The Cokes View Primary School in Westmoreland yesteday received a timely gift of computers and other school supplies courtesy of one of its past students, Dr Rupert Rhodd, Associate Professor of Economics at the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and his colleague, Dr Sandra Schrouder, Public Administration Lecturer at FAU.

The gift, a personal contribution from the two, included five Dell Flat

Screen Computers, one combination Printer/Scanner/Copier, ten Flash Sticks; two Surge Protectors and one external CD/DVD Rom Drive, pens, pencils, erasers, chalk, exercise, colouring and reading books plus a variety of balls for playing.

“Starting now, with Grade 6, the computers will be used to enhance the Practical Area of the School’s Development Plan that already involves Agricultural Science and Visual Arts and come September (2009) all grades will have access, and an after-school programme will allow access to parents and others,” said Principal Joyce Green, Principal of Cokes View.

Guidance Counsellor Marlon Drummond and Grade 5 Teacher Andrene Murray are in-charge of the Computer Lab and assigned to teach Information Technology.

Over the past four years, Dr Rhodd and Dr Schrouder – both Wolmerians who are committed to “giving back to Primary schools in Jamaica” – have similarly assisted Belle Castle Primary in Portland and Ocho Rios Primary in St Ann, which, according to Dr Schrouder’s report of a visit last year to Portland, “were being properly used”.

The morning function which was attended by some 80 persons including Principal Green, Parents, Teachers, Students, Board Chairman Matthias Brown and Vice Chairman the Reverend Christopher Burt, and Education Officer Eric Coote, saw students reciting Mr Computer – an original poem written by Grade 3 Teacher Kayan Loney-Williams. Also present was Principal of the neighbouring Cokes View Early Childhood Institution Norma Fenton.

Dr Rhodd encouraged the students to find their purpose, choose positively from the numerous possibilities that exist, and achieve their true potential.

[From the Observer Western by Haile Mikael]