NEW CLASSROOMS AND TOILET FACILITIES ERECTED AT YORK STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL
Members of the York Street Past Students’ Association Inc., New York and the Local Chapter is happy to inform that expansion work at York Street Primary School in St. Catherine has been completed at a cost of $JA4.5 million. The work involved construction of two additional classrooms to alleviate overcrowding and sanitary conveniences. About 300 students and seven teachers will benefit.
The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank and the York Street Past Students’ Association, Inc. funded the project. We are also very thankful to our MP, Honorable Robert (Bobby) Pickersgill, councilwoman Ms. Myrna Robertson and the principal of the school Mr. Eric Scott who has been very instrumental and supportive in this venture.
Members of the entire community were overwhelmingly happy for this new development as the school was lacking these facilities for several years. We do hope that all parties involved will take proper care of them.
As we move forward in building this community we are pleading to all members of the community to come together and play their part.

IMPROVEMENT TO PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

A number of initiatives aimed at improving the physical plant were undertaken during the period under review namely: School Expansion: The project sponsored by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (J.S.I.F) and The Past Students Association -New York Chapter- aimed at improving cramped classroom conditions and upgrading the sanitary facilities got under way on March 7, 2002. The project was completed on June 24, 2002 and saw the erection of two additional classrooms and a building housing toilet facilities for both boys and girls.

Painting and Fencing: The frontal boundary of the school was fenced by the P.T.A. with concrete post and barbed wire. The school building was also painted at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. Furniture: An ongoing maintenance program has resulted in the repairs of all desk and benches. Four new chalkboards were acquired to satisfy felt needs. Forty new benches and desks were supplied by the MOE&C in addition to two teachers’ desk and chairs. The P.S.A.-New York Chapter- supplemented this effort through a contribution of two desks and four chairs for the sole use of the teachers.

PAST STUDENTS AND PARENT TEACHER’S ASSOCIATIONS
The P.S.A. local and overseas continue to be the bedrock on which the school resides. In addition to its regular annual shipment of books to the school, this year the school benefited through the donation of a computer system, a keyboard, standing fans, video cassettes, classroom clocks, educational games, teachers classroom furniture, scholarship to a student of outstanding academic performance in addition to a handsome sum towards the building fund. The school also welcomed members of the executive of these organizations on many occasions during 2001 to 2002.

The P.T.A. has been very active in the life school. This year its major fund raising effort – Valentines’ barbeque was well supported both through the parent’s involvement and in the proceeds realized. Funds raised from the barbeque were used to paint and fence the school.

Parents showed strong interest in the performance of their children as was shown in their near 90% attendance at February’s Parents’ Day activities.


OTHER ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTIONS
Activities: The school has involved itself in a number of activities geared towards the overall development of its pupils. Among the many activities undertaken are house competitions in athletics, football, netball and cricket; thanksgiving, carol and harvest services; spelling bee competition, fun day, valentine’s barbeque and site visits. The school also recognizes Parent’ week, National Heroes Day, Peace Day, Teachers’ Day and other important calendar events through special functions or celebrations
Projections: The school looks to the future with great optimism. The administrators of the school are heartened by the greater levels of self- awareness that its’ pupils are now exhibiting. They further believe that in the near future the dream of ensuring that all students graduate literate at the grade six level and with a positive self image will be realized with the coming on stream of the computer center and library. The school stands committed to the objective of broadening the pupils sphere of influence in the arts through greater involvement in dance, drama and music, while ensuring that basic skills in gardening and sewing are taught at all grade levels; preliminary work in these areas have already began. All these various activities are geared towards improving the image of the school.

To our valued partners, friends and well- wishers we urged you to recommit yourself to the challenges ahead while taking comfort in the victories already won. Our goal is a noble one. We dare not fail our children. Let us hold fast to the, “VISION of EXCELLENCE”.
Submitted: Eric G. Scott - Principal

SEVERAL SCHOOLS BENEFITTED FROM THE ORGANIZATION IN THE YEAR 2002
With much hard work, and dedication members of the York Street Past Students’ Association put hands and hearts together and amassed various educational material that was sent to 8 basic schools, 4 primary and 1 high school in Jamaica.
It was no easy task putting 13 boxes of school material together and making the right selections to be sent to the various schools. However, we all came together and made it a very happy and joyful occasion as we challenged the task, sharing books, building blocks, pencils, pens, cassettes and crayons etc.
Schools that received donations were: Byndloss, Cheesefield, Mountain Pass, Nicey’s, Russell Pen, Time & Patience, Wallens, and York Street basic schools, Bermaddy, Jericho, Time & Patience and York Street Primary Schools, and McGrath High. Though all did not receive a box it must be noted that Jericho Primary was awarded US$1000 (thanks to Winston Gordon, who made this a special project for his school) to their bus drive, Time& Patience was awarded a VCR and Cassette tapes while McGrath High got various Cassette tapes.
Again, we thank our MP, Honorable Robert Pickersgill (Bobby) and councilwoman, Myrna Robertson for making all the necessary arrangements collecting and delivering the shipment from The Customs Department to York Street Primary. Members of the local chapter of the organization did distribution at the school. All recipients were very grateful for the gesture.

CHICAGO FUNDRAISERS WERE BIG SUCCESS!!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2001 : Solomon & Avis Flowers along with Glen Taffe hosted our 4th fundraiser in Chicago, IL. The event was very successful, and we thanked all our supporters for being a part of that grand occasion.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2002: This fundraiser, was again hosted by Solomon & Avis Flowers and Glen Taffe at Woodlawn Garden Banquet Hall on the Southside of Chicago, IL. 27 Members from various states in the USA, and Toronto, Canada attended. Our thanks to members of Sunlight Cricket Club, the many friends, Joy Pompie for the delicious food, and DJ Boyce for his music that kept us on our toes. This is the 5th year that the organization has been having successful events in this beautiful and windy city, and to date this was the finest. CHICAGO SIX will be September 20, 2003.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD SCHOLARSHIP GIVEN BY BROTHER AND SISTER TEAM
A J$10,000.00 yearly achievement award scholarship was awarded to 12 year old Kaydian Shakilia Grant to attend Ewarton High School for four years. Devan Anderson of Samba Soccer Club, and his sister Metra Weatherley gave this award at the start of the school year in September 2001. Kaydian wants to be a teacher and must maintain a B-average grade in all subjects to maintain this scholarship. This was truly a magnanimous gesture by this brother and sister team.We, again, are calling on members of York Street and neighboring communities to give a helping hand in whatever area they see fit in building and developing their community.

SURPRISE GUEST AT OUR 2001 FUNDRAISER!!
Mrs. E.E. Green, past principal, who left York Street Primary decades ago was our surprise guest for the evening. At 90 years old, still going strong, and even dancing, it was great seeing her. Her daughters, Sheila and Barbara (Babs) accompanied her.


NEW YORK FUNDRAISERS — WERE ALL SUCCESSFUL!!
JUNE 7, 2001 FUNDRAISER: Our annual fundraiser held at St. Bonaventure Church Hall on Saturday, June 7 was a success. All profits from this event were used as part of our building fund and purchasing school supplies for various schools.
JUNE 8, 2002 FUNDRAISER :This was another successful event. Thanks to our dedicated alumni members and friends who, over the years, put out the effort to support us. Profits were also used as part of our building fund and purchasing of school supplies.
DECEMBER 14, 2002: Our Christmas party was the last event for the year, and we thanked all our wonderful supporters that were able to be a part of this celebration at St. Benedict the Moor Church Hall.
MEMBERSHIP: We welcome our two new members, Mrs. Veronica (Sybil) Chambers Coburn, and Mr. Patrick L. Dixon.
OUTSTANDING MEMBERS: There are members that go that extra mile to power this organization forward and this year we thank Christine Blake, Renford Boothe, Nadine Brown, Yvette Buckland, Elaine Chen, Winston Gordon, Suzanne Nangle and David Smith for their efforts.
WE ARE READY TO CHALLENGE 2003: As we come to the end of a successful 2002 we are ready to challenge ‘2003 and hope that our aspirations and dreams are as rewarding and will surpass all previous years. Again, our thanks and gratitude to our supporters, well wishers and friends that helped to row our boat ashore — may GOD continue to cast his blessings on ALL.
Hope you enjoy our NEWSLETTER — so until next year this time — WALK GOOD!!

ELAINE A. COLEMAN