Only The Best Is Good Enough”
Volume 20 January 2015
Produced by: Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA)
Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased)
New Market P.O., Saint Elizabeth
Jamaica, West Indies
E-mail: beershebaoldstudentsassn@gmail.com
Officers: Glenis Daley, President
Victor Smith, Vice President
Vincent Samuels, Secretary/Treasurer, Newsletter Editor/Producer
Ann Hamilton, Assistant Secretary
REFLECTION ON BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL ALUMNI THAT HAVE PASSED ON
In keeping with the decision of Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) to support a paperless friendly environment and go green, effective from Volume 16 of its newsletter, the Association will no longer list in its newsletter the names of Beersheba Primary School Alumni that have passed on.
All Beersheba Primary School Alumni, Honorary BOSA Members, Friends, Well-wishers, and all our other readers who are accustomed to see the names of those that have passed on listed in its newsletter, are asked to visit BOSA website: bosaonline.org where information is listed in full detains and it will be updated periodically.
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to express its sincere condolence to all family members and relatives of the deceased as they continue to grieve and mourn the loss of their love ones. May the memories of these bereaved love ones continue to linger in our heart and subliminal consciousness. Sunset in one land is sunrise in another.
DECISION TAKEN BY THE SCHOOL BOARD AT BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL (GOVERNMENT LEASED) AND THE MANAGING COMMITTEE FOR JAMES RICHARDS EDUCATIONAL TRUST FUND RE SHANISA JONES, NOW GRADE 10 C STUDENT AT SAINT ELIZABETH TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL (STETHS)
BOSA comments on the above subject matter remains the same as they were written on page 1 of 12 and 2 of 12 in Volume 14 July 2013 of its Newsletter.
Beersheba Primary School Alumni, Honorary BOSA Members, Friends, Well-wishers, and all readers of this newsletter are urged to visit BOSA website: bosaonline.org to view and read new articles posted on
the website that will give them additional information with respect to this outstanding, contentious matter unresolved.
PROGRESS REPORT ON SHANISA JONES, TANHOI GUTHRIE, NICKAYLA STEVENS, AND DAMANIKE SMITH
After being successful in all eight (8) CXC subjects, Shanisa Jones has returned to Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) to further her studies as a Six Form Student. Shanisa’s focus is on the Sciences that will enable her to pursue studies in medicine as the career of her choice.
Notwithstanding the unconscionable tyrannically oligarchy ruled Administration at Beersheba Primary School (New Trustee) for James Richards Educational Trust Fund has consistently denied Shanisa benefit as a qualified beneficiary of the Trust Fund from she was grade 7 student in September 2009 with assistance and monitoring from Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), Shanisa has not ceased to excel academically.
Tanhoi Guthrie, grade 11student, Nickayla Stevens, grade 10 student, and Damanike Smith, grade 10 student who currently attend Hampton School and Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Malvern and Santa Cruz, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, West Indies respectively, continue to maintain satisfactory academic performance.
MEET SAMEIKA MAITLAND BOSA ADOPTED ACHIEVER AND TRAILBLAZER
Sameika Maitland who is currently Form 1 Grade 7-24 student at Hampton School, Malvern, Saint Elizabeth has been adopted and is being assisted and monitored by Beersheba Old Student Association (BOSA).
Sameika Maitland, daughter of Juliette Mullings, an Alumnus of Beersheba Primary School, graduated from New Roads All Age School, Westmoreland, Jamaica West Indies where she was successful in passing the Grade Six Achievement Text (GSAT) with a grade of 92.7%. The Ministry of Education placed Sameika at Hampton School on the basis of her excellent performance in the GSAT Exam.
When news reached BOSA Secretary/Treasurer that Sameika’s mother was in the process of removing Sameika from Hampton School because she could not afford to pay her daughter’s Boarding and Tuition Fees, the Secretary/Treasurer stopped the transfer process and initiated action that resulted in Sameika being admitted to Hampton School where she began classes on September 3, 2014.
Sameika continues to excel at Hampton School by scoring all 90s in tests and Exams that she has been given at school.
For more information about Sameika and her plight, readers are invited to log on to BOSA website: bosaonline.org where by clicking on July 2014 in the archives section, they will be able to read the news article captioned: WHO WILL HELP SAMEIKA MAITLAND IN HER PLIGHT that is posted on BOSA webpage.
If the hearts of our readers are touched by Sameika’s plight and success story, you can make your generous financial contribution to assist in defraying the cost of her Boarding and Tuition Fees at Hampton School in the following manner:
1. If you reside in Jamaica West Indies, you can deposit your contribution into Account No. 891007604 in the name of Munro & Dickenson Trust Hampton School at any Branch of National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited. Please indicate on the deposit slip that the amount deposited is for Sameika Maitland you are kindly asked to advise Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) by e-mail to: beershebaoldstudentsassn@gmail.com the name, mailing address or e-mail address of the donor and date when the money was deposited.
2. If you reside in the Diaspora outside of Jamaica West Indies, you can make your checks/cheques or money orders payable to Beersheba Old Students Association. Amounts received will be deposited in the Association’s account at Sagicor Bank Jamaica Limited (Black River Branch). All contributions with a note indicating the name, mailing or e-mail address of the donor should be mailed to: Vincent Samuels, Secretary/Treasurer Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), 99 Jacaranda Avenue, Flat Rocks Subdivision, Black River P.O., Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies.
All contributions will be promptly acknowledged. Sameika is currently on Christmas Holiday 2014. She will return to Hampton School on January 5, 2015 to begin Term 2, Spring/Easter School Session.
Editor’s Note: Readers are asked to log on to BOSA website: bosaonline.org and browse through the Association’s web pages to ascertain the reasons that Parents have rejected the education products that are being offered at Beersheba Primary School and have been moving their children from the school to New Roads All Age School that is located in the neighbouring Parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica West Indies.
BOSA INVALUABLE HONORARY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND WELL-WISHERS
Cognizant of how invaluable Honorary Members, Friends, and Well-wishers are to Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association with importunity, continues his relentless search through the use of social net work websites and Information Technology (IT) to build BOSA database so as to add Honorary Members, Friends, and Well-wishers who are invaluable to the work that BOSA is doing in the interest and welfare of students at Beersheba Primary School.
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to place on record and express its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Hartley Cawley of Cawley’s Pharmacy, High Street, Black River, Saint Elizabeth for his continued invaluable support that he has been giving to the Association.
BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL (GOVERNMENT LEASED) ALUMNI WHO CONTINUE TO HAVE A CARING HEART TOWARDS STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY ATTENDING THE SCHOOL
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to place on record its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Sheila & Winston Hamilton, Nora “Kitty Teacher” Lawrence, Kenneth Smith, Viola Cain-Hall, RN, Gloria Smith-Meredith, BSC, Roy Holness, Neville Jones and other Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) Alumni who have requested that they remain anonymous, for their generous sacrificial financial contribution that are utilized by the Association as a safety net to assist students who are in need to further their education.
NEED FOR GSAT STUDENTS GRADUATING BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL TO BE COMPUTER LITERATE
Against the backdrop of information given on page 2 of 10 Volume 15 October 2013 under the above heading, and in light of recent announcements made by the Ministry of Education with respect to the introduction and provision of Computer Tablets to each student at the Primary Level, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) met with the School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) on December 4, 2013 to discuss the way forward regarding this matter.
Decision taken at this meeting at which four (4) additional items that were used as terms of reference for this meeting, is that the Administration at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) will take appropriate action to contact Stephen Curran, Network Design Director at Digicel Group, Kingston, Jamaica West Indies regarding his interest that he has indicated to Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) to provide Wireless Broadband Internet Service to the school notwithstanding the fact that his knowledge of the terrain in the area could be challenging to provide service to the school.
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) has not received any information from the School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) with respect to the outcome of the contact that the Board is expected to make with Stephen Curran, Network Design Director at Digicel Group.
MORE JAMAICAN PROVERBS
On page 8 of Volume 2 of BOSA Newsletter under the heading: JAMAICAN PROVERBS THAT OUR ANCESTORS TAUGHT US, we defined a proverb (which comes from the Latin word proverbium) in any
language – including Jamaican Patois – as a simple and concrete saying that is popularly known and repeated and expresses a truth based on common sense or the practical experiences of humanity.
In addition to two hundred and thirty (230) Jamaican Proverbs that were published in Volumes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Association’s Newsletters, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) is pleased to list the following fourteen (14) additional Jamaican Proverbs for the information and consideration of all Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) Alumni, Honorary BOSA Members, Friends, and Well-wishers and other readers of its newsletter in Jamaica and the Diaspora:
You just like a porter without fraught
Tun you hand and mek fashion
It make no sense fe waste powder pon black bud
Tek sleep and mark death
Tom drunk but Tom no fool
De same knife weh stick sheep will stick goat
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog tun round bite you
Jump out a frying pan jump in a fire
A foolish dog bark at a flying bird
De deeper you did, de richer de soil
Eye a de master fatten de horse
No mug no bruck, no coffee no throw weh
I it no go so, it nearly go so
When trouble tek you pickney frock fit you
ERECTION OF UNPAINTED PLY-BOARD PARTITION IN THE MAIN AUDITORIUM AT BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL
In the pursuance of comments listed on page 9 of 14 of Volume 7 of BOSA Newsletter regarding the above subject matter, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to report that as a result of pussy-footing by Ministry of Education Technocrats Errol Golding, Director of Technical Services, Courtney Hamilton, Regional Building Officer, Bertram Brooks, Area Building Supervisor, and Collin Blair, Director of Communications, the issue remains unresolved and inimical to all Stakeholders in the Beersheba Primary School Community. notwithstanding the assurance given by the Board of Governors Beersheba Primary School which met at a meeting that was chaired by Mrs. Nadine Leachman, Regional Director, Region 5, Ministry of Education that the Board would handle and resolve the matter, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to report that this outstanding matter remains unresolved.
BI-MONTHLY MEETINGS OF BOSA
Arising from two occurrences when Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) was unable to gain access to the main auditorium at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) – although the Association sought written permission from Mrs. Tatlin Smith-Williams and Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour, Principal of the School and Chairman of the School Board respectively to hold its meeting – the Association was forced to seek permission from the Pastor, Beersheba Moravian Church to hold its bi-monthly general meeting on November 13, 2013 in the church.
In accordance with the unanimous decision that was taken at the meeting that was held on November 13, 2013, written permission has been sought from The Salvation Army Carr Corp to hold bi-monthly general meetings of the Association in the church hall effective Friday, January 10, 2014 commencing at 4pm.
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to place on record, its profound gratitude to James “Dick” Richards (1872 – 1965) Beersheba Elementary Moravian Church School Alumnus, for his insight and philanthropy in donating money to purchase land and to erect the first wooden building that housed The Salvation Army Carr Corp where the new concrete building is located. The Association also wishes to place on record its sincere gratitude to Envoy Glenis Smith and other officers of the church for willingly granting permission for BOSA to hold its bi-monthly general meeting in the church hall.
FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH BOSA SUPPORT FUND FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
BOSA Members, Honorary BOSA Members, Friends, Well-wishers, and other Beersheba Primary School Old Students who have not yet heard but who through the help of other Old Students, and this News Letter, will be made aware of BOSA existence and the work that the Association has been doing in the interest and welfare of students at Beersheba
Primary School, are urged to make Checks/Cheques/Money Orders for their generous financial contribution to BOSA Support Fund payable to BEERSHEBA OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION and is to be mailed to: Vincent Samuels, Secretary/Treasurer, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) at 99 Jacaranda Avenue, Flat Rocks Subdivision, Black River P.O., Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies. All donations received will be promptly acknowledged in writing on BOSA official letter head.
Persons living in Jamaica, West Indies may deposit their generous financial contribution to BEERSHEBA OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Savings Account No. 4410317200298396 at any Branch of Sagicor Bank Jamaica Limited and advise the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association when the deposit has been made so that such contributions can be promptly acknowledged in writing.
MEET THE ACHIEVERS AND TRAILBLAZERS
Meet Patrick Brown, age 60 years, Beersheba Primary School Alumnus, Executive Director of the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center, Burlington, Vermont, USA. The Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center, an organization whose mission is to help educate people on diversity issues, relies on donations and services from a variety of sources – including individuals, the United way of Chittenden County, Vermont, USA and others – to fund its operation and bring speakers and events to Burlington.
Explaining his strategies that he uses in funding events, Patrick said, “I manage to win monetary donations from the public and organizations. I ask folks each year to give a little bit and then I put it all together.”
SPEAKERS OF PROMINENCE
Bishop Desmond Tutu, Civil Rights Activist for Black South Africans against Apartheid, Nobel Peace Prize Winner; Anita Hill, Attorney, Professor of Social Policy Law and Women Studies at Brandeis University for Social Policy and Management; Angela Davis, Political and Civil Rights Activist Scholar and Author; Dick Gregory, American Comedian, Political and Civil Rights Activist; Rev. Al Sharpton, Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Activist, Television/Radio Talk Show Host and Trusted White House Advisor; are among Speakers of Prominence that Patrick has brought to Burlington, Vermont, USA in March of each year for Martin Luther King Jr. Day an Annual Diversity Conference for which he is responsible to organize throughout the State of Vermont.
STRATEGY USED BY PATRICK IN OBTAINING SPEAKERS OF PROMINENCE
Explaining the strategy that he uses to obtain Speakers of Prominence to come to Burlington, Vermont, Patrick said that instead of going through potential speaks agents, he sends letters and e-mails directly to people who he is interested in bringing to Burlington. “I negotiate well” Patrick said. Consequently, Patrick said that he is often able to bring speakers to Burlington for less than it would take to go through an agent.
PATRICK’S SENSITIVITY TO THE TO THE HIGH DEMAND OF CIVIL RIGHTS SPEAKERS
“Civil Right Speakers are in high demand on and around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so there are a lot of logistics involved,” Patrick said. “For instance,” Patrick said; “Sharpton is to arrive Sunday in Burlington and must leave to go back to New York immediately after delivering his address,” Consequently Patrick must ensure that airplane schedules and rides to and from the airport work perfectly.
REGRET
Patrick said he regrets never being able to bring the late Rosa Parks to Burlington. Parks was the woman who in the 1950s, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. It was Parks defiance that fuel the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. Parks died in 2005.
PATRICK ADMIRED BY MARKETPLACE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rod Redman, Marketplace Executive Director – an award winning open air mall with a hub of activity where you will find historical architecture, year round festival, street entertainment, music and over 100 places to shop and dine – says he is impressed with Patrick’s work. “He is incredibly persistent, he is the energizer bunny; he gets his mind on something and he doesn’t let it go until he gets it”, Redman said. Continuing, Redman said in lauding Patrick’s work; “He’s got a big vision and that’s important in bringing conversations to a State that is predominantly white where we don’t have the benefit of experiencing a lot of diversity.”
PATRICK’S INVOLVEMENT IN MULTICULTURALISM BEGAN DURING HIS COLLEGE YEARS
“I have long been interested in educating people about multiculturalism” Patrick said. “In my college days, I started organizing diversity conferences” Patrick said. Continuing, Patrick said, that in the early 1990s, noticing that Burlington lacked any significant Martin Luther King Jr events, he started organizing them.
CANDIDATE FOR STATE SENATOR
Patrick ran as a candidate for the office of State Senator for Vermont in 2012 but he was unsuccessful.
IT ALL BEGAN AT BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL, NEW MARKET, SAINT ELIZABETH, JAMAICA WEST INDIES
Notwithstanding his affluence and eloquence as Executive Director of the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center, Burlington, Vermont, USA, Patrick a native from the impoverished New Roads District – his 94 year old mother Delsie lives directly across the street from New Roads All Age School – he has never forgotten Beersheba Primary School his alma mater where it all began.
Patrick who was actually raised by Ernest Wakeland, JP, “Mass Ernest”(deceased), Member Jamaica Labour Party, Former Federal Member of parliament west Indies Federation and his wife Gertrude Wakeland, JP, “Miss Gertie” (deceased), Member Jamaica Labour Party, former Member Parish Council New Market Parochial Division, land baron of the elite plantocracy at New Savannah, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies, was taught at Beersheba Primary School by Ms. Mable Carnegie (deceased), Ms. Dennis, Winston Lawson, Lanzette Jones, Ms. Barrett, Vincent Brown, Mrs. Louise Tomlinson-Meyler among others.
PATRICK’S SCHOLASTIC JOURNEY AFTER HE GRADUATED FROM BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL
After graduating from Beersheba Primary School, Patrick attended Saint Elizabeth Technical high School (STETHS), Santa Cruz, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies where he was taught by Ryland Campbell et al. After graduating from STETHS, Patrick worked with the Government of Jamaica in Kingston for some time. He later migrated to Canada where he attended Sir George Williams University in Montreal where he completed the Bachelor of Arts Degree. Patrick later migrated to Vermont, USA in 1983 where he attended Saint Michael’s College and Vermont Leadership Institute.
VERMONT BECAME PATRICK’S HOME AWAY FROM JAMAICA HIS HOMELAND
In Vermont, Patrick served on several Boards including:
Library Board
Burlington College Board
Onion River Coop Board
Board of United Way
RECIPIENT OF SEVERAL DISTINGUISHED AWARDS
Patrick has been the recipient of several distinguished awards including:
Diversity Lifetime Achievement Award
United Way Community Impact Award
The Police Community Award
Distinguished Scholar award from the University of Vermont where he is currently a Lecturer
Concordia University Student Life Award
Black Community Award
Patrick was recently profiled in a book entitled: LEGENDARY LOCALS OF BURLINGTON
So as to ensure that he maintain steadfast connection with his roots, Patrick takes students from Burlington, Vermont on multicultural educational trips to Jamaica where notwithstanding his extremely busy schedule, he has always visited and spent quality time with Mrs. Louise Tomlinson-Meyler, “Miss Lou”, 94 years old, his former Principal at Beersheba Primary School who nurtured and molded him to become the Visionary and Thinker that he is today.
Editor’s Note: If Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) Alumni in Jamaica and the Diaspora would like to see themselves being featured under this heading, Alumni who have not yet responded to appeals made in BOSA Newsletters to send the Editor/Producer their curriculum vitae, academic, and communal profile as an attachment to the Association’s e-mail address: beershebaoldstudentsassn.@gmail.com as soon as possible so that they can be published in Volume 18 as well ads future Volumes of the Newsletter..
RESOLUTION TO RENAME BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL JAMES RICHARDS PRIMARY SCHOOL
As a result of the above subject matter being thoroughly discussed with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education in a meeting that was held at the Ministry’s Head Office in Kingston, Jamaica west Indies on March 13, 2013, and the matter being given full support by the Saint Elizabeth Parish Council, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) is hopeful that with the full backing of the entities named herein, the School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) will acquiesce to meet with BOSA so that in the same way that Bob Marley Foundation has succeeded in getting cabinet approval for Hon. Robert “Bob” Nester Marley alma mater to be named after him, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) will also get Cabinet approval to rename James Richards alma mater, Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) after him.
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to report that this subject matter was discussed at the meeting that was held in the main auditorium at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) between the School Board Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) and the Association on December 4, 2013. The Chairman of the School Board Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour – a Moravian and member of the decision making body in the Moravian Church pertaining to educational matters – informed the meeting that notwithstanding consensus reached by stakeholders in Beersheba School Community that the school should be renamed; the decision of the Moravian Church in Jamaica which she will communicate to the Association in writing is that the name of the school will not be changed despite philanthropic contributions that James “Dick” Richards, Beersheba Primary School Alumnus, Soldier, Self-made Businessman, Philanthropist, Icon, and Legend has made to the school.
The big issue that will have to be resolved by Cabinet or the Courts in the Government of Jamaica is whether or not the Moravian Church as a Protestant Denomination has the inalienable right to ignore the voice of the majority of stakeholders in Beersheba School Community and in so doing, deny the greatest good to the greatest number.
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to report that up to the date and time of Volume 17 of BOSA Newsletter being published, the Association has not received any written response from the Moravian Church in Jamaica as promised by Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour, Chairman Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) stating that the name of the school will not be changed despite philanthropic contributions that James “Dick” Richards have made to his alma mater.
MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL, NEW MARKET, SAINT ELIZABETH, JAMAICA, WEST INDIES
The National Council on Education (NCE) has published the names of the following persons whom the Honourable Minister of Education has appointed to serve on the School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government School), New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies:
Chairman: Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour
Principal: Mrs. Tatlin Smith-Williams
Academic Member: Mrs. Naomi Foster-Brooks
PTA Member: Nickesha Lawrence
Community Member: Mr. Valdes Hamilton
Member 1: Mrs. Karen Walker
GOLDEN THOUGHTS AND NUGGETS THAT ARE WORTHWHILE PONDERING
Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.
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Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.
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Everyone has two eyes but no one has the same view.
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Never ignore someone who cares for you because someday you’ll realize you’re lost a diamond while you were busy collecting stones.
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Love without depending,
Love without pretending
Listen without defending
Speak without offending
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Friendship is not about whom you’ve known the longest but it’s about who walked into your life and said “I’m here for you” and proved it.
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Kindness is a language we all understand. Even the blind can see it and the deaf can hear it.
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Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.
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To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.
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It’s not about the years in your life that counts; it’s the life in your years.
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Hate hurts the hater more than the hated, no matter how justified it may seem
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It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.
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A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with bricks that others have thrown at him.
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“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great s burden to bear.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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We can easily become so driven by our goals that people become just one more pawn that we use to achieve them. The scriptures, however urges us to have a different perception of people around us. We are to perceive them as:
Created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26)
Objects of God’s love (John 3:16) and deserving of ours as well.
BEERSHEBA OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (BOSA) HOME-COMING AND STUDENTS REUNION
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) has not received any feedback, comment, and/or suggestion since the above subject matter was promulgated and thoroughly discussed in Volume 13 page 12 of 12 in its Newsletter, April 2013.
THE ELESA HAMILTON SCHOLARSHIP THAT WAS ANNOUNCED A THE MEETING OF BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL (GOVERNMENT LEASED) PTA THAT WAS HELD AT THE SCHOOL ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to inform its readers, that none of the students at Beersheba Primary School who sat the Ministry of Education Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) examination has satisfied the criteria that would qualify them to benefit from The Elesa Hamilton Scholarship.
Parents and other Stakeholders are urged to take active interest in the welfare of students who attend Beersheba Primary School so as to ensure that they will be able to meet and satisfy the criteria set by the
Hamilton Family that manages and makes disbursements from the Scholarship Fund to qualified beneficiaries.
MAIN GATE TO THE ENTRANCE AT BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL RESTORED AND DEDICATED
As a result of the philanthropy of Councillor Cyril Martin, Member Parish Council, New market Parochial Division and Dr. Trevor Hamilton, International Management Consultant at Trevor Hamilton Associates and Beersheba Primary School Alumnus, one of two broken down concrete columns on which a rusted dilapidated metal gate was partially mounted, has been replaced with a new double gate that was manufactured and installed by Benton Blair, Master Welder at a cost of JMD 80,000.00.
As my mother had said, God had something better for me than the four years Government Scholarship which was withdrawn if recipients did not maintain a high level. The James Richards Scholarship gave Leslie and me five years’ tuition at Berkley Institute, more if we went beyond the School Certificate level.
A REAL EYESORE FOR MANY YEARS
The broken down column to which the rusted dilapidated metal gate was partially mounted, has been an eye sore in Beersheba School Community for many years. Not only was this eye sore and nuisance to the safety and security of students who attend Beersheba Primary School but it also contributed to low morale among the students and academic teaching staff and administration at the school.
USING INNOVATIVE APPROACH, BOSA FIXED THE PROBLEM THAT THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE AREA AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION FAILED TO REMEDY
Utilizing its usual innovative approach to fix the problem, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) did what the Member of Parliament for the area and the Ministry of Education failed to remedy despite several pleas that the Administration at Beersheba Primary School made to them.
BOSA contacted Benton Blair, Master Welder and invited him to attend an onsite meeting at the main entrance of Beersheba Primary School on September 13, 2014. The administration at the school, members of the academic teaching staff, the PTA, representatives of BOSA, Councillor Cyril Martin and Dr. Trevor Hamilton were also invited to attend the meeting.
FIXING THE PROBLEM A WORK OF FAITH AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Following the site meeting that was held at the main entrance to Beersheba Primary School at which all parties that attended the meeting acquiesced that something tangible needs to be done to fix the eyesore and nuisance; in keeping with the request that Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) made to Benton Blair, Master Welder to do a sketch and submit it with a quantity estimate to provide all materials, manufacture and install a double metal gate at the main entrance at the school; the contractor handed the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association a quantity estimates totaling JMD 80,000.00.
During the continuation of a Comparative Review of Beersheba Primary School on September 13, 2014 – the review was done by Dr. Trevor Hamilton and Vincent Samuels in an attempt to ascertain the reason that Parents in Beersheba Primary School Community had rejected the education product offerings at Beersheba Primary School and transfer their children to New Roads All Age School that is located in the neighbouring Parish of Westmoreland – the Secretary/Treasurer BOSA circulated copies of the quantity estimates he received from the Master Welder to everyone who earlier attended the site meeting and were now seated in the main auditorium at the school.
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY USED TO FIX THE PROBLEM
Using the Window of Opportunity that was open to Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) to fix the problem, the Association’s Secretary/Treasurer asked Councillor Cyril Martin if he would kindly consider defraying 50% of the cost of the gate. Unhesitatingly, Councillor Martin willingly acquiesced to the request. Simultaneously, a similar request was made to Dr. Trevor Hamilton who also unhesitatingly acquiesced to defray the remaining 50% of the cost of the gate. Dr. Hamilton told the audience that as an Alumnus who was molded and nurtured by Beersheba Primary School; it was a pleasure for him to give back to his alma mater.
BROKEN DOWN COLUMN AND GATE REPAIRED, REPLACED AND DEDICATED
The dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting for the new gate that was painted in black enamel colour by Cecil “Polite” Gayle, an Alumnus of Beersheba Primary School, was held at the main entrance to the school on November 1, 2014 in the crisp afternoon breeze that blew o’er the hilly terrain of Flint Valley through trees dressed in green bonnets that waved their branches in joyful splendor and jubilation.
Vincent Samuels, Secretary/treasurer Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) who chaired the function, likened the eye sore of the broken down column and dilapidated gate that was partially mounted on it, to the burden that Nehemiah in the Bible experienced and expressed to King Artaxerxes when he heard that the walls and gates of Jerusalem his native city was in ruins.
Amidst pomp and pageantry that followed cutting of the ribbon and brief addresses by Dr. Trevor Hamilton, Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour, Chairman School Board Beersheba Primary School, Naomi Foster-Brooks, Senior Teacher who representing the academic teaching staff and Nickesha Lawrence, PTA President, they all commended Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) for its innovation.
Following the rendition of two selections by students from Beersheba Primary School, Rev. Christopher Eupha, Moravian Minister at Beersheba Moravian Church, was asked to invoke God’s Blessing and dedicate the new gate to the glory of God.
JACOB’S LEGACY
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, gives us an example of a thief in need of mercy. While still a young man, Jacob, the future patriarch of Israel, lied to his father and impersonated his older brother in order to steal an inheritance that didn’t belong to him (Genesis 27).
AN UNDESERVED LEGACY
Yet, in spite of Jacob’s lack of honesty, he left a legacy that was far better than he deserved. Without explanation, the God of his fathers promised to take care of Jacob and to make him and his descendants a source of blessing to every family of the world (Genesis 28:12-15).
Along the way, Jacob admitted that he didn’t deserve such mercy. But he hadn’t yet found the limits of God’s kindness. Jacob saw God bend even lower. In the middle of a fear-filled night, he found himself wrapped in the arms of Divine humility, wrestling with God as if the Almighty were a mere man (Genesis 32:10, 24, 30). Then Jacob experienced another mercy. As he clung to the mysterious wrestler, begging for a blessing, he was honored with a new name. For the rest of his life he would not be known only as a liar and thief but also as Israel, a man who struggled with God and lived to tell about it (Genesis 32:28-30).
The irony is that the God who changed Jacob’s name to Israel would continue to be known as the God of Jacob.
THE GOD OF JACOB
Twenty-five times the Bible refers to the God of Jacob. Many years after Jacob died, King David wrote: “may the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you” (Psalm 20:1 NIV).
What was David thinking? Why would he link the name of God with a man who was born to be bad? Wouldn’t it have been more honoring to urge his readers to put their trust in the God of a better person?
Jacob, for example, had a son named Joseph who was a more honest man than his father. According to Genesis, Joseph remained true to his God even when betrayed by his older brothers; sold into Egyptian slavery; accused of wrongs he didn’t do; imprisoned; and forgotten. Joseph had so many reasons to be bitter, cynical, and vengeful. Yet he ended up being a hero not only to the Egyptian world of his day but also to his brothers who had once envied and hated him (Genesis 50:15-21).
There would, however, be a downside to thinking about the God of Joseph. Some of us might have a hard time identifying with him. Joseph was not only a better man than Jacob, he was probably a better person than us. Who among us would look at Joseph and say, “If God could forgive and bless Joseph, I’m sure He could forgive and bless a person like me?”
A GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE US
The father of Joseph was the kind of man who people like us might prefer to remember as Jacob rather than Israel. Consider, for instance, the Samaritan woman who, 2,000 years later, met a Jewish man by the name of Jesus at a place called “Jacob’s well” (John 4:5-25).
As a rule, Jewish people wanted nothing to do with “Samaritan sinners.” Yet instead of dismissively ignoring her, Jesus spoke respectfully to her, even entrusting her with the news that He was the long-awaited Messiah.
Interestingly, this Samaritan woman made it a point to let Jesus know that she was an outsider to the Jewish community (John 4:9). Yet she spoke warmly of “our father Jacob” (John 4:12). Maybe she valued not only the legacy of “Jacob’s well” but also that he was both blessed and broken. Jesus, after all, surprised her by showing that He knew, without being told, that she had been married five times and that the man she was then living with was not her husband (John 4:15-19).
Whatever the woman’s reason for identifying with Jacob, she ran back to the men of her village to tell them about meeting a man who had shown such kindness to her while knowing everything she had done (John 4:28-30). (Taken from Been Thinking by Mart DeHaan Our Daily Bread January 1, 2014)
Editor’s Note: We wish to remind our readers that as part of its vision to contribute to a paper free environment as well as to use Information Technology (IT) to minimize cost, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) will no longer circulate its Newsletters by Post Office and hand delivery. Effective immediately, BOSA Newsletters will be will posted quarterly on its website: bosaonline.org. It is my sincere wish that all our readers will have a Peaceful and Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and Productive New Year.
“A heart that is focused on others will not be consumed with self”
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