Announcements

To Our Alumni in Jamaica and across the world,
This is an invitation to you to join with your colleagues in widening and strengthening the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College Past Students Association!
Over the last three years, in particular, Past students of the College have been coming together in various parts of the world to renew acquaintances, form new alliances and seek ways and means of supporting the College which gave them that significant push on their journey to self fulfillment.
In 2005, in our thirtieth year, there was a reunion spearheaded by the Fort Lauderdale group with sterling support from California and the group in western Jamaica. This was held in Jamaica, at the College and was a successful and inspirational event for past students and staff and their families and friends with staff and students from as far as the Eastern Caribbean, Canada, and England. .
In 2006, the reunion was held in Fort Lauderdale. That was another memorable occasion with persons coming from England, Jamaica, Canada, and across the USA. The commitment to bond together again grew even stronger and from these events were raised enough funds to donate to the College a laptop, two LCD projectors, and a camcorder. This has enhanced the resources of the College both for Instructional Technology and for Profesional Development. This is not to down play the individual gifts of books and teaching learning materials from various persons.
The icing on the cake was at the handing over ceremony in November of that year when representatives of past students, headed by Leo Gilling and with Dr. Simon Clarke, came to the College and in two ceremonies interacted with the present students. At the end the students led by their leader gave them the “Fresher Salute”. This had provided them a real link to their predecessors and encouraged and motivated them. Since then many have been in touch through emails with their ‘seniors’ getting advice and suggestions on a variety of concerns including personal issues, Teaching Practice and classroom management.
In 2007, the reunion went to the Big Apple – New York. What a fanfare! Our attendance grew and the Banquet and Dance that Saturday evening was a more than fitting climax to the efforts of all those who since the start in 2005 continue to keep the Association alive and truly kicking. Jamaica’s Consul to New York was our Guest speaker and representatives from other alumni were there to support us. On the Friday night a Constitution was presented for discussion and to be ratified later. Details of that may be had from the Website which also has a register for persons to log on.
Decision was taken to return to Jamaica in 2008 for an even bigger reunion. Plans are afoot to mount a Summer Educational Camp and Health Fair at the College for two weeks and to end this with the reunion on that weekend. (July 14 – 27). The membership in the USA and Canada have been reporting success in getting professionals in the two areas ( Health and Education), to volunteer their expertise. Again when you log on you will get the details so far and I am sure catch some of the vitality and vibrancy and energy of persons like Carol Grant, Leo Gilling, Lettibel Williams, Carlton Grant, Valrie Ferguson, Glenna Clarke, Stephen White, Shedigel, Ferdinand Bright and so many more. ( I am giving you their College names so you can recall the persons). There are plans to do some professional development courses so if you have an issue or area of interest that you would like to have a workshop on please let us know. We also invite you to do presentations. I know we have some excellent alumni who are more than holding their own in education , health, and other training and social development activities.
For us in Jamaica, we need to get out of the starting blocks. There are pockets of SSTC Alumni in each parish and indeed all over the country. We in the West have been meeting in small groups sometimes at the College, but I think we need to use the internet, as the others have and meet by email with units meeting face to face in their various locations. Robert Edwards, Sonia Graham, Asburn Pinnock, Sadie Harris-Mortley, Marcia Grey and Monica Campbell who are all alumni of the college are lecturers holding posts of responsibility there. They are willing to bring you up to date on the activities of the Ciollege as well as to support any plans you may have for widening the contacts in your area. Monica Campbell has been named by the Administration as the Liaison Officer for Alumni Affairs. Her email address is appended to this Newsletter. Other activists are Hugh Miller, principal of Flankers, Diane Day, Bursar at Cambridge High, Glendon Brydson at Somerton All Age, Steven Kerr of the Planning Institute and Hixwell Douglas of the MOE. There are many more but these are the few who come to mind as I write from Barbados so forgive me if I have not called your name. Age also is a factor! This is a plea for you to come on board especially in Jamaica, to make this Association active and to support this great outreach to the residents of Granville both young and old.
contact those listed below and or write me back. Please forward this to others whom you know are past students of this young but noble Institution that has become a significant part of the Educational and Development Landscape of Jamaica.
Sincerely,
Cecile Walden C.D., J.P. D.Ped.