Savanna-la-Mar Primary

There are two notable programmes in place at Savanna-La-Mar Primary School:

Class Values and Attitudes Programme

This programme was was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2005 with the theme “For a better me, for a better you, for a better Jamaica.” The core values were respect, honesty and truthfulness, forgiveness and tolerance, peace and love and fairness. The key values were discipline, responsibility, national pride, love/compassion, cooperation, punctuality, progress, work and leadership.

Our school, Savanna la Mar Primary School, participated in this competition. Since that competition and to ensure a very positive impact on our school population we decided to have a Values and Attitudes Class Competition. A judging team was selected comprising the two Guidance Counsellors and two other teachers. Each class was judged and will continue to be judged under the following headings: noise, cleanliness, best conduct, dress code, best line and punctuality. Constant sensitization is done at the class level and also at the school level. Students and staff are encouraged to embrace this programme.

Class recognition includes class of the week, class of the month and first, second and third place positions at the end of the competition period. Bonus points are given daily for punctuality and best line (at the start of the shift, end of break session and at dismissal). Checks are made on classes at regular intervals daily by judges who record points and prepare summary at the end of each week so that outstanding classes may be duly acknowledged. The points allotted in each selected area equal 10 and bonus points total 5 (for each bonus area). Outstanding classes are displayed on the Guidance Board and announcements are made using the public address system.

Special recognition is given to overall outstanding classes at planned awards function at the end of each competition period. Some of the incentives for the awards functions are donated by Jamaica Link Ministries, Juici Patties, Hammonds Pastry Place, Q’s Bakery, Tan Tan Bakery, Possessions Book Store, Jackson Williams, Hutchinson’s Texaco Service Station, School’s Vendors Association among others.

The competition will also embrace the development of posters displaying themes and values, debates, quizzes and literacy skills (poems, essays, etc.). This will be done on a grade level and incentives given for outstanding pieces. External judges may be invited to assist in the selection of these outstanding pieces.

The competition for 2008-2009 will feature main areas for judging, namely noise reduction, best conduct, cleanliness, best dress code and most disciplined. The competition period will vary for each term during the year. In term one the period will be for six weeks with each week being identified for one of these areas, such as noise reduction week, best conduct week, cleanliness week, and so on. Classes will be recognized for 1^st place and others (2^nd to 5^th) as honourable mention. These will all be placed in our values and Attitudes Garden on the Guidance Board. The class that amasses the highest total points at the end of the six weeks will be judged the winner and will receive incentives for both teacher and students. Terms two and three of the school year will include other aspects of the competition. The grand finale will be in June 2009. More incentives will be given for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners on both shifts. Students and teachers of the overall winning classes will be duly rewarded.

2. Male Mentorship Programme

Paulette D. Goslin, who became one of the Guidance Counsellors at the Savanna la Mar Primary School in October 2005, undertook a course of study for a Bachelor of Arts Degree. One of the requirements of this programme was to conduct a research of a topic of ones choice. As a classroom teacher she was exposed to the interactions of the student population (males and females). Her study concentrated on the social behaviour of boys and the influence of their fathers’ roles on such behaviour. Several recommendations were made, one of which was a male mentorship programme. The Principal of the school at that time, Mrs. Shirley Mullings, decided to embrace this suggestion and so gave her blessings for the programme to be implemented at the school.

Thus, on November 17, 2005 the Male Mentorship Programme was officially launched by the Chairman of the School Board, Mr. David Dennisur. The programme is geared towards boys at the school who have no significant positive influence from their fathers or other adult males. To date there are approximately fifty (50) boys and forty (40) fathers in the programme. Fathers from our Parent Teachers’ Association are invited to be a part of the programme. Boys are identified and recommended by their class teachers and written consent is sought from their parents/guardians to include them in the programme. Each father is assigned two (2) boys. Fathers are then encouraged to visit these boys at school, have rap sessions with them and basically keep in touch with them.

The programme has resulted in significant improvement in the behaviour of some of the boys. However, there are some constraints. We have not been able to have sufficient bonding sessions as we would have desired due to the limited availability of finances and resources. We desire to have bonding sessions at least once monthly. We usually provide refreshment and resources for some fun time. We use fun time as we realize that the boys become more open and willing to share when they can play and interact with the fathers. Some sessions are just rap sessions also.

It is our desire to have this programme assist in the overall positive development of our boys to become upright men in our society. It is probably the first one to be established in a primary school. Our Principal, Mrs. Lelith Garwood, Vice-Principals, Mrs. Jean Foote and Miss Carmelina Wilson as well as all other members of staff have embraced this programme. We hope that it will eventually have a more wide spread effect on other schools and ultimately our society.