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Special Edition
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THE JAMAICAN-GERMAN AUTOMOTIVE SCHOOL
1976—2016
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JAGAS 40TH. ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
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Text-book prices increased by an average of 4 percent island-wide over the period 2015 – 2016. This figure was 2% less than the overall increase recorded in the last reporting period, according to the recent annual survey by the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC). Creative book shopping for resourceful parents and students should include: book exchanges; secondhand sales and getting to book stores before the end of August!
Its virtually inevitable that new shoes and new bags will be demanded by back-to-schoolers. Fortunately, there is a wide variety in quality and price for school bags and shoes. Perhaps some parents may find it necessary to purchase on the cheap for the first term, accummulate some more funds and then make more substantive purchases of these items for the remainder of the school year.
The Jamaica Urban Transit Company, (JUTC) launched its annual Backto-School promotion, offering discounted prices on its bus cards, as well as the chance for commuters to get a free top-up, doubling the amount they purchase on their cards.
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SAVVY Shopping The Region’s Premier Auto School Turns 40 The JamaicanGerman Automotive School (JAGAS) is the premiere school of its kind in the region. It is also the first and oldest, professional automotive training institution in the Caribbean. JAGAS trains and produces automotive service technicians, mechanics, repairers and entrepreneurs who impact the wider society and all our lives, via the vehicles we drive on our roads everyday. JAGAS opened its doors to its first batch of students on September
13, 1976. Today, some 40 years later, the school’s population numbers over 1500 male and female students, with hundreds of young and mature students alike waiting to be registered as students or certified as professionals in the field. Under the leadership of its intrepid Manager/ Head of School, Mr. Ande Francis, JAGAS has partnered with leading institutions and businesses, both in Jamaica and abroad, to ensure that it remains on the cutting edge of
best practices within the industry. We are pleased to partner with JAGAS and several of its partners and well-wishers to mark the school’s 40th Anniversary in our Feature Supplement of this issue. This edition of Fresh! Magazine, as usual, is chockfull of useful, consumerfriendly information. Our “Back-to-School” feature includes some important information for both parents/guardians and students about the new school year. And, as usual, we offer information to help you get great value for your money; create new income streams; improve your life, achieve your goals, and succeed in your endeavors.
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How much SLEEP does your Child really need? Why is it that when we get older we would give anything to go to bed early? Once you become a parent, you can count on always being tired. Yet children never want to sleep. Perhaps they're afraid they'll miss out on something. Getting your children to bed at a decent hour can be a struggle that is accompanied by tenacious whining. "But I'm not tired. Why do I have to go to bed so early?" Some kids think they can negotiate bedtimes each year, as though it was a union contract up for renewal. Here's an example of their reasoning. Kindergarten bedtime is 7:30-8 pm; so first grade should be 8:00-8:30 pm. You agree to give it a try. At the start of 2nd grade, your child announces that 9:00 pm should be permitted. And by 3rd grade your precious angel isn't hitting the sack until 9:30 pm. At this rate, your 6th grader will have lights out at 11 pm. That's way too late! In a study of 74 six- to 12-year-olds, researchers found that the children generally had more trouble with their schoolwork and more attention problems during the week when they stayed up late each night.
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The study, published in the medical journal, Sleep, included healthy grade-schoolers without sleep or academic problems. During one week, they followed their normal sleep routine, with younger children getting about 10 hours each night and older children getting 8 to 9 hours. On another week, the children stayed up later than usual and got only 6.5 to 8 hours of sleep, depending on their age. On a third week, all of the children followed an "optimized" sleep schedule and got no fewer than 10 hours of sleep per night. According to this study, an optimized sleep schedule consisted of no fewer than 10 hours of sleep per night. Okay, so let's back into that time frame. Your child starts school at 7:45 am. She leaves home at 6:45 to catch the bus. She needs a good hour to really wake up, eat breakfast, get dressed and feed the dog. If you wake her up at 5:30 am, she needs to be asleep no later than 9:00 pm. Many children don't fall asleep the minute their head hits the pillow. That said, a bed time of 8:00 pm or 8:30 pm is by no means unreasonable.
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A Complete History of the
Jamaican-German Auto School On September 13, 1976, the JamaicanGerman Automotive School received its first batch of 24 youngsters to begin training as automotive service technicians. It is a journey that has continued for 40 years, to date.
Origins The journey began some four years earlier in 1972, when the Government of Jamaica and the Federal Republic of Germany signed an agreement for the construction and implementation of an Automotive Training School in Jamaica, to be located at 87A Maxfield Avenue in Kingston 13. On September 26, 1974 a ground breaking ceremony was held on the site and actual construction began shortly thereafter. The school was to be named the JamaicanGerman Automotive School (JAGAS). Fourteen scholarships were provided by the German Government for qualified automotive service personnel to be trained as trainers in the automotive field. These persons were selected and sent to Germany in batches of three and four to undergo intensive training for employment at JAGAS.
Waiting List The first three of these Trainers returned in January, 1975. In addition to this number, the first German Advisor and Director of the School, Mr. B. Lasch, arrived in June of that year. Construction of the School was well underway by then and in September 1975, the first shipment of equipment arrived from Germany. Entrance tests were held to select the students and by the time actual classes began in September 1976, the school was well-equipped and ready to begin the journey of training and certifying workers in what has remained one of the largest employers of labour in Jamaicaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the automotive sector. Today, some 40 years later, the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population numbers over 1500 male and female students, with a waiting list of hundreds of young and mature students, waiting to be trained and/ or certified as professionals in their field. JAGAS is headed by the highly accomplished and experienced professional, Mr. Ande Francis, who has served in various leadership capacities in education and the public service. Fresh Magazine
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The 2015-2016 Academic Year began with an intake of approximately 185 trainees.
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Lectures, tutorials, library time, labwork time and workshop time characterize each day at JAGAS. JAGAS is open 24 hours per day, every day of the week, with tight security, given its location in one of the historically volatile areas of the Corporate Area, at 87A Maxfield Avenue in Kingston 13. The school operates on two shifts for its trainee Automotive Service Technicians, in addition to several other automotive courses for practitioners in the automotive field, as well as regular motorists. Nominees for Safety Monitors and Group Leaders for the 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2016 academic year.
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What an Automotive Technician Does Automotive technicians understand the workings of cars and light trucks and do what is required to keep them running smoothly. Vehicles today have computer boards that monitor and control many internal functions and the technician knows how to get diagnostic readouts from them in order to repair the identified problem component or system. Other tasks and services that these technicians perform include: Inspecting, performing maintenance, and making repairs on ignition systems Changing oil and all filters in a vehicle Maintaining the cooling system Performing maintenance on auto air conditioning systems Checking other fluids in a vehicle such as those for the transmission and brake system Replacing components for on-board auto computer systems Making estimates for repairs to customers Inspect, maintain, and repair brake systems Using a variety of simple to advanced tools for doing the job Inspecting vehicles and recommending maintenance based on findings
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Honda Fusion Auto Repairs, located at 88 Red Hills Road, has been a JAGAS partner for many years and is one of several auto repairers to which JAGAS trainees are apprenticed.
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The 2017 Toyota RAV-4 was recently upgraded with a modern, bold, stylish exterior and a sleek, dynamic & high-quality interior. The RAV-4 provides maximum comfort for you, your family and friends while focusing on safety, functionality, practicality, fuel economy and convenience.
The All-New Fortuner has been completely redesigned from the outside in. Now with a modern, sleek, stylish exterior which is continued on the interior. It’s the “True SUV with Style & Confidence”…sporting luxury & practical features from the standard leather seats with detailed trim stitching, paddle shifts, steering controls, dual auto air conditioner, fully powered and 9 air bags at a glance.
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Governor General Makes Historic Visit to JAGAS: Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen (rt)
speaks to the audience of students, partners and well-wishers of the Jamaican-German Automotive School (JAGAS) at the launch of the HEART Trust/NTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automotive laboratory and commissioning of a mobile electronics lab, at the JamaicanGerman Automotive School (JAGAS) on Maxfield Avenue, in Kingston, on August 30, 2016
Sir Patrick Allen and Ms Maxine Wilson, Chairperson, HEART Trust/NTA are all smiles before the offical opening and tour of the JAGAS Autotronics Lab.
Former Minister of Education, Burchell Whiteman, watches keenly as 2 JAGAS students show how to use the state-of the-art Degem autotronics system . Fresh Magazine
Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen, unveils the commemorative plaque as he officially opens the HEART Trust/NTA automotive laboratory at the Jamaican-German Automotive School (JAGAS) .
Final year student, Andrew Faulkner, has the rapt attention of His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica (2nd. rt); Dr. Wayne Wesley, Executive Director of the HEART Trust/NTA (rt); and other special guests.
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Automotive Service Technician trainees at work.
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HEART/NTA Electronics Lab goes live A mobile, industrial auto-electronics laboratory was recently commissioned by the HEART Trust/NTA as part of its targeted approach to training delivery. Speaking at a special ceremony held under the patronage of the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen at the Jamaican-German Automotive School (JAGAS) on August 30, 2016, the Chairman of the HEART Trust/NTA, Ms Maxine Wilson, said the mobile autotronics lab allows HEART to reach into the “nooks and crannies” of Jamaica, reaching the most remote communities to train and certify individuals to world class standards. “This initiative is one of empowerment, upliftment and one which opens the door to brilliant opportunities,” she
said. The autotronics lab trains automotive technicians in the maintenance and repair of advanced components and complex systems found in modern vehicles. The lab features a state-of-the-art Degem autotronics system which allows for training using realistic computerized simulations. The mobile lab, which was officially opened into service by the State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Floyd Green, will also be used to conduct training in consumer electronics repair and electrical installation. The Minister said he welcomed the commissioning of the mobile electronics lab as more youths in the rural areas with the potential to learn new skills would get the opportunity to do so. The electronics-electrical lab will be used primarily in the areas of St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew and on the North Coast. (l–rt): Dr Wayne Wesley, Executive Director of the HEART Trust/NTA; Miss Maxine P. Wilson, Chairman of the HEART Trust/NTA; His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica; Mr. Floyd Green, State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; Dr. Patricia Dunwell, Custos of St. Andrew and Mr Ande Francis, Acting Manager at the Jamaican German Automotive School (JAGAS).
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20 Questions with
ANDE FRANCIS
Mr. Ande Francis is the Manager of the Jamaican-German Automotive School (JAGAS), a post he has held since being seconded to that position in 2014 from the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI) where he was Head of the School of Applied Technology. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership in Higher Education from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, among several other Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates from institutions in Jamaica, Barbados and China. As Manager of the region’s oldest and largest Automotive Training Institution, Ande Francis has direct responsibility for certifying the automotive service technicians, mechanics, repairers and entrepreneurs who impact the wider society and all our lives, via the vehicles we drive on our roads everyday. With such a heavy burden of responsibility, we thought it would be interesting to see the other sides of Ande Francis, which we did, in the following exchange. 1. What were you like in high school? I would say ‘average.’ I was a form captain; a member of the science club; a student council member in 5th form…. 2. What is your greatest weakness? My greatest weakness is my inability to say No. 3. What is your greatest challenge as the Manager of JAGAS? I wouldn’t say I have great challenges. But if I was to have a challenge it would be finding suitable and qualified, skilled instructors to execute the functions of teaching and learning at JAGAS. 4. If you could change one thing about the way you approach challenges, what would it be? When I face challenges I tend to throw myself in its resolve immediately. If I was to change one thing it would be the time taken to resolve challenges. 5. What drives you in your professional life? I am a lifelong learner, so remaining relevant in today’s global economy drives my professional life. 6. What drives you in your personal life? My family, friends and church. Fresh Magazine
7. You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why? My favorite color is blue. Blue is a cool and calming color that shows creativity and intelligence. Blue is also known to have a calming effect on the psyche. 8. You find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $50 million. What would you do? I would continue working and live my life just the same. 9. What’s the last thing you watched on TV and why did you choose to watch it? I think the last thing I watched was the evening news. I like to keep abreast of happenings all over the world. 10. What inspires you? Seeing my students excel. I believe to teach is to touch a life. 11. Who inspires you? I draw my inspiration from GOD, my family . 12. What are you best known for? Probably my willingness to help others 13. What do you do in your free time? In my free time I like to watch movies. 14. What is your leadership style? Situational leadership.
15. What’s the most inter-
esting thing about you that even people who know you, don’t know about you? I love to cook. 16. If you woke up and had 2,000 unread emails and could only answer 100 of them, how would you choose which ones to answer? I would go through all the mails one by one and respond to the ones that I would consider to be most critical. 17. How would you convince someone to do something they didn’t want to do? Well it all depends. But in general, I would highlight its importance to them. 18. What would you spend your time doing if you didn’t have to work? I love helping people so I would be somewhere offering my assistance. 19. What’s the most important thing you’d say to a new student of JAGAS? Study hard, attending JAGAS is an investment in self What’s the most important thing you’d say to a new GRADUATE of JAGAS? “Failure is not an option.”
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Health
Beauty
Wellness
FRUITS ‘In Season’ all year round
Jamaica has such a wide variety and abundance of fruits that it may appear that all our fruits are available all year round. Its January…...want an orange? You can have it directly from the tree. Its December……its May…….its September. Want an orange? You can have that directly from the tree. Similarly with mangoes. Different varieties maturing at different times of the year, means availability virtually all year round. Here are some of Jamaica’s popular fruits that are available from the farm gate, the market or from vendors across the island. Fresh Magazine
Selecting the right temperature for your flat iron
Hair Type
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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it: we all know that it is important to our health that we drink several glasses of water every day. But many people simply hate the taste of good old H2O. And, of course, there are times when, because of ill health, even water is unpalatable. But here are 10 ways to make you LOVE drinking water! 1. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime (or both). 2. Infuse with fruits. 3. Pour in a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice. 4. Make ice cubes out of no-sugar-added juice and add to sparkling or still water and cranberry juice-water. 5. Tear up some fresh mint leaves and leave to steep in water before drinking. 6. Add sliced cucumber for a refreshing zing. 7. Make half the glass sparkling water, half the glass still water; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not as gassy as sparkling alone. 8. Crush some basil leaves, add to water and leave overnight. 9. Add some artificial sweetener. 10. After boiling vegetables, such as carrots, reserve the water and chill overnight for a vitamin-packed blast of flavour. Fresh Magazine
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First Global Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Inaugural SME Summit: Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Mr. Audley Shaw (c), listen keenly to a presenter at the inaugural Small Business Summit, held by First Global Bank in July 2016. Seated beside the Minister (2nd from rt) is the President of First Global Bank, Mrs. Marion McIntosh Robinson. Fresh Magazine
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Be Smart with your money Practical Tips to find the deposit to acquire your home A deposit is a main factor in the process of home ownership. It reflects your seriousness and ability to start your journey to acquire a home. A deposit can range between 10 and 15 percent, which is usually provided to the vendor to temporarily secure the unit. Accumulating your deposit may take some time. Here are some practical tips that you can adopt to alleviate the stress of finding your deposit. Don’t Extend on Luxury Items You don’t need to update your wardrobe with high end shoes, clothing and accessories every month. Do you even really need that post-paid phone plan that you hardly ever exhaust but will still have to pay for? What about your cable package? Maybe you don’t need that package with so many channels or do you even need cable at all. Shop Smartly Don’t just buy based on ‘name brands’. Look out for the most cost-effective items, with superior quality and usefulness. Create a Second Income Tap into your skills and use this to create some form of employment to generate extra cash. If you are a great singer, promote yourself and take up stints at weddings and other special occasions. If you are proficient in a specific subject, become a tutor for students.
YOUR
$
MONEY
Dedicated Savings Account Take out a standing order for a specific amount of money to be directly deposited to a specific savings or contractual account. Dedicate at least 2025 percent of your monthly salary, if you can. Save and then Spend Don’t spend and then save what’s left. At the end of each pay day, save a portion of your money and whatever remains should dictate your spending.
Lower Housing Solutions If you currently live in a rental, find a cheaper alternative if possible. Scout for a lower-priced unit or explore the option of moving back home to your parents or other family members to eliminate that additional cost. Source: Jamaica National Building Society http://bit.ly/2bZffXD
Digital Media Marketing and SMEs
Source: Economist Intelligence Unit survey Fresh Magazine
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New labeling requirements for food exporters Exporters of food to the United States will soon have to meet new label requirements as the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has finalised its new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods. The new label will reflect new scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases like obesity and heart disease and will make it easier for consumers to make better informed food choices. Read more here: http://bit.ly/2c24P7Y
(l) Current label. (rt) New label
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