The principal, staff and students of the St. Elizabeth Primary School in St. Joseph, recently said “thank you” in a tangible way to CIBC FirstCaribbean for the assistance given to the school by the bank in the past few years.
“We can’t always be takers, we must learn to say thank you and to give back to those who have been kind to us,” explained principal John Quinton, as he prepared to present a small plaque to Michelle Whitelaw, director of Retail Banking Channels at the final school assembly for the year. He then called on senior teacher Richard Broome who liaised with the bank at the time, to explain why the bank was being presented with this token of appreciation.
Broome explained how the bank’s regional senior leaders took on the refurbishment of the school as a group project.
The bankers became gardeners, landscapers, painters, pavers and tree planters on that day as they planted vegetable seedlings in the newly turned vegetable garden, landscaped the reading park and laid down paving stones to create a walkway for the children, painted the equipment in the school’s play park and planted trees and shrubs to create a cooling environment for the children.
When the vegetable garden matured, he explained that the school was able to give away some of the produce to the students and then there was enough to sell to surrounding vendors which raised some funds for the school to recycle and purchase more seedlings.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 then set in, and they were unable to continue the vegetable garden for the next two years. However, though the original beds had run to weeds, the new principal who had a history of working the soil, took on the task, with the help of a few students, of revitalizing those beds and planted beets, lettuce, butternut squash, and cabbage which were ready for reaping by the end of term. During the pandemic, the bank also assisted the school with supplies of masks and sanitiser.
In her remarks to the students and teachers, Whitelaw, who was also part of the team who planted up the herb garden, urged the students to look after their school and even encouraged them to get involved in the camp that had been just announced by the principal.
During the short ceremony, the school also witnessed a presentation, to the Most Outstanding Girl and Boy – Surrey Campbell and Elijah Gamble, from Marlene Adamson and family in memory of her brother, a past student who died under tragic circumstances. (PR)
