Newsletter issue 2

 Special Interest:      

Consultative Breakfast with Governor General
     
 Alumni Association Third Year Luncheon
 
Third Year Students Valedictory Service
    

Newsletter Highlights: 

Newsletter Highlights:
Congratulations    3
Upcoming Events    4

Message From The Chairperson, Central Executive Branch

Carol Grant-Gordon, Chair

Central Executive Branch

I am very proud of our progress as an alumni association and I can safely say that we are determined and have the tenacity to grow leaps and bounds; we are indeed making our mark in new areas of society.

Our recent Black Tie Affair in Maryland hosted by the Central Executive Branch was a success and was embraced by friends, supporters, and fellow Alumni from New York, Florida, and Jamaica Chapters. Of course, we are also grateful that Dr. Cecile Walden former principal graced us with her presence. Also against all odds, our eloquent master of ceremonies, Dr. Hickswell Douglas, flew in from Jamaica and did a fantastic job. I want to thank everyone who made the extra effort to attend. I know that there were many others who wanted to attend but simply couldn’t make it for reasons beyond their control. I am convinced that we can achieve anything we put our minds to as long as we come together as members. I encourage you to continue supporting the Association and get involved. 

I must say that the function was a success, because we made a profit to enhance our missions and other projects.  The weekend culminated with an impromptu breakfast and tour of the Washington DC landmarks.  A great time was had by all.  I would like to inform everyone that the Education and Medical mission to Haiti will be on October 18 – 22, 2010. Information will be forth coming. July 2011 all roads lead back to Jamaica for the Reunion, Medical and Education missions. Please start planning ahead.

The encouragement and support from Sharpites and other supporters are overwhelming, and I am encouraged to work harder to achieve our goals.   Please visit the alumni website (http://1amaica.com/sstc) for photographic highlights of the function.

Newly Appointed Executive Board Members Congratulations are in order for the following:

Carol Davison-Blackwell, Treasurer

Jasmine Givins – Florida Chapter

Yvonne Woolcock – New York Chapter

Glendon Bryson – Jamaica Chapter

Masie Wilson - Canada

The Annual Third Year Luncheon held in Jamaica on May 26, 2010 was a great success. Jeanne Robinson-Foster, Chair from Board of Trustees was in attendance.  Dr. Asburn Pinnock, Principal, in his address to the students encouraged them as an alumni to become involved in the Association.  Carlton, Steven, Dr. Hixwell Douglas and I were unable to attend on account of reasons beyond our control but Dr Cecile Walden stepped in as guest speaker, while Latoya Reid our Deputy Chair represented  the Alumni Association and did a wonderful job. I was told that the students, faculty and friends had a wonderful time. I was informed that many of the Third Year students have signed up with the Jamaica chapter to become members of the alumni association. A great big thank you to all for your participation; please keep the momentum going.  

Carol Grant-Gordon

Consultative Breakfast With the Governor General

The picture above shows three SSTC student leaders who were invited to a consultative breakfast with the Governor General on May 20, 2010. The breakfast was focused around the G.G's "I Believe" mantra which looks towards a brighter future for Jamaica based on the belief in the ability of fixing what is wrong with Jamaica by employing what is right with Jamaica. The students (from left to right): Alric Reid (2nd year president, student leader, class leader), Akeisha Christie (student leader, class leader), Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General, and Greg Comrie (student leader, class leader) shared their views with the queen's representative on how to move the nation forward and restore hope in the country's ability to overcome this difficult period. Such suggestions included petitioning parliament to reconsider cutting the subsidy on tertiary education, and implementing a curriculum to teach Jamaicans the history of the country, both pre and post independence, to foster a sense of patriotism.

           
Third-Year Luncheon Sponsored by the Alumni Association

The “Third-Year Luncheon was held on May 27, 2010.  The following is an excerpt of speech presented by Latoya Reid, Deputy Chair

“Dr. Ausburn Pinnock, Madam Chairman Jeanne Foster Robinson, other distinguished members of the head table, lecturers and you- the lauded student teachers- allow me to greet you on behalf of the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College Past Students Association and more specifically the Central Executive Branch.  First and foremost, let me apologize sincerely for the absence of our Chair Carol Grant Gordon and the ambassador Carlton Grant who both have family engagements and could not attend despite their deep desire to do so. Steven Kerr our Representative to the board was supposed to be by my side today but because of the upheaval in Kingston could not be here.
 
I am in a state of déjà vu as I witness your exit from our noble teacher training institution into the welcoming world of teaching. It feels like yesterday that I was among the orientation team that welcomed you to Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College. During that week of orientation you demonstrated to your seniors and super seniors that you were a fortified batch with talent beyond expectations; trail blazers who were willing to rise to the call duty; and were bubbling with enthusiasm that was contagious to all in proximity. Admirably, you were undaunted by challenges (share experience during midnight Olympics).
 
The Alumni is proud to sponsor today’s event. We are committed to forging impermeable bonds with you and future graduating classes to show our abiding devotion to improving the college and igniting the passion to reciprocate in tangible and intangible ways so that the institution will continue to empower men and women to become world class educators as the alumni of SSTC grows leaps and bounds.
We are proud of your achievements and implore you to employ the same passion and enthusiasm as you venture into the world of teaching; thus, becoming catalysts of positive change in the classrooms and society at large.
While you are doing all that, what better thing to do than to remember your alma mater- one of the molders of your being- and join an association that values you input in the many ways that we can improve the college and the experience of those to come. Lets us be our own critics, but rather than critiquing with no improvement I implore you to become a part of a group that guarantees solutions.
 
I wish to leave you with a quote penned by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. “A mind stretched by a new idea can never go back to its original dimensions”. I am confident that after a tenure of three and four years spent at SSTC you are leaving with cherished life changing memories that have stretched your minds tremendously and have transformed you into new individuals. It is now your turn to translate your knowledge to inspire your students and give them the impetus to stretch their minds, thoughts and imaginations as you continue your legacy of giving service, commitment and excellence wherever you go.

Consultative 185 Graduate from Sam Sharpe Teachers' College 

Reprint from JIS Media Centre
Approximately 185 persons, who have successfully completed a three-year diploma teacher training course at Sam Sharpe Teachers' College in Granville, St. James, graduated from the institution on Thursday (May 27).
 
The 32nd Valedictory Service was held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay, under the theme, "Going forth to give excellent service", and was attended by educators and the business and religious communities of western Jamaica.

In giving the charge to the graduating class, Principal of the College, Dr. Asburn Pinnock, called on them to perform their work with inspiration, enthusiasm and "with a true sense of service and commitment, striving always for the attainment of excellence."
 
"As professionals, see to it that you continue to practise the principles you have been taught and have learnt, especially with respect to the planning, preparation and execution of your daily duties in the school and community," Dr. Pinnock said.
 
"You will have in your charge the fresh lives of young children whom you must take care to influence for good, not only by what you teach in the classroom, but also by how you instruct them for the challenges of life, by your own general attitudes and by your style of living and determination," he urged.

Addressing the graduates, Regional Dean at the International University of the Caribbean, Dr. Polly Bowes-Howell, encouraged them to go out into the communities and make a difference in the lives of children who all have the potential to be future leaders.
 
"Today, we are sending you out there to make a difference and you should take with you Joshua 1 verse 9: Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest," Dr. Bowes-Howell urged.

"Teachers, if you are not going out there to teach and to preach and to bring about change, then you are in the wrong place. I urge you to strive for excellence, be professionals and seek to upgrade yourselves early," she added.
 
She impressed on the graduates to be active members of their alumni association, and help in establishing a welfare fund to assist students in achieving their ambitions in education, despite the socio-economic challenges being experienced.
 
Graduates were urged to keep focused on the college's Mission Statement which, in part, reflects that Sam Sharpe Teachers' College is committed to providing a consistently high standard of training, to produce lifelong learning professionals dedicated to rendering altruistic service and be formidable change agents in the global environment.
 
 

• CORRECTION:  Mrs. Constance Bogle was awarded a Masters Degree.  We erroneously indicated she was awarded a Doctorate Degree is the last edition of the

        newsletter

• Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Pinnock on her recent graduation
• To Latoya and Alric Reid on the birth of their son,Alxavier Reid born April 28^th, 2010 at Cornwall Regional Hospital, our first CEB baby!

Congratulations to all! 

“The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”  ~Author Unknown~
 
“Miss Jones had been giving her second-grade students a lesson on science. She had explained about magnets and showed how they would pick up nails and other bits of iron. Now it was question time, and she asked, "My name begins with the letter 'M' and I pick up things. What am I?" A little boy on the front row proudly said, "You're a mother!"
~Author Unknown~

Your support is requested for the following and other local chapter fundraising events:
•    The Medical and Education Mission trip to Haiti is planned for October 18-22, 2010!  Additional details will be forthcoming.
•    The Jamaica Chapter will be having a “souvenirs sale” in support of those 3rd year students as memento to commemorate their upcoming graduation.
•    Coming soon – July 2011 – please start planning…all roads lead back to Jamaica for medical and education mission as well as our reunion.