On a recent trip to Jamaica (Dec 1 – 13), I had the opportunity to visit the school on several occasions and interacted with several staff including Headmaster, Hemmings, Vice Principal, Bryan (Melbourne), Sheila HoSang, Guidance, Ms. Stewart, Bursar, Germaine Garvey, I.T., Mr. Bennett, Science Lab and I.T., Praveen Bugginen, I.T. (Melbourne), Margarita Hall, teacher with responsibility for oversight of the General Services Building Project at Melbourne, Mr. Fisher teacher with responsibility for coordinating Prize Giving Awards, Head Coach of the Football Program.
I also met Dayne Ashman, recipient of the 2006 Math Award and his parents, as well as Citizen Award Recipients Brandon Allwood, Luceian Creary (Headboy), Theodore Cyrild and Ryan Phillips.
Note: The Vice Principals at North Street are Helen Douglas and Mr. Burrell.
Mr. Burrell was one of the presenters at Prize Giving. I did not see Helen on any of my visits.
On Monday December 4, I had lunch at the North Street Canteen. The building has been expanded and refurbished. As of September 2006, this canteen has been operated by the school, in a similar manner to what has been in place for some time at our Melbourne site.
Mr. Bugginen indicated that the most pressing needs for the lab at Melbourne are more speed for the 21 systems on hand, 4 more systems to complete the lab, and 25 suitable chairs which may be purchased locally at a cost of Ja. $2500 ea.
Mr. Garvey who provides oversight to the entire I.T. program does not believe it is cost effective to upgrade the Melbourne systems or the systems on the science block.
His position is we need 50 up to date systems to replace those in use at Melbourne and the science block. Mr. Garvey agrees with this position. He believes that the old systems could be sold to other jurisdictions as scrap etc.
The I.T. Lab in the Douglas Forrest Building is up to date and fully functional.
I suggested to Mr. Garvey that he send a proposal regarding I.T. PROGRAM NEEDS, to KCOBA (Toronto) through our President, Lance Seymour.
Our Head Coach of the football program confirmed that he received four (4) of the six (6) purple shirts from Florida Chapter in the summer. He was unable to say who delivered same. I indicated to him that the shirts originated from the Toronto Chapter and that I had personally dispatched six shirts via the Florida Chapter to satisfy his team’s request.
The General Services Building Project which was restarted of lengthy delays was restarted since Summit V, but is again stalled. Margarita Hall advised that while the funding is not a problem, access to the funds is. Grafton Miller, Chairman of the Board at K.C., and an Attorney at Law; insists that the Ministry of Education’s tendering process be adhered to before any funds be released. Ms. Hall further advised that she was expecting this process would be completed within days of our conversation Thursday, December 7. She further stated that all involved parties at the school are in support of the Chairman’s position.
Prize Giving: I attended the event held at the North Street Cathedral Wednesday December 6. This was a three hour session beginning promptly at 1.00 p.m., and chaired by Grafton Miller, Chairman of the Board. Guest Speaker was Dr. Valerie Freckleton, Clinical Psychologist and the vote of thanks was delivered by Headboy, Luceian Creary.
Four hundred and Eighty-eight prizes were awarded.
KCOBA N.Y. sponsored 292 prizes in the categories of academic excellence and good work, for grades 7 to 13.
KCOBA South Florida donated 139 subject prizes for all grades.
Fifty seven (57) special awards were also handed out including 4 citizens sponsored by KCOBA – Toronto, and The Dr. Lloyd Demetrius Math, administered by KCOBA – Toronto.
KCOBA – Toronto among other were publicly acknowledged as supporters of Prize Giving by the Chairman in his closing remarks.
I congratulated the KCOBA – Toronto related award recipients on their achievement, on behalf of this association.
