Ensom City Primary honours
FOUR retired teachers and a watchman were recently honoured for long service to the Ensom City Primary School in St Catherine.
The five were honoured as “heroes” and lauded for their “sacrificial service” to education at a ceremony at the Spanish Town-based institution, that was put on by the Ensom City Primary School family.
George Moodie, who spoke on behalf of Member of Parliament Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, told the awardees that their years of service had not gone unnoticed and implored them to write books and articles to continue their service to the education sector.
The educators are Lloyd Smith, Greta Lawrence-Thomas, Calmin Salomie-Sinclair and Keitha Edwards-Brooks. The fifth honoree is watchman Lloyd Douglas. Salomie-Sinclair was absent from the function.
Smith, described as “a thorn among the roses”, has been an educator for 39 years. He taught as a pre-trained teacher for four years at Bellas Gate All Age prior to his tenure at Ensom City. Driven to shape minds, he pursued formal training in teacher education at the West Indies Teachers’ College. On completion of his course, he joined the Ensom City Primary family where he remained for 34 years.
Lawrence-Thomas is said to have given 34 years of “impeccable service” to Ensom City Primary. She made her teaching debut at St Ann’s Bay in 1955, where she joined the staff at Willodene High school, before leaving in 1976. LT, as she’s affectionately called, joined the staff of Ensom City in 1977 when it was known as Ensom City All Age. She left shortly after, before returning on November 1, 1979. She retired in 2013.
Salomie-Sinclair began her tenure at the school in 1985. According to her citation, she was considered “one of the most influential educators” during her tenure at the institution. A former student of Warren Private school, James Business College and West Indies Teacher’s College, she made her debut in the profession at Bellas Gate All-Age prior to becoming a member of the teaching staff at Ensom City Primary School.
Edwards-Brooks gave 32 years of service to education at Ensom City Primary School. She studied at the Caenwood Junior Teacher’s College and later at the St Josephs’ Teacher’s College where she acquired a teaching diploma. She’s said to have performed her teaching duties “conscientiously, with dedication and dignity”.
Douglas served as a watchman for approximately 30 years. Douglas was recognised for his protective services, not just to the building, but to students over the years.
