EDWARD Seaga Primary School Principal Shernet Clarke Tomlinson and her staff are on cloud nine.

Having been awarded the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Best Kept School title on April 5, Clarke Tomlinson and her team are placing more energy into their efforts to change public perception of the institution influenced by its address in Denham Town, a community plagued by intermittent violence.

Clarke Tomlinson attributes the win to the cooperation of students, parents, and stakeholders who have been consistently working to aid in the school’s upkeep.

She said that prior to the competition she was working extensively with JSIF to revamp the exterior of the school so as to contribute to its beautification and safety pillars.

JSIF, the principal said, was responsible for many of the upgrades around the school such as replacing doors and broken windows, providing a water tank, paving the school yard, and even creating a greenhouse.

This has impacted the overall teaching learning conditions, said the educator.

Part of JSIF’s mandate is to channel resources into community-based, socio-economic infrastructure and social services projects in order to assist in empowering communities through social development.

The fund has also contributed to the school’s safety management through building a perimeter area, signs, a safety passage and sidewalk rails — a key component in the school’s improvement plan.

This earned it first place in the security management category of the JSIF competition.

Clarke Tomlinson said maintaining these upgrades provided by JSIF was instrumental in securing the win for the competition, but these efforts were plans in the making before the competition was even a factor.

“It’s just the general thing that we hope and wish to achieve because there is just this stereotype there so I want when persons enter the compound [that] they are in awe and they are surprised at what they see, how the place looks, and the behaviour of the children…” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Despite instances of gang violence and shootings in the community the school has been able to maintain its individuality as a haven for students to come and learn.

The rules set in place by the school are not only expected to be followed by the students but also parents and visitors, to ensure effective operations.

Senior teacher Caullett Ferguson told the Observer that the best part of teaching at the school is the experience of taking students from one level of knowledge and ability to another, and to touch their lives in a positive way.

But she also says the students are not immune to the overarching influences of their environment as they are affected both mentally and academically.

“Both, I could say, go hand in hand… mentally because of what is happening around them and the upsurge of violence at times, and their socio-economic background really impacts their learning in a negative way,” she said.

Clarke Tomlinson agreed, adding that a lack of parental involvement impacts their students’ ability to manifest their full potential.

She told the Observer that at this stage in her 29-year tenure she aims to improve upon the work of former principals to begin to change the culture of the community, starting with the students.

Security guard/groundsman Donovan Moultan, who was awarded second place in the Best Groundsman category, said that the recognition has encouraged him to work towards the school’s overall mission.

“Every day I get compliments about my work — how I take care [of the place], and how I come up with new ideas and be creative. Those little things make me feel motivated and want to do my work,” he said.

“Give thanks to JSIF for showing me they appreciate everything. When I see JSIF come up with an idea like this I really give thanks,” Moultan said.

The school was in established 1971 as Denham Town Primary. It was renamed in 2021 in honour of late Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who served as head of Government from November 4, 1980 to February 13, 1989, and Member of Parliament for Kingston Western for 43 years, starting in April 1962.

His numerous contributions to the country, and especially his involvement in improving the lives of people from the inner-city communities of west Kingston, made him a loved and respected leader, especially in the Tivoli Gardens community.

– Additional reporting by Leanna Haughton