Director of the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home, Patrick Newman, is expressing gratitude to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) and other sponsors of the home for their contribution to the academic success of the residents.
“The boys have been doing very well in school,” he said, noting that one resident sat and passed eight Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects and will be pursuing an Associate Degree in Social Work at Knox Community College.
“In addition, we have eight students at Alston High School and five were recognised for outstanding performance in the previous academic year and I am looking forward to better performances in the new school year,” Mr. Newman noted further.
He was speaking at the JIS’s annual back-to-school visit and presentation ceremony held recently at the home located in Walderston, Manchester. The boys received uniforms, shoes, bags, and stationery.
“The boys, board, staff and everyone at Mount Olivet are grateful for your input. You coming and helping us with our boys is an effort that we appreciate and we are going to reap even more come next year. So, we are doing something good at Mount Olivet and we want to thank the JIS for making things possible,” Mr. Newman said.
Of the boys attending Alston High, one is on the school’s honour roll. Two others are at Knox Community College pursuing food preparation and electrical installation.
“Each boy will be in school or in training at the start of the school year,” the boys’ home Director indicated.
“We are trying to channel them in the right direction. So, for example, one of the boys, who is interested in food preparation worked at Kendal Camp during the summer where he assisted in the kitchen and garnered hands-on experience,” he informed.
The grade-eight student, who is on the honour roll at Alston High, told JIS News that he is assisted by the staff with his homework, and he also benefits from study group sessions.
“I feel good and very proud to be on the honour roll. I have two subjects that I need to improve on and I want to be first in my class,” he said.
Mount Olivet is home to 33 boys.
Other sponsors of the back-to-school presentation are YB Afraid, Wisynco, Joseph’s, Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), JP Tropical Foods, Sammy’s Shoes Store, Juici Patties, Petrojam Limited, Sangster’s Bookstore and New Choice Wholesale in downtown Kingston.
The JIS has been visiting the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home since December 2009 and has formed a close relationship with the boys, which is maintained even after they transition from the home.
The next JIS visit is scheduled for December.
Source: Jamaica Information Service