of Churches; Bishop Garfield Daley of Faith Apostolic Ministries; NCMC Chair Emeritus, Dr. Pauline Mullings; Senior Director in the Children and Adolescent Division of the Ministry, Hyacinth Blair; Assistant Chief Education Officer, Guidance and Counselling Unit, Kennecy Davidson; and Evangelist Joy Thomas, from  Celebration Church Jamaica.

Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams-Thomas, read the opening scripture.

The National Day of Prayer was the penultimate activity on the 2025 Child Month calendar.

The observance ends on Friday, May 30 with the distribution of care packages to vulnerable children and their families at the Pentecostal Gospel 111 Windward Road, Kingston.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, Senator Dr. the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon, participates in the handover of digital devices at St. Martin de Porres Primary and Infant School on Labour Day (May 23).

 

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, Senator Dr. the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon (right), participates in painting the playground at St. Martin de Porres Primary and Infant School in Gordon Town, St. Andrew, on Labour Day (May 23). She is joined (from left) Executive Director, National Education Trust, Latoya Harris-Ghartey; Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Rural, the Most Honourable Juliet Holness; and Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund Director, Merle Donaldson, and Volunteers, Kaelen Allen and Kai-Leigh Allen.

The streets of Morant Bay, St. Thomas came alive on Friday (May 16) as the National Child Month Committee (NCMC), in partnership various stakeholders, observed National Children’s Day.

The activities included offering words of affirmation, greeting school children and distributing tokens to celebrate and uplift Jamaica’s youngest citizens.

“This day is just as special as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. It’s a day to honour and celebrate our children, to boost their self-worth and self-esteem, especially in today’s challenging climate. We want our children to know that they are our focus and that they are truly loved by us as adults,” Chair of the NCMC, Nicole Patrick Shaw said.

Volunteers wore bright sunshine yellow—the official colour symbolizing children, and distributed armbands bearing the inscription ‘National Children’s Day’ in yellow and blue, the colours of the NCMC.

Children’s day activities were also held in Kingston, St. Andrew, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and St. Ann, where NCMC committee members and volunteers handed out motivational stickers, armbands, snacks, water, juice, and fresh bananas.

Established in 1953 by the wife of the Governor-General, the National Child Month Committee was originally tasked with developing a theme and activities for Child Month each May.

Over the years, its mission has expanded to include year-round child empowerment, recognizing that building self-esteem, promoting mental wellness, and encouraging civic mindedness, must be a continuous effort.

For Child Month 2025, the Committee has coordinated a calendar of activities, including an Adolescents and Mental Awareness Day, Care Package Day, National Day of Prayer, and Children’s Day celebrations.

Beyond the month of May, the NCMC also marks Youth Month in November with academic awards and forums, that amplify the voices of young people and celebrate their resilience, particularly those who have triumphed over adversity.

“All our work centres on the belief that children have rights and a voice. We want to raise children who are not only resilient, but also civic-minded and empathetic. That means focusing on self-worth, mental health, and a strong sense of purpose,” Mrs Patrick Shaw stated.

“Whatever resources we have, we pour them back into our children. They are our present, and our future,” she added.

Child Month involves partnership from the Ministry of Education, Skills and Youth, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), and several non-governmental organisations and community groups.