IN accordance with standards established by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), the JPS Foundation will be constructing a 391-foot fence around York Town Basic School as it continues to develop the institution under its Model Schools Programme.

In 2013, the JPS Foundation identified three schools it is assisting over a three-year period to meet ECC regulations. The foundation’s primary objective is to help these schools in the areas of staffing; development/educational programmes; interactions and relationships with children; physical environment; indoor and outdoor equipment, furnishing and supplies; health, nutrition, safety, and interaction with parents and community members.

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the York Town Basic School fence was held on September 10, at which time the existing barbed wire fence and wooden posts were removed through a collaborative effort between a squad of JPS Volunteers On Location To Serve (VOLTS) and residents of the small Clarendon town.

With breaks in several parts of the fence, the school and students had become vulnerable to health and security risks. Livestock and other animals easily strayed on to the school compound an dthe villagers habitually took short cuts through the school premises.

A four-foot gate will also be installed at the school’s entrance while other exit points will be reinforced to discourage trespassers.

Speaking at the ground breaking, JPS President and CEO Kelly Tomblin noted that the project was in keeping with JPS’ vision statement to ‘find a solution for every Jamaican’.

“JPS has always been a part of the community. We belong to you and the installation of this fence is our commitment to finding solutions to keep our children secure,” she said.

Tomblin further thanked the JPS team for their diligence in uplifting the state of others.

“I honour my team today who, whenever called up, give unhesitatingly of their time, talent and treasure to help us with worthy causes such as this.”

The JPS Foundation also used the occasion to present three needy students at the school with BannaBags, attractive and sturdy vinyl knapsacks created from old vinyl banners. The BannaBags project, a social initiative of the JPS Corporate Communication Department, offers needy students a solution to traditional expensive bags.

The two other model schools, which were meeting less than 40 per cent of the requirements of the ECC, are Falmouth Gardens Early Childhood Institute in Trelawny and the infant department of Rennock Lodge All-Age School in Kingston.