Manning’s School seeking major partnership with NCB
Published:Wednesday | September 11, 2024 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Steve Gordon, the principal of Manning’s School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, is seeking to solicit the support of the National Commercial Bank (NCB) to transform its Prescod Block into state-of-the-art ‘smart classrooms’.
“We believe that a visit like this will start the relationship and perhaps forge innovative relationships that will benefit both for NCB and for Manning’s School,” said Gordon, following the recent visit to the 286-year-old school by NCB’s boss Michael Lee-Chin.
“We are proposing that from this start NCB can engage with us to start smart classrooms here at Manning’s School.”
The administrators at Manning’s School are seeking to give the Prescod Block, which has eight classrooms, a new technological profile, which will lift it into the new digital age.
The plan is to equip the block, which is named in honour of the late Lewis Austin Prescod, the man who penned the school’s song Dear Manning’s School, into smart classrooms equipped with interactive smart boards, smart tablet computers, laptops and high-quality audiovisual equipment, thereby enhancing the teaching and learning experience of the students.
During his visit to Manning’s School, Lee-Chin, who was accompanied by other senior members of the NCB management team, donated three laptop computers and $100,000 in gift certificates to be shared equally among 20 students. That visit was part of the NCB Customers Blitz series in Westmoreland, during which the NCB team interacted with customers in the parish.
Gordon said he believes that, should Lee-Chin take him up on his proposal, it would be a big game changer in the teaching and learning process at Manning’s School, which is already renowned for producing exceptional students.
“We are proposing that, going forward, smart classrooms are the way to go because of its innovativeness. It creates the chance for our students to be bold in their lessons and the chance for our teachers to be bolder in delivering their lessons,” said Gordon.
In speaking to the students, Lee-Chin encouraged them to adopt a three-step formula by identifying an accomplished role model, learning how they achieved their goals and replicating their quest towards becoming the best in their professional careers.
“You have a big opportunity in front of you and there is a three-step formula that, if you follow in any endeavour, you’ll achieve success, and not success at the parochial level but success at the global level,” said Lee-Chin. “Don’t change the recipe, do the same, and if you do that you will become the best in the world.”