MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Believing that parents do not need to have a reason to visit their children’s school, Jenelle Dwyer often found herself at Huntley Primary participating in a range of activities, including fun days, and even making charts for teachers.

Much to her surprise, however, she was awarded Parent of the Year for 2011-2012 from what principal of the North West Manchester institution, Hope Larmond-Morris, said was a competitive selection process.

The mother of an eight-year-old son — grade three student Jelani Williamson — was officially acknowledged at the recent inaugural Christmas dinner and awards function hosted by the Huntley Primary and Basic schools in Mandeville.

“I feel very good,” Dwyer told the Jamaica Observer Central upon copping the award. “It was surprising. I did not (know) that I was the one. You don’t have to wait until you get a phone call or there is a PTA (Parent Teachers’ Association meeting). You should always go in and see what your child is doing. At any age this is important.”

Larmond-Morris said that from her staff’s observation of parents, seven were initially identified as suitable candidates for Parent of the Year. The choices were then narrowed to three — an important factor being how knowledgeable the parents were on the general affairs of the school.

In order to maintain an “element of surprise” Dwyer was only told about the award at the function, which was open to persons affiliated with the relatively small primary and basic schools later slated to be merged.

Larmond-Morris, who has been at the helm of Huntley Primary since 2009, said the function was in line with the school’s vision statement, which says “the student, on leaving Huntley Primary, will be socially balanced and intellectually competent, ready to embark upon secondary education, displaying attitudes of a lifelong learner in a learning community”.

By extension, the event has implications for achieving the targets of the 2015 School Improvement Plan.

Having received the Parent of the Year award, Dwyer will be more actively involved in the school’s growth and development. In addition to that, she plans to successfully complete studies in primary education.

“I am looking forward to see you become an educator before my tenure ends,” Larmond-Morris told Dwyer, while speaking at the function.

The other persons awarded for their service to the schools in December were: Patricia Riley, for 20 years as a teacher at Huntley Basic; Olga Raynor, for 17 years as cook at Huntley Primary; Carolyn Riley, for 16 years as a teacher at Huntley Basic; Lloy Taylor, janitor for over 10 years at Huntley Primary; Wendy Mitchell, for 20 years as teacher at Huntley Primary; Winsome Samuels, for 11 years as teacher at Huntley Primary; Marcia Taylor, janitor for over 10 years at Huntley Primary; and Beverley Cunningham, for dedicated service as chairman of the Huntley Primary school board.