MILLION-DOLLAR TREAT

Rotarians bear gifts for newly merged Chetolah Mel Nathan Educational Centre

ONE HUNDRED and twentyfive students of the newly merged Chetolah Mel Nathan Educational Centre in Hannah Town, Kingston, were presented with school supplies and computers, in addition to benefiting from free medical, optical and dental care, at an event organised by the Rotary Club of St Andrew North and the Rotaract clubs of UWI and New Kingston. The value of the supplies, equipment and services has been estimated at $1 million.

The presentation of notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, geometry

sets, colouring books, rulers and two computers was made recently in the school cafeteria. In addition, the Rotaractors who donated the books read to students while they waited to get screened by the medical, optical and dental professionals.

“The free medical checks carried out at the school was a significant saving for parents and guardians in terms of time and cost. So we are pleased to have made our contribution to the students’ education in such a tangible way,” said Lori Chuck, president of the Rotary Club of St Andrew North.

“The vision was to provide a holistic project involving the students by meeting both their school supplies and medical needs. We could not have achieved this without the tremendous contributions from sponsors and the voluntary service of five medical doctors, supported by four medical students,” said Kecia Taylor, club director, service projects, Rotary Club of St Andrew North.

SPONSORS

Sponsors included Sangster’s Book Store; Mailpac Express; the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information; Totally Male Club Spa and Salon; Barco Caribbean; the Jamaica Broilers Group; Inter Commercial Distributors Limited; and Central Trading Limited, while the computers were donated by Rotarian Carlton Cowell of One Stop Computers Limited. In addition, Kirk Distributors, founded by Glenford Christian, in partnership with Colgate-Palmolive, provided a mobile dental unit on site, organised by the club’s president-elect, Ann Marie Curtis, which examined and cleaned the teeth of 32 students as referred by the medical doctors on location. The students then received gift packages with toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Insight Optical also gave free optical checks to determine astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia.

In expressing appreciation to the service clubs for their interventions, the chairman of Chetolah Mel Nathan Educational Centre David Allen said the acquisition of computers was on the agenda for the new school year. However, the institution was pleased that the Rotary Club of St Andrew North decided to gift the school and students with these necessary tools of learning. He said that parents, teachers and students have been reminded to use the items with care.

On September 1, the Mel Nathan Preparatory School (1994) and Chetolah Park Primary School (1908) were merged under the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information, with about 184 registered students.

Director of Service Projects for the Rotary Club of St Andrew North Kecia Taylor (third right) hands over school supplies and computers to Tamara Rowe (second left) from the Chetolah Mel Nathan Education Centre. Looking on (from left) are club president Lori Chuck, past president Joscelyn Jolly, immediate past president Andrew Jackson, past president Michael Martin, and president-elect Annmarie Curtis.

Medical student Racine Ramnatha (left) assist this parent to fill out the ministry-issued health form while medical student Kelsey Williams makes time to help this student with putting on his shoes.

Some of the medical doctors who volunteered their services are (from left) Dr Renne Badroe, Dr O’Danielle O’Sullivan and Dr Trudy-Ann Johnson.