SECONDARY SCHOOLS BENEFIT FROM COMPUTERS PROVIDED BY JADCO

June Spence Jarrett (left), Executive Director, JADCO, presents five desktop computers to Orrett Wallace (2nd left), Principal, Foga Road high School. Sharing in the moment are Tiquan Galbert (right) and Amanda Mastant (2nd right), both students of the institution. The occasion was the handover of desktop computers to the school on Tuesday, May 19, 2023.

The ninth annual staging of the Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshops were held via the Zoom platform for four regions across the island in October 2022. In 2023, JADCO presented 20 desktop computers to four secondary schools from each region for outstanding participation in the series of workshops.

Guy’s Hill High School were the champions for region one. They had the most participants online. As a result, the institution was awarded five desktop computers on

Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at a handover ceremony, held at JADCO’s office. Region one includes secondary schools from Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas and St. Catherine. Guy’s Hill High School was declared the winner for the third consecutive year.

The Hon. Alando Terrelonge, former Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, who spoke at the event, believes the workshops, hosted annually, are not only beneficial to the participating

Continued on page 3 schools, but also prove influential islandwide. “Anti-Doping education is really important, so as Minister, it’s always important that we are here to support our state agency, JADCO. JADCO has the task of educating our student athletes, because how they perform now in terms of maintaining clean sport and handling the rules of fair play, it not only affects them, but affects Jamaica.”

In May 2023, the Commission journeyed across the island to present desktop computers to the remaining schools which had the most participants online. During a handover ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, 2023, Foga Road High School in Clarendon, was presented with five desktop computers, declaring them the winner for region two. Region two includes schools from Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth.

Petersfield High School in Westmoreland was also presented with five desktop computers on Friday, May 26, 2023, for being the winners for region three which includes schools from Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James and sections of Trelawny.

Speaking at the event, Roan Green, Principal of Petersfield High School, said “It is the age for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and based on our need at Petersfield High School, we take the opportunity to say thank you. We are in need of these equipment and our students learning is paramount. Right now, we are at a point where we want to improve our students learning and ICT as you know is the way to go.” He added that, “This contribution that you have given to us will go a far way in impacting our students positively and we hope that through their interaction and education they will show appreciation by using them for the reasons intended to improve their learning.”

For the third consecutive year, Ocho Rios High School in St. Ann had the highest number of participants online for region four. As a result, the school was presented with five desktop computers on Monday, May 29, 2023 during a handover ceremony at the institution. Region four includes schools from St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland and sections of Trelawny.

In addition to the distribution of the desktop computers, JADCO branded memorabilia were also given to all the participants in the Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshops. Over 1000 junior athletes and their support personnel from the four regions attended the workshops.

Executive Director at JADCO, June Spence Jarrett said, “Each year that we have our workshop, it gets bigger and better. The children are eager to learn about anti-doping and we believe it should not start at the high school level, so we are now moving into the primary schools to do that and I am very excited.”

The 2023 series of the Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshops will be held face to face in October.

June Spence Jarrett, Executive Director, JADCO, presents five desktop computers to Roan Green (centre), Principal, Petersfield High School. Sharing in the moment is George Wright, Member of Parliament, Westmoreland Central. The occasion was the handover of desktop computers to the school on Friday, May 26, 2023. Petersfield High School was awarded the devices for outstanding participation in the 2022 Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshop held for region three.