The Florida/Bahamas (FLOBAH) chapter of the Godfrey Stewart High School past students association, staged its annual dinner/dance on November 10 at Miramar Civic Center in South Florida.

Devon Dobson, president of the organisation, told Observer Online that funding the Westmoreland school’s breakfast programme remains a priority. He said that continues to be achieved, with support from past students in the United States.

“FLOBAH has a yearly commitment to the breakfast programme of (US) $12,000. We were not only able to meet that commitment but we also donated a six burner commercial grade stove/oven with the help of the Kiwanis Club of Kendall South Dade, who has been a great partner to us over the years. We also donated various pots, pans, plates and miscellaneous supplies for use in the kitchen,” Dobson disclosed.

The dinner/dance, held in the heart of Miramar’s Jamaican community, is the breakfast programme’s main source of funding. It attracts a full house of past students, with guest speakers including Lisa Hanna, a senior member of the People’s National Party, and Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami.

At last month’s event, the Kiwanis Club of Kendall South Dade along with four persons were honoured by FLOBAH. The individuals are Belinda Haughton, Donovan Miller, Godfrey Stewart Jr, Marcia Clark and .

Emily Lawrence Ricketts, principal of Godfrey Stewart High School, credits the breakfast programme with improving grades among students at the co-ed school, which is located in Savanna-la-Mar. In a 2023 interview with the Jamaica Observer, she said punctuality and attendance have improved by more than 40 per cent since FLOBAH launched it 11 years ago.

Godfrey Stewart High School started as Senior School in 1963 and became Savanna-la-Mar Comprehensive High School a decade later. In 2000, it was upgraded by the Jamaican government to high school status, and renamed in honour of its founder.

There are just over 1,600 students enrolled at Godfrey Stewart High School.

Dobson is looking ahead to next year’s dinner/dance.

“Well, 2025 is our 10th anniversary and we are planning to celebrate in style while remaining true to our mission of providing a hot, nutritious breakfast for the students at Godfrey Stewart High School,” he said.