St Thomas Technical High fêtes retirees

Jolyn Bryan, Gleaner WriterMORANT BAY, [color:a9eb=blue !important][color:a9eb=blue !important]St [color:a9eb=blue !important]Thomas:
RETIRING TEACHERS and staff members of the St Thomas Technical High School were sent off in fine style last Saturday night at Morant Villas in a banquet that celebrated their combined 150 years of service.
Well-wishers included teachers from St Thomas Technical High School, and family and friends. All had nothing but glowing praise for the seven retirees. Those honoured were Nurse Zipporah Wright, three years of service; Chef Ronald Powell, 10 years; Phyllis Henry, 25 years; Sylvester Cooper, 32 years; Millicent Kerridge, 20 years; Steve Chisholm, 33 years; and Alfred Pennant, 32 years.
A sumptuous dinner of traditional Jamaican food was complemented by great entertainment. Performances came from Junior Edwards, also known as Singer P; Jodian Bailey, past student of St Thomas Technical; six-year-old Kailla Grant, national and parish gold medallist for the [color:a9eb=blue !important][color:a9eb=blue !important]Jamaica Cultural Development Commission speech finals, who did an enthralling spoken piece; and Davian Strachan, aspiring artiste and present student of the school. A live band also added to the musical entertainment of the night.
FOND MEMORIES
Michael McLeod, councillor for the Dalvey division in St Thomas, himself a past student, shared fond memories of some of the retirees who he said had contributed greatly to his development. He urged them to enjoy their rest but to continue to make lasting contributions to the community, as this was greatly needed. Lanceford Grant, master of ceremonies, also had encouragement for the retirees, urging them to 're-tyre' - to get new threads for their tyres - and to use their remaining time to continue to serve.
Guest speaker Ena Barclay, liaison officer of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), had many words of praise and encouragement for the retirees. She also spoke to the necessity for teachers and administrators of schools to be decent human beings and to lead by example. She went on to say that, even though the climate of the classroom had changed, the needs of students had not.
"Students need love, motivation, guidance, inspiration, and support," said Barclay, a former president of the JTA.
She also urged the retirees to be proud of the legacy they had left at the school, and to make themselves available to those who would build on this legacy.
"Do not divorce yourself from the challenges of the education system. Provide your knowledge to those who come after, provide a shoulder to lean on," said Barclay.
"Encouragement and counsel are instrumental in [color:a9eb=blue !important][color:a9eb=blue !important]nation building, and the retirees, having such diverse and lengthy experiences, still have a responsibility to offer their service in this endeavour."