StJHSPSA gives alma mata wheelchairs

The St James High School Past Students' Association (StJHSPSA) has donated two wheelchairs to the school's nursing station to assist in the health care of students who might require their use.

In accepting the wheelchairs, the school's vice-principal, Denzil Reid, thanked the StJHSPSA on behalf of the institution, saying that the gesture spoke volumes about the association's commitment to the school.

"This is a most welcome that gesture from the past students, whose commitment to the school we appreciate so greatly," said Reid. "I am sure that these two wheelchairs will be put to good use."

Reggae Singer Mackie Conscious (Dennis McKay), the StJHSPSA's public relations officer, said the association learnt that the school's lone wheelchair had fallen into a state of disrepair and they decided to go out and source the two wheelchairs to rectify the situation.

According to the popular singer, part of the mandate of the StJHSPSA is to seek to satisfy whatever needs that might surface from time to time. He added that it was part of their overall aim to look out for the welfare of the institution.

"It is a very large school with a large student population, and sometimes students faint, so the wheelchairs will come in handy," said the singer.

McKay outlined that the association was on a mission to develop the lives of the students and be part of the school's ongoing transformation.

FUNDRAISING PROJECTS

Within recent years, the association has done several fundraising projects to generate revenue to assist needy students. In July, the school's Annual Awards Banquet was held, and the funds generated were used to pay CSEC examination fees for needy students.

"We have an inspiration going, where successful past students come in at devotions and offer a word of inspiration to the present students," the singer continued. "We do this because oftentimes, when students come to this school, they feel like they have been refused in society. They did not get the high marks in GSAT to go to a traditional high school like Cornwall College or the others. Many feel like they were nobody in a dump yard."

However, through the inspirational work of StJHSPSA and the commitment of current principal Joseph Williams, the image of the school has been significantly transformed in recent years.

"We are using the inspiration programme to make them (the current students) realise that we came here and have made something of ourselves, and so they can, too," said the singer, who is also a qualified accountant.

okoye.henry@gleanerjm.com