Bosa Newsletter, Volume 36, January 2019

 “Generosity is doing something for someone without expecting anything in return”

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,  Editor/Producer

Ann Hamilton, Assistant Secretary

OBJECTIVE

The objective of BOSA Newsletter is to inform and educate the people in Beersheba Primary School Community and all Beersheba Primary School Alumni in Jamaica and the Diaspora by means of clean and wholesome news. In doing so, the Newsletter will continue to highlight and celebrate their achievements, mourn their losses, defend their rights and articulate their needs. With meticulous calculated professional news reporting, the Newsletter will ceaselessly expose the entrenched culture of silence, secrecy, non-response and pussy-footing that has characterized the unscrupulous tyrannical oligarchy rule that is tarnished with nepotism that is designed to frustrate Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) as it continues to work assiduously as the safety net and mentor for voiceless and vulnerable students who reside in the impoverished peasant farming Beersheba Primary School Community from falling through the cracks cognizant of the fact, that had it not been for intervention of the Association, these students would be left alone to fend for themselves contrary to the vision of James “Dick” Richards, (1872-1965), Beersheba Primary School Alumnus, Soldier, Self-made Businessman, Philanthropist and Icon.

REFLECTION ON BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL ALUMNI THAT HAVE PASSED ON

Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) joins with family members, relatives and friends who are grieving and mourning the loss of their love ones who have passed away since our last newsletter was published. May the memories of these bereaved love ones continue to linger in our hearts and minds cognizant that 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 is pleased to provide an update to its comments on the above subject matter as they were written on page 1 of 12 and 2 of 12 in Volume 14 July 2013 of its Newsletter.

At an impromptu meeting convened by the Head Office of the Ministry of Education in Kingston at its Regional 5 office in Mandeville on May 7, 2016 to which the Secretary/Treasurer of BOSA was invited, the meeting that was Chaired by Ms. Latoya Davis, from the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry and was also attended by Ms. Masie Hamilton from that Department and Mrs. Tatlin E. Smith-Williams, Principal Beersheba Primary School – and which Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour, Chairman School Board Beersheba Primary School did not attend as she also did when the first meeting was held at the Head Office of the Ministry on March 13, 2013 – the following decisions were taken:

1 All accounting records pertaining to James Richards Educational Trust Fund which the Principal Beersheba Primary School was requested to hand over to Internal Auditors from the Ministry of Education at the  meeting will be audited.

2.Four (4) queries raised by BOSA in its email message dated November 22, 2015 to Dr. Maurice D. Smith, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education in which the Association sought inter alia to ascertain if the signatures on James Richards Educational Trust Fund Account at The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited (Black River) are the same ones that Bermuda Trust Company (Former Trustee for the Fund) authorized in the legal document; Deed of Appointment And Termination James Richards Educational Trust Fund dated October 24, 2011 by which the former Trustee transferred the balance in the Fund to The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited (Black River Branch) to be managed by Beersheba Primary School (New Trustee) will be pursued.

3.Point made by 3. BOSA that decisions taken by meeting held at Beersheba Primary School under the Chairmanship of then Mrs. Nadine Leachman, Regional Director, Region 5, Ministry of Education on November 16, 20111 and March 6, 2012 were ultra vires because persons who attended the meeting purporting to be members of the School Board at Beersheba Primary School were not appointed by the Minister of  education on the recommendation of National Council on Education and the Board  was therefore illegal.

4.Claims submitted in favour of BOSA, Shanisa Jones and Vincent Samuels to the Chairman of the School Board at Beersheba Primary School seeking reimbursement of expenses from James Richards Educational Trust Fund for Shanisa Jones, qualified beneficiary of the Fund will be further examined in keeping with the legitimate directive given to Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour, Chairman of the School Board by Mrs. Elaine Foster-Allen, then Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education at the meeting that was held at the Ministry’s Head office in Kingston on March 13, 2013.

5.Written outcome of all deliberations taken on the matter will be sent to BOSA.

For additional update on the above subject matter that is still outstanding and has not been resolved, our readers are asked to view news article captioned: Entrenched Culture of School Board At Beersheba Primary School And Ministry of Education is An Impediment To James Richards Educational Trust Fund that was posted at BOSA website bosaonline.org on November 16, 2016.

Following non response to letters that Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) sent to Mrs. Barbara Allen, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, and another letter that the Association sent to the Acting Permanent Secretary in which 14 days ultimatum was given with indication that if no response is received, the Association will not be left with any other alternative but to seek redress in Court where the Association will be Plaintiff and the School Board at Beersheba Primary School and the Ministry of Education will be Defendants.

Acting on recommendation that Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) received from a learned Beersheba Primary School Alumnus, BOSA brought the unresolved outstanding contentious matter by registered letter to Senator Ruel Reid, Minister of Education asking him to intervene and amicably resolve the matter. Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) has not received any acknowledgment or response from the Minister of Education up to the date on which its quarterly newsletter is being prepared for publication.

Editor’s Note: Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) has been invited by the School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) to meet with the School Board at the School on September 19, 2018 at 1:00 PM to deal with this outstanding contentious matter that has been allowed to drag on since November 16, 2011.

UPDATE ON MEETING HELD AT BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND BEERSHEBA OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

The foregoing subject matter was discussed at a meeting that was held in the main auditorium at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, was presided over by Rev. Christopher Euphfa, Moravian Minister, Chairman of the School Board and successor to Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour, Moravian Minister, former Chairman of the School Board.

This meeting to which representatives of Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) was invited in writing to attend with all members of the School Board, did not do anything tangible to resolve the outstanding contentious matter on which the Ministry of Education has already issued its directive but the Chairman of the School Board – past and present – refuse to obey.

The Chairman and other members of the School Board – including two reactionary members, a past student of the school and a member of the academic teaching staff – wasted valuable time in attempting to narrate the entire story that led to the Ministry of Education issuing its directive to the School Board.

Against the backdrop of the Chairman of the School Board coming to the meeting unprepared to deal with the subject matter and apologizing that Mrs. Michele Sanderson, Acting Principal of the School was unable to copy and circulate to all members of the School Board, documents that are germane to the discussion because the Printer broke down; the Secretary/treasurer Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) on behalf of the Association’s Vice President Victor Smith and BOSA representative Vincent Brown, in disgust, asked that they be excused from the meeting. Prior to leaving the meeting, the Secretary/Treasurer informed the Chairman of the School Board that since it is evident that the School Board does not appear to be inclined to find an amicable solution to resolve vexed issues involved in the outstanding contentious matter, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) is not left with any other alternative but to take appropriate action to instruct its Attorney – at – Law who specializes in Trust Matters, to take the matter to Court where the Association will be Plaintiff and the School Board and the Ministry of Education will be Defendants.

PROGRESS REPORT ON SHANISA JONES, NICKAYLA STEVENS, AND DAMANIKE SMITH

 SHANISA JONES

Shanisa Jones continues her academic excellence as a student enrolled at the University of Technology (UTECH) Kingston Campus. Shanisa’s excellent academic performance and deportment at UTECH has earned her a coveted spot in the Students Overseas Summer Work Programme in Wyoming, USA. Shanisa will return to the University of Technology (UTECH), Kingston Campus in September 2018 to continue her studies.

NICK AYLA STEVENS

Nickayla Stevens has been successful in passing subjects in CSEC and CXC Examination. Nickayla has graduated from Upper Six Form at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School at the end of the School Year in Summer 2018 and she is now looking for employment.

DAMANIKE SMITH

Damanike Smith continued to maintain her academic excellence as an enrolled student at HEART/NTA, Black River Campus and has graduated from the Institution after she successfully completed her course of study in Business Administration. Damanike is currently looking for employment.

MEET SAMEIKA MAITLAND BOSA ADOPTED ACHIEVER AND TRAILBLAZER

Sameika Maitland, financially challenged grade 10, Form 5 boarding student at Hampton School, Malvern, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies for whom Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) is safety net and monitor, continues her excellent academic performance as an A student. (Please view and read the news article that is posted on BOSA website: bosaonline.org about Sameika’s achievement).

 Sameika who is now a Dormitory Prefect, continues to maintain a 3.3 GPA. Sameika will move on to grade 11 on September 3, 2018. Hampton School will become Sameika’s alma mater when she graduates from the school in Summer 2019 after she has sat and passed CSEC and CXC Examinations. Sameika who continues to do well in Natural Sciences, is still focused on her goad to become a Forensic Pathologist.

PROGRESS REPORT ON NASHEENA DOBBS AND NASHANA DOBBS AND DURVANNE BROWN

Nasheena Dobbs continues her excellent academic performance as student at Mount Alvernia High School, Montego Bay, Saint James, Jamaica West Indies. Our readers are invited to log on to BOSA website: bosaonline.org to read more about Nasheena Dobbs, an Achiever and Trailblazer from the graduating class of 2017 at Beersheba Primary School.

Nashana Dobbs, age 12 years – Nasheena’s sister – a beneficiary of James Richards Educational Fund Scholarship is currently attending Hampton School, Malvern, Saint Elizabeth as a non-boarding student in keeping with the decision taken by her parents Ivan Dobbs and Nola Delisser who resides in the impoverished peasant farming district of Flint Valley, New Market, Saint Elizabeth.

Durvanne Brown who is also from Flint Valley, has been placed at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS). Durvanne’s placement at STETHS resulted from his excellent academic performance of 82 average in 2018 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). Durvanne began attending STETHS for the New School Year that began on September 3, 2018.

Editor’s Note: For additional detail information about Nashana Dobbs and Durvannie Brown and other students from Beersheba Primary School who have been successful in 2018 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), please refer to news article that is posted on Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) website: bosaonline.org

PRIMARY EXIT PROFILE (PEP) WHICH REPLACE GRADE SIX ACHIEVEMENT TEST (GSAT) IN 2019

Parents and Guardians are urged to familiarize themselves with information that the Ministry of Education has promulgated on its website and through various Media Houses in Jamaica regarding Primary Exit Profile (PEP) with its focus on critical and analytical thinking that replaces Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) with its focus on pencil and paper and multiple choice task in 2019. Curricula in education systems worldwide have been changing and Jamaica must keep up with scientific and technological change or the country will be left behind.

Editor’s Note: Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to remind Parents, Guardians and Students, that as a result of concerns expressed by Jamaica Teachers association (JTA) in a meeting that was held with the Minister of education; Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Performance task that was scheduled to be done in December 2018 has been pushed back to March 2019.

BOSA INVALUABLE, BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL ALUMNI, HONORARY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND WELL-WISHERS

Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wishes to place on record and express its sincere gratitude and appreciation to those Beersheba Primary School Alumni – including Winston and Sheila Hamilton, Roy Holness, Kenneth Smith, Dr. Trevor Hamilton, Dorette Lind, Winston Hamilton, Neville “Butty” Cooke, Professor Patrick Brown, Merlene Holness-Pryce, Howard Hamilton et al for their invaluable financial support that they continue to give to the Association.

              

NEED FOR PRIMARY EXIT PROFILE (PEP) STUDENTS GRADUATING BEERSHEBA PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE CLASS OF 2019AND BEYOND TO BE COMPUTER LITERATE

It is with great joy and long awaited accomplishment that Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) announces that Broadband Internet Wi-Fi Service is now available at Beersheba Primary School.

The Association wishes to commend the Administration at the school for its tenacity and innovation in bringing Broadband Internet Wi-Fi Service to the school. The Association hopes that now that Information Technology (IT) is now available at Beersheba Primary School, that the Administration will take appropriate action to ensure that all students that are enrolled at the school will be exposed and trained to use the technology so that no student will graduate from the school as a computer illiterate.

Beersheba Primary School Alumni who would like to contact their alma mater can do so by email to: beersheba.primary.sch@moey.gov.jm

I-MONTHLY MEETINGS OF BOSA

The Administration at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased), has granted Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) permission to continue holding its bi-monthly general meeting in the main auditorium of the school.

Meetings are held in the main auditorium at Beersheba Primary School bi-monthly on the second Friday commencing at 4:00PM.

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. 5501336655 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

No profile has been received from anyone to be posted under the above heading in this newsletter.

 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 as 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, South Coast Resort Board and Jamaica Heritage Trust Foundation, 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 do the right thing so that James “Dick” Richards, Beersheba Primary School Alumnus, Soldier, Self-made Businessman, Icon and Philanthropist will be officially recognized and honoured as an integral part of the heritage in Beersheba School Community.

In the pursuance to ensure that James “Dick” Richards gets full recognition for using for his own money to purchase the land on which the Ministry of Education built Beersheba Primary School as well as his money that Bermuda Trust Company transformed to the school as New Trustee from which James Richards Educational Trust Fund  is established at The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited (Black River Branch); representatives of Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) met with His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation Councillor Derrick Sangster and Mr. Errol Lebert, Chief Executive Officer, Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation in the office of CEO on January 15, 2018 to thoroughly discuss this outstanding.

Councillor Richard Solomon, Member Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation for New Market Parochial Division who was invited to the meeting and participate in the discussion on the above mentioned subject matter did not show up.

Representatives from Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation who attended the meeting acquiesced that the Corporation will pursue the matter with the Ministry of Education since all criteria stipulated by the Ministry to rename the school has been met. In addition, it was agreed that the Councillor for New Market Parochial Division will take appropriate action to organize and hold a non-political, non-partisan Town Hall Meeting in the main auditorium at Beersheba Primary School. The purpose of the meeting is to anable Councillor Solomon to obtain feedback from all Stakeholders in Beersheba Primary School Community on the matter and report his findings to Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation which has an active Education Committee on its establishment.

ATTEMPTS MADE BY BOSA TO MEET WITH COUNCILLOR RICHARD SOLOMON, MEMBER SAINT ELIZABETH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AND COUNCILLOR FOR NEW MARKET PAROCHIAL DIVISION IS STILL TO NO AVAIL

Several attempts made by Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) to meet with Councillor Richard Solomon, Member Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation and Councillor for New Market Parochial Division since he failed to show up at the meeting that was held in the office of the CEO Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation  that was presided over by His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation Councillor Derrick Sangster on January 15, 2018, has been to no avail.

In the pursuance of the Association’s desire to have an urgent meeting with Councillor Solomon, with Mrs. Carmen “Mitsy” Jones-Robinson, President New Market Community Development Council in attendance to discuss several outstanding matters affecting people in New Market and adjoining communities, the Association’s Secretary/Treasurer in addition to several correspondences that the Association sent to Councillor Solomon by email regarding these matter; contacted him by telephone recently. Assurance that the Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) received from Councillor Solomon that he is willing to meet with the Association’s Secretary Treasurer and the President New Market Community Development Council at Lewisville Branch Library is still awaiting Councillor Solomon’s confirmation with respect to the date and time for the meeting.

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 Senator Ruel Reid has appointed to serve on the School Board at

Beersheba Primary School (Government School), New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies for 2016/2017 Academic School Year:

Chairman: Rev. Christopher Euphfa

Principal:   Mrs. Tatlin Smith-Williams

Academic Staff representative: Mrs. Naomi Foster-Brooks

PTA Representative: Nickesha Lawrence

Community Representative: Mr. Valdes Hamilton

Member: Mr. Michael Morgan                        

Our readers whom Beersheba Old Students association (BOSA) assumes are familiar with issues that have resulted in Senator Ruel Reid, Minister of Education asking the Chairman and few other members of the School Board at Hampton School, Malvern, Saint Elizabeth to submit their letters of resignation from the

School Board effective April 1, 2017, are asked to note the remarks made by the Minister of Education as they were aired on Nationwide Radio FM 90 on February 23, 2017 that:

  1. All School Boards are accountable to the Minister of Education.
  2. All arrangements with respect to Acting Principals in schools must be brought to and authorization must be obtained from the Ministry of Education and Finance.
  3. Under the Education Act and other Regulations, School Boards are not Entities unto themselves but they are accountable to the Minister of Education for all their actions.

It is refreshing that the Minister of Education has sensitized School Boards to the fact that when the Minister of Education gives legitimate directives to School Boards they must not be defied and must be carried out.

Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) assumes that:

  1. As a result of the retirement of Mrs. Tatlin Smith-Williams as Principal Beersheba Primary School, National Education Council (NCE) will take appropriate action to ensure that Mrs. Michele Sanderson, Acting Principal is appointed to fill the vacancy on the School Board and its website updated accordingly.
  2. As a result of Miss Nickesha Lawrence  no longer residing in Beersheba Primary School Community, that National Education Council will take appropriate action to appoint someone as the PTA Representative on the School Board and its website updated accordingly.

Editor’s Note: At the meeting that the School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) held with representatives of Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, with “Shana”, a new face  introduced by the Chairman of the School Board as the representative of the PTA, the Secretary/Treasurer of the Aasociation informed the Chairman that the name of the new representative of the PTA that he has introduced to the meeting is not on the official list of members published by National Council on Education (NCE)

THE ELESA HAMILTON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

By way of update to information that is given in Volume 35 October 2018 of BOSA Newsletter on the above subject matter; the said matter was thoroughly discussed between the School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) and Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) at a meeting that was held in the main auditorium at the School on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

With respect to the position that the School Board has taken on the matter that the criteria set by the Administrators of The Elesa Hamilton Scholarship Programme is too stringent, the Secretary/Treasurer Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), told the Chairman that since the Association has no jurisdiction with respect to how the Scholarship Programme is administered, the School Board should write to the Administrator of the Scholarship Programme to discuss the Board’s concern.

Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) is still awaiting a copy of the email message that the School Board has sent to the Administrator of the Scholarship Programme regarding concern the Board mentioned at the meeting.

BOSA SAYS LAUGHTER IS GOOD MEDICINE

OFFICER: What is your name?

ME: M.P. sir

OFFICER: In full please

ME: Marvin Paul

OFFICER:  Your father’s name? 

ME: M.P. sir

OFFICER: What does that mean”

ME: Martin Paul

OFFICER: What is your qualification?

ME: M.P.

OFFICER: (angry) What is that?!!!

ME: Math and Physics

OFFICER: So why do you need a job?

ME: It is because of M.P. sir

OFFICER: Meaning?

Me: Money Problem

OFFICER: Will you explain yourself and stop wasting time? What’s your personality like?

ME: M.P sir

OFFICER: And what is that?

ME: Marvelous Personality

OFFICER: I see ……I will get back to you.

ME: Sir, how was M.P. sir?

OFFICER: And what’s that again?

Me: My Performance

OFFICER: I think you have M.P.

ME: What’s that?

OFFICER: Mental Problem!!! 

Editor’s Note: Contributed by Merlene Holness-Price, RN, Beersheba Elementary School Alumna.

 

GOLDEN THOUGHTS AND NUGGETS

“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up.”

Les Brown, Black American Author and Motivational  Speaker

“When religion becomes preoccupied with the niceties of liturgy, the nuances of language, the niceties of music, art and architecture, but forgets the neighbor; then religion has been reduced to cultic correctness.”

James Limburg in his book Interpretations : Hosea – Micah

BOSA SCIENCE AND HEALTH CORNER

Fall Health and safety Tips

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises the following tips to help you and your family stay safe and healthy this fall.

 KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE AND HEALTHY

Get involved with your kid’s activities at home and at school to help ensure they are safe and healthy

TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT THE FLU

The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year in the Fall. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough. Use a tissue when touching public surfaces, like elevator buttons or doorknobs. Wash your hands often. Stay home if you get sick.

GET SMART ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotics can cure bacterial infection, but not viral infection. The common cold and flu are viral infection, so avoid using antibiotics if you have one of these. Using antibiotics when they are not needed causes some bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotic, and therefore stronger and harder to kill.

INSPECT HOME SAFETY DEVICES

Check or replace carbon monoxide batteries twice a year. Replace smoke alarm alkaline batteries at least once a year. Test alarms every month to ensure they work properly. Remember that using space heaters and fireplaces increase the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

PRACTICE FOOD SAFETY

Food is center stage during the holidays. Follow these basic food safety steps:

  • Clean hands and surfaces often.
  • Separate foods to avoid cross-contamination.
  • Cook to proper temperatures.
  • Chill promptly.

Sign up to receive automatic food recalls and safety alerts  (including allergy alerts) at FoodSafety.gov sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other leading health organizations, the site is a good source for food safety tips and education.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

The holidays are a time of celebration. Before imbibing in alcoholic beverages like eggnog, wine or champagne , remember that alcohol use impairs skills you need to drive a car safely. It slows reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination. Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and non-fatally injure someone every two minutes. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, AND DON’T LET OTHERS DRINK AND DRIVE.

Wash your hands often

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It’s best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds. If that’s not possible, use alcohol based hand rubs.

[Taken from The Graybill Blog – Volume 6, Issue 4, November 30, 2018]

Editor’s Note: Final information in the series on Rheumatoid Arthritis: RA And Infection Risk and Arthritis And Cancer Risk has been postponed to make way for another article that is germane to the Fall (Autumn)/Winter Season. The final episode on Rheumatoid Arthritis will be published in Volume 37 April, 2019 of BOSA Newsletter.

DISCOVERY OF SLAVE BURIAL GROUND AT PAYNES TOWN, NEW MARKET, SAINT ELIZABETH, JAMAICA WEST INDIES

Mrs. Elvie Miller , 79 year old widow (owner of the property on which the Slave Burial Ground is located) and her daughter Mrs. Madge Mullings who reside on the same property, is awaiting the visit from Archaeologists from the History and Archaeological Department of the university of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica West Indies and Jamaica National Heritage Trust to take over, preserve and secure the site where the mortal remains of Hon. John Salmon, former Custos Rotulorum for Saint Elizabeth and President of the Legislative Council in Jamaica, Samuel John Manley, grandfather of Norman Washington Manley, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Jamaican National Hero and myriad African Ancestors are buried.

Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) and Paynes Town/New Market Community anxiously await the visit of Archaeologists from the History and Archaeology Department University of the West Indies (Mona campus), Jamaica National Heritage Trust to fulfill their written commitments to visit the historic site with a view to preserve and secure the site and declare it a National Heritage Site.

As a result of the significant discovery of the Slave Burial Ground, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) in anticipation of New Market – including Carr District, birthplace of James “Dick” Richards – being declared a National Heritage Site by Jamaica National Heritage Trust – has written to the Ministry of Youth and Culture (copied to other related Government Ministries, Agencies and Quasi Agencies and Hon.

J. C. Hutchinson, Member of parliament NW Saint Elizabeth and Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Investment, Commerce and Agriculture requesting that favourable consideration is given to refurbish the Old New Market Police Station into a Museum that will be managed by a trained professional Curator.

Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) is delighted to inform readers of its Newsletter that as a result of representation that the Association made to Government Ministries and Agencies to rid the Old Police Station at New Market of Squatters who had illegally occupied the building, that the building has been repossessed and the entire premises is being cleaned and cleared of thick overgrowth and vegetation. The Association looks forward to the building being turned into a museum and the monument that was built on the site and dedicated in a civic ceremony on the night when Jamaica gained Independence from Great Britain refurbished.

In its email message dated June 10, 2017 addressed to Beersheba Primary School Alumni, Friends, Well-wishers and related Jamaica Government Ministries and Entities, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wrote quote: While Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) and other Stakeholders in the impoverished peasant farming New Market Community eagerly await the visit of Archeologists from UWI History and Archeology Department and Jamaica National Heritage Trust to take over, preserve and declare the Slave Burial Ground a National Heritage Site, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) invites everyone to procure and read Maureen Warner-Lewis book: ARCHIBALD MONTEATH, IGBO, JAMAICAN MORAVIAN, University of the West Indies Press 2007. Maureen Warner-Lewis book which can be purchased in various bookstores as well as at www.amazon.com will open readers eyes and help them to better understand the events that occurred on the Slave Estate at Kepp, Paynes Town, Hopeton, New Savannah and elsewhere in the Parish of Saint Elizabeth. Unquote

Editor’s Note: The foregoing subject matter was thoroughly discussed in a meeting that was held in the office of the Chief Executive Officer, Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation on January 15, 2018. The meeting which was provided over by His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation Councillor Derrick Sangster, was attended by Mr. Errol Lebert, Chief Executive Officer, Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, representatives of Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), New Market CDC, and Mrs. Elvie Miller and her daughter Madge Mullings; Owner of the property on which the Slave Burial Ground is located; acquiesced and decided that the Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation will pursue the matter with the History and Archaeology Department of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica West Indies so as to get the Department  and Jamaica National Heritage Trust Foundation to honour the commitment that was given to the association that they would visit, take over, secure and preserve the site.

BOSA DEVOTIONAL

Singing to the Firing Squad

Two men convicted of drug trafficking had been on death row for a decade. While in prison, they learned of God’s love for them in Jesus, and their lives were transformed. When it came time for them to face the Firing Squad, they faced their executioners reciting the Lord’s Prayer and singing Amazing Grace. Because of their faith in God, through the Power of the Holy Spirit, they were able to face death with incredible courage.

These two convicted men followed the example of faith set by their Savior, Jesus. When Jesus knew that His death was imminent, He spent part of the evening singing with friends. It’s remarkable that Jesus could sing under such circumstances, but what’s ever more remarkable, is what He sang.

On that night, Jesus and his friends had a Passover meal, which always ends with a series of Psalms known as the Hallel, Psalms 113-118. Facing death, that night Jesus sang about the “cords of death” entangling Him (Psalm 116:13). Yet, He praised God’s faithful love (Psalm 117:2) and thanked Him for salvation (Psalm 118:14).

Surely these Psalms comforted Jesus on the night before His crucifixion. Jesus’ trust in god was so great that even as He approached His own death – a death He had done nothing to deserve! – He chose to sing of God’s love. Because of Jesus, we too can have confidence that whatever we face, God is with us.

Editor’s Note: The foregoing devotional article written by Amy Peterson, Contributor to Our Daily Bread Ministries, is taken from the daily devotional in OUR DAILY BREAD for Wednesday, October 10, 2018..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“A heart that is focused on others will not be consumed with self”

 

 

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