Excelsior Primary stunned by VP’s death
Published:Tuesday | June 7, 2022 | 12:07 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
Students of the Excelsior Primary and Infant School were asked to stay home on Monday as the institution grappled with news of the death of Vice-Principal Shirley Pinnock over the weekend.
Grieving colleagues were seen huddled in small groups discussing their loss and the likely impact on the school population when The Gleaner visited the Kingston-based institution yesterday.
“The staff has really felt the loss,” said Principal Oliver Holness, who noted that in her role as vice-principal, Pinnock’s main focus was the area of instructional leadership, putting her into close contact with teachers and students.
“Mrs Pinnock has an excellent relationship with the staff and with the students alike. So she would have been doing a number of class visits and interacting with the staff,” Holness said.
Pinnock’s passing was especially tragic, he said, as after almost three decades as an educator, she was now set to embark on pre-retirement leave.
“She is a stalwart just about to go on pre-retirement, so it comes as a surprise because up to Easter, she was with us. Since the start of the summer term, she has been in and out of hospital,” the headmaster told The Gleaner.
Holness said that when he joined the staff as principal, Pinnock was always ready to offer guidance.
“We worked very well. We had an excellent relationship, and decisions that were made, she is always actively involved. We meet regularly to plan and to look at exactly what we are doing here because she is always offering advice. It is going to be a great loss. It took us by surprise, and life will not necessarily be the same,” Holness admitted.
A team from the Ministry of Education is expected to visit the school today to provide grief counselling, especially to grade five students preparing to sit the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Ability Test on Wednesday and Thursday.
Holness said that the teachers have recommitted to dig deep to help the students to overcome the shocking loss.
“My staff, they have the students’ best interest at heart, so I know they will find that inner strength to ensure that the students are still given the best education that Excelsior Primary and Infant is known for,” he added.