PORT MARIA, St Mary — Even with limited resources, staff at Rosebank Centre of Excellence in Dean Pen, St Mary, have been making an impact.

One of two schools in the parish that caters to students with special needs, it was established five years ago with 27 students enrolled. The population has now grown to 43 students. They are between 12 and 19 years old.

Rosebank caters to the educational, social and emotional needs of children diagnosed with autism, Down Syndrome, physical and intellectual disabilities.

“The students are assessed by the Ministry of Education; the educational psychologist will do their assessment, and they are placed here. However, we have students who have not been formally assessed but meet the criteria of special needs who are considered to be slow learners. The parents would take them in and we would do our screening and we would take them in,” said Principal Dawnette Angus Lewis, who disclosed that most students are from St Mary but a few are from Guy’s Hill in St Catherine.

Angus Lewis had high praise for her small team which, she said, has, with limited resources, gone the extra mile to make a difference in students’ lives.

“I have three teachers on staff who were each employed to teach a core subject. However, they have expanded themselves in teaching two subjects. My teachers have to be creative and think outside of the box. We do not have a home economics and agriculture teacher, and these teachers use the curriculum from other schools and teach it,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

The educator emphasised that students are given more practical tasks as they learn life skills in agriculture and home economics.

She and her team are grateful for the support from Digicel Foundation which has assisted with the school farm.

“We are further looking forward to the principal’s cottage being retrofitted for a computer room where students can learn basic computer skills and become certified by HEART Trust,” said Angus Lewis.

Other partners include Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and members of the community who have reached out to help students gain meaningful employment in which they can utilise basic farming skills they have learnt.

For Angus Lewis, one of the most memorable moments at the institution was seeing students’ and parents’ faces at the first graduation held.

“I had a student who came to me and said ‘thanks’, that this would be his first graduation. This touched my heart. I was overwhelmed with emotion,” said the principal.

Looking forward to greater things in the future, Angus Lewis hopes to see an expansion of the school farm and a sixth-form programme for the children.

Joan Silveria, who has been teaching at the school since its inception, said her experience with her students is rewarding. Although she was originally employed to teach a core subject she had to “tun’ her hand” and be creative in her lessons. She now teaches basic life skills in agriculture and home economics.

Silveria told the Observer that she has seen students who struggled with basic maths and English and since being enrolled at Rosebank Centre of Excellence some have been able to perform in the general high school system on the Pathway 3 programme.

“This overwhelmed me; knowing where they are coming from to where they now reach,” said Silveria.

Marsha Wilson had high praise for the school as she has seen the difference it has made in her daughter Nyoebia, who was diagnosed with a learning disability. Former principal of Horace Clarke High Christopher Walker and an education officer recommended that she attend Rosebank.

Wilson told the Observer she has seen her growth her daughter, whom she described as an introvert.

“One of her major achievements, for me, is taking the taxi by herself,” said the proud mom.

Now she has developed the confidence to show greater interest in home economics classes.

“Nyoebia loves to cook, and I am hoping that she will be able to go back and do this,” said Wilson, a mother of two and a single parent.

She is her daughter’s biggest fan and source of support.

“I would encourage parents who have children with special needs: Show them love, be their biggest supporter and trust in God,” said Wilson.