DUMFRIES, St James – Teachers and students at Dumfries Primary School were sporting broad smiles last Wednesday, after the school received nearly $1million worth of equipment from Scotiabank in celebration of Teachers’ Day.

The school was presented with new furniture, including seven desks and chairs; three filing cabinets; a new photocopying machine; and several pieces of outdoor furniture costing $700,000.

“As the principal of this institution, I am honoured to be the recipient of such generosity. These remarkable gifts are highly appreciated. On this Teachers’ Day, these are the ultimate gifts!” an elated school principal, Patricia Flemming Dumfries, exclaimed.

“Staff members can now enjoy the comfort of exquisite furniture; students can sit in comfort at lunch; and above all, the intellectual goal of our students will be enhanced as the teachers utilise the new printing machine,” she added.

In addition to gift items, 21 of the 260 workers at Scotiabank who were selected to volunteer in 175 schools across the nation as substitute teachers in appreciation of Teachers’ Day, served at the St James Primary School, which was chosen as the national project by the banking institution.

The relationship between the 34-year-old Dumfries Primary and the financial institution goes back to 1995, when the then manager of the Montego Bay branch of the bank, Gladston Wright, was instrumental in assisting the school with funding to start up the manufacturing of syrup. At the time, the school sold the commodity to hotels and other establishments.

According to Flemmings, since then Scotiabank has helped the school with “savings accounts for all Common Entrance awardees, banquets organised to celebrate our children achievement, Labour Day projects, 240 square feet of roofing for the school, numerous treats, and the planting of fruit trees on the school premises”, among other things.

Director of public corporate and government affairs at Scotiabank Centre Joylene Griffiths-Irving has given a commitment on behalf of Scotiabank for the financing of a pig-rearing project at the school, upon completion of the reaping of sugarcane from a field on the school compound.