A longstanding relationship existing between the Boy’s Town Infant and Primary School in Trench Town, and Lodge St John No 623 (Scottish Constitution) is still producing important results at the school.

As part of its deeply entrenched outreach programme, the lodge, in association with the wives and partners of some members, donated much needed back-to-school supplies for the top performing and most improved students in each grade to the 2018/2019 academic year, last Wednesday.

Lodge St John No 623 is a Scottish Freemason organisation constituted in Jamaica in 1878, and which has been engaged with the Boys’ Town project for the past seven years.

The lodge has since provided critical assistance in a number of areas, including a monthly stipend to assist with a breakfast feeding programme and an annual Easter treat.

Three years ago Lodge St John decided to start recognising and providing supplies for top performers and most improved students, in a bid to incentivise their hard work and encourage others to excel.

Supplies provided included school bags, shoes, books, stationery items and uniforms. During this critical back-to-school period, members of the lodge have also met with parents of the students to offer words of encouragement and guidance.

Lodge Master Radcliff Knibbs said that the organisation was excited and hopeful that the “small” token to the top performing and most improved students will encourage all students at the school to work hard.

He also expressed joy that since the implementation of the reward system, there has been a measurable improvement in the overall performance of the students, who are eager to win the prizes and participate in the handover ceremony.

Head of the Boys’ Town Infant Department Diana Black expressed appreciation for all that the lodge has done for the students.

“I can confidently say that there has been an improvement since the introduction of this incentive programme,” she responded.

“Students are working harder than ever, so that they can be among the ones who are awarded. It is a welcome development and I look forward to the continued partnership,” she added.