MONEAGUE Primary and Junior High topped 24 schools at the awards ceremony for the inaugural Lasco Releaf Enviromental Awareness Programme (REAP) held last Tuesday at the Knutsford Court.

The ceremony, which heralded the end of year one of REAP, acknowledged the participation of over 30,000 primary and junior high students from across the island in environmental preservation activities.

REAP, created by Rootz Underground and fronted by their frontman Stephen Newland,the sponsorship of Lasco and Sandals Foundation, which allowed the programme to reach an additional 94 schools.

The participating schools were: Albert Town Primary; Albion Primary & Junior High; Annotto Bay All-Age; Calabar Primary and Junior High; Denham Town Primary; Farm Primary and Junior High; Fellowship Primary and Junior High; Goshen All-Age; Grange Hill Primary; Harbour View Primary; Freeman’s Hall Primary; Highgate Primary and Junior High; John Rollins Success Primary; Louise Bennett Coverley All-Age; Moneague Primary and Junior High; New Providence Primary; Race Course Primary; St Martin de Porres Primary; St Aloysius Primary; White Marl Primary and Junior High; and Ocho Rios Primary.

The students in the core programme were asked to use creative and imaginative ways to promote conservation in school, as well as tree planting and bottle collection exercises.

In all, 2,500 trees were planted and 20,000 plastic bottles collected.

“This a just a small contribution to the environment as one million plastic bottles are used in Jamaica a day. That’s one-third of our population,” said Newland in giving the summary report for REAP.

Chairman of LASCO Affiliated Companies Lascelles A Chin in addressing the ceremony said REAP’s success says much for partnership.

“The programme shows that much can be achieved where everybody works for the greater good,” Chin said in his welcome.

Lasco invested $6.1 million in REAP, which also beautified 20 communities.

For the overall awards, Moneague Primary and Junior High placed first; Highgate Primary and Junior High placed second; Denham Town Primary placed third; Goshen All-Age placed fourth; and Albert Town Primary placed fifth.

The top five schools each received NCB Foundation Scholarship of $20,000 for their top child, while the top three received computers from Stephen Newland and Sandals Foundation.

Denham Town Primary student Amelia Howell received a special award, for her poem I Am A Tree, which was judged as best poem, while top teachers, Anette MacDonald and Cordella West from Moneague Primary and Junior High received prizes of complimentary weekends.

Jordayne Mundy of Highgate Primary and Junior High School received the Lascelles Chin Award for Excellence in Preserving the Natural Environment, while Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Preserving the Natural Environment went to Cadayne Lewis of Moneague Primary and Junior High School.

Other prizes went to:

Highgate Primary and Junior High School, winner of the Visual Art Competition $30,000 gift voucher.

McCam Learning Centre, $20,000 donation from Casa Rasta International.

Colin’s Close Basic School $40,000 donation from Casa Rasta International.

St Martin de Porres — most enthusiastic club and best dance.

Annotto Bay Primary — best dub poem.

John Rollins Success Primary School — neatest school.

Calabar Primary and Junior High — best recycling.

Fellowship Primary — unique initiative, fish pond.

Albion Primary & Junior High — best care of trees.

Louise Bennett Coverly Primary and Junior High — best energy conservation initiative, irrigation.

— MED