ROSE HALL, St James – “I decided to reach out to my employer for assistance because my daughter complained that her classroom was very hot and it distracts her and the other students from concentrating in class,” said Celina Grant, mother of Akyra Gottshaw, a student of the John Rollins Success Primary School in St James.

A mother’s concern and determination to ensure her child’s well-being is all it took to assist students of the school.

With the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams coming up in 2023 and knowing that a comfortable environment is essential to her daughter’s and the other students of the different Grade 6 classes concentration during class, Grant, a general accounting officer at Rose Hall Developments Limited, took on the task to seek assistance from her employer to provide proper cooling for the classrooms.

“Initially, Celina had asked for one fan for her daughter’s class, but I knew all the students must have been experiencing the same issue. Standing here, outside the classrooms with a temperature of 31°C, I cannot imagine what it feels like on the inside of the walls of the classroom. So I’m sure we made the right decision to donate 40 fans,” explained Richard Burrowes, president of the Rose Hall Developments Limited (RHDL), during the recent handing-over ceremony.

Once the decision was made to make the donations of two fans for each classroom, Grant reached out to the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) and informed them of her employer’s decision.

Similar to Grant, the parents were elated to hear the news, especially because they have been desperately trying to raise funds to purchase the fans for the school.

“The constant need was always there for classroom cooling. I’ve seen where students experience headaches often and are frequently asking to leave the classroom to go to the bathroom just for fresh air,” said Stephen Jennings, PTA president of the John Rollins Success Primary and Infant School.

Burrowes explained that after being invited to the school-leaving ceremony in June 2022, he was in awe of the students’ achievements and all that the school is doing for the community. He made a pledge, there and then, for Rose Hall Developments Limited to play an integral role in the improvement and development of the school.

Yvonne Wisdom, principal of the John Rollins Success Primary and Infant School, expressed gratitude for the donation.

“On behalf of the school board, parents, staff, and students, it gives me great pleasure to once more say thanks to the Rose Hall Developments Limited. We look forward to your continuous support to the John Rollins Success Primary School,” Wisdom stated.