ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – There was a great turnout last Thursday for a special event at the Innswood High School organised through the work of the Stakeholder Morale Improvement Committee (SMIC).

The programme was filled with presentations and engaging items from talented staff members and stakeholders.

The ceremony culminated with the announcement of the pedigree awards: Teacher of the Year; Administrative Staff of the Year; Ancillary Staff of the Year and Support Staff of the Year. The recipients were: Shannika Johnson – Physical Education teacher, Patrick Robinson- Plant Manager, Sophia Brown-Harrison- Ancillary Worker and. Sharon Oldacre – Security Guard, respectively.

They all received a plaque among other gifts. All in attendance were also given a token courtesy of the guest speaker Ritchie Nebar, a Jamaican born, living in the United states (US).

Worthy of note were the thrilling voice of Clayton Samuda who is one of the school’s security guards; and a special performance by author and stakeholder, Constable Hezekan Bolton, who eloquently praised the staff through poetry, for their commendable job.

The school, which is located on the outskirts of Spanish Town, is headed by interim principal Collington Powel and the committee, conceptualised and headed by senior teacher, Angela Easy-Brown, is enjoying its second year of existence.

The committee is geared at boosting the morale of all stakeholders within the school. Presently it serves students and all categories of staff and dreams of including parents and other stakeholders in keeping with its mantra, “raising the Standard Through Improved Morale”.

SMIC, enabled mostly by its numerous sponsors and fully supported by Principal Powell, appreciated all categories of staff and other stakeholders at an award ceremony last Thursday. The event was a business casual affair and the theme read “Raising the Standard Through Improved Morale”.

The ceremony started off with a spirited devotion led by the Morale Chorale.

The master of ceremonies was Amelia Campbell, former teacher, and a committee member of SMIC. She set the stage for what would be a fulfilling program which had attendees trying to contain their laughter.

Nebar lauded the efforts of the staff for championing the cause of education in a school system that has much to be desired. Nebar encouraged the staff to “keep on doing their best in the face of adversities,” and vowed to continue assisting the school in whatever way needed to ease their financial burdens.

Sponsors of the event included Ojay Koolers, Tip friendly Society, EduCom, Church of God of Prophecy Old Harbour Road, JTA Cooperative Credit Union, Comsol Education Ltd, Kleen Water, Hodder Education, Netcom Computer Solutions and other individuals. Persons in attendance of note included, members of the School’s Board of Governors, Lynton Weir- Principal, Old Harbour High School and also an honorary member of the Committee; Kemoy McEckron and Minister Horace Dean – Justices of the Peace (JPs) within the locale, staff members and well-wishers.