Saving pays!
Five students from Cornwall College and their school savers coordinator, Claudia Francis-Gordon, were awarded an all-expense paid trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for emerging the top school in the JN School Savers’ Dream Big Promotion.
The presentation was made at the JN School Savers’ Teachers Conference, held at Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel on July 14.
The school also won the two other major prizes: School of the Year and Champion Saver School. Additionally, Francis-Gordon was recognised as the JN School Savers’ Teacher of the Year.
Additional prizes awarded to the school were: $50,000 cash, the trophy, and a plaque. Francis-Gordon was also rewarded with a weekend for two at Sea Gardens Resort, a $30,000 cash prize, a tablet, and a spa treatment.
“I am so elated and surprised at the number of awards we won. It goes to show that hard work pays,” she exclaimed. “For the past three-consecutive years we have won prizes. I am happy about the trip and the other prizes, as they will serve to encourage other students to participate.”
Francis-Gordon, who has been teaching at Cornwall College for 30 years, explained that it was difficult at first to get students to participate in the savings programme.
“I maintain good rapport with students and explain the benefits they can achieve by participating in the school savers’ programme. Currently, we have more than 100 students, mostly from grades seven and eight, who are saving regularly. And every Friday, I visit their classes to collect their savings,” she disclosed.
Horace Napier, a grade nine student, and one of the five students going on the Disney World trip, said that he is eager for the travel experience.
“It was always my dream to go to Disney World. I often see it on TV, therefore, I feel great that I am able to go,” he said.
He disclosed that he is an avid saver, and that he is saving to help to fund his tertiary education in a few years’ time.
Youth marketing officer at JN Bank, Michelle Webster-Gauntlette, pointed out that the JN School Savers’ Programme promotes savings and encourages children to embrace the habit of thrift.
“At JN, we play an integral role in the development of young people, teaching them how to become prudent money managers,” she related. “The Dream Big Promotion commenced at the start of the school year as a special incentive to encourage children to save. This is the first time we are awarding an overseas trip, which covers airfare hotel accommodation for four nights, and spending money.”
She commended Francis-Gordon for her diligence as a JN School Savers’ coordinator and her approach to helping students at Cornwall College develop good saving habits.
“Mrs Francis-Gordon is dedicated to the programme. During the past school year, she opened more than 200 new accounts. In addition, she was consistent in getting the students to save weekly,” Webster-Gauntlette pointed out.
Since the inception of the JN Schools Savers’ Programme in September 2001, thousands of students at the basic, primary, and secondary levels in schools across the country have achieved their short-and long-term savings goals by learning to save consistently and to manage their funds effectively. The school savers’ programme also awards the top-performing Grade Six Achievement Test student in each county, who is an active school saver, with a five-year scholarship for high school.