MONTEGO BAY, St James — Principal of Green Pond High School in St James Oraine Ebanks is satisfied with what he describes as a smooth start for the new academic year, which marks the school’s 20th year of operation.

The educator has pointed to the rural school bus programme rolled out by the Government as being a massive plus as students resumed full classes on Monday.

“For me, it [the rural school bus initiative] is a good thing for Green Pond High School and I am happy they added another bus to the fleet to really help,” Ebanks told the Jamaica Observer as the school welcomed new and returning students.

“For me, anything that supports safety of my students, I’m all for it and anything that supports the family in terms of minimising financial burden, I’m all for it. The students are upbeat about the bus, it’s a safe way to transport them to school,” added Ebanks.

The school already had support from Montego Bay Metro which implemented a special service to coincide with the start and end of classes.

But Ebanks said the school had been trying to get another bus to assist because students rely heavily on the State-run system with the single vehicle causing some to arrive after classes start.

He told the Observer that with the rural school bus now taking students directly to the school, it will make a major difference in students’ punctuality.

“It is the first day and we are still looking at it but it is encouraging to see the number of students on time this morning,” said Ebanks.

“We are 20 years old and this year is going to be a big thing for us. All our classrooms have been refreshed by painting, inside of the school has been painted, and we are in the process of painting the outside.

“The office area has changed, we have removed the grill, now it’s glass [and] we have modernised the area. We have also opened a new computer lab,” added Ebanks.

He said the new lab is equipped with laptop computers for students to use with an area dedicated to the teaching of drawing with AutoCAD, a computer-aided design software that enables users to create precise two- and three-dimensional technical drawings, models, and designs.

The upbeat principal added that there is more to come this year as the school celebrates two decades of existence.

“We are looking to raise $20 million this year on the 20th anniversary towards a school bus,” said Ebanks.

“We are also going to rename the blocks in honour of some pioneers, we are going to have our evening of excellence, and our church service. We are also looking to launch some scholarships in honour of some pioneers for our students to go to university to ensure that they excel,” he added.

Ebanks said the school’s administration will also be inviting past students, who have excelled, to interact with current students to further showcase the possibilities available to them.

According to the proud principal, Green Pond High is now positioned as a desired institution for many children in and around the area where it is located, based on the successes it has recorded in the past 20 years

“Our work has put us on the map as a school of choice, one of those schools that persons are looking to be a part of,” said Ebanks as he noted that it has expanded its sixth-form programme and added a hospitality and tourism management programme though the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

“Our students are gaining employment immediately after the one-year programme. We are also looking at rebranding as a STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics] institution and so now we offer five level two HEART/NSTA Trust skills at sixth form,” added Ebanks.

Principal of Green Pond High School Oraine Ebanks during an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Monday.