JWN Foundation brings early Christmas to hundreds of students
Published:Tuesday | December 12, 2017 | 12:00 AM
Christmas came early for more than 600 students gearing up to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) next year, as the J. Wray & Nephew (JWN) Foundation hosted its annual Christmas treat yesterday for communities within proximity of its Spanish Town Road, Kingston, base.
Barring a slightly late start because of the inclement weather, the festivities went on to the delight of not just students, but numerous volunteers and school administrators who turned out at Hope Gardens in St Andrew.
All around the grounds, there were bright smiles and exuberance as the youngsters indulged in face painting, bounce-about, rock climbing, and tasty cuisine.
"Grade six is a pressure cooker year when the students are pressed to perform, so we thought this was the group that we needed to target," Tanikie McClarthy-Allen, director of public affairs and sustainability at JWN Foundation, told The Gleaner.
"We do a lot of programmes in various high schools within our communities along Spanish Town Road, as well as in Clarendon and St Elizabeth, but this is the one activity we reserve for our GSAT students because we think they really do need that opportunity to relax and remember that it's okay to have fun."
Students from Seaview Gardens, St Patrick's and Balmagie primary schools were all present.
Eleven-year-old Marcus Harrison from Balmagie Primary School lauded JWN Foundation for the move to fete the students.
The outspoken youngster told The Gleaner that he would be working aggressively towards achieving a JWN Foundation scholarship to attend his preferred secondary institution, Campion College, come next year.
"Christmas is about giving, and they (JWN Foundation) are giving a lot to us students - not just fun activities, but opportunities," said Harrison.