Sadness marks reopening at Howard Cooke Primary as school grieves VP's death

WESTERN BUREAU:

A sombre mood prevailed at the Howard Cooke Primary School in St James on Monday as students, teachers and parents turned out for the first day of school since the sudden passing of beloved vice-principal Veronica Headley-Jennings. 

Today also marks the start of the 2022-2023 school year but the customary excitement was not present at the institution. 

Headley-Jennings, who was one of the school's founding teachers in 1989 and who had served as vice principal for 15 years, died on August 28 following a period of illness. She was 60.

Addressing a devotion exercise this morning, principal David Scott, said Headley-Jennings, who should have replaced him as acting principal on September 1, embodied the ethos of the primary school. 

He said she did everything to ensure the school's development.

"Mrs Headley-Jennings has been the backbone of this institution since inception. At times, I think that she would do anything, even giving her life for this institution," Scott said.  

At a meeting last week, the school board encouraged Scott to forego his vacation leave at this time in an effort to facilitate a smooth reopening of the school. 

A team from the Ministry of Education's trauma unit was on hand to provide counselling. 

Congregants from the Family Church on the Rock Ministries in Montego Bay provided spiritual counselling and encouragement to the students.

- Albert Ferguson

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