Educate a Jamaican child experiencing poverty

Things are going so well for Andre B., he says he doesn’t remember how challenging it was in the early days when he started Kindergarten in 2020. Vice Principal of Administration, Allison Smith, who was also his Grades 1 and 2 class teacher, remembers differently.

She recalls that he was disruptive, and she can detail the many interventions it took to get to where he is today -- winner of the Most Improved Behavior Award. Andre says this award makes him feel good. “I’m behaving myself.” He says he is getting his work done, is helpful to other students, and is trying not to cause trouble.

Others have seen the change too. His mother, Jodi-Ann says Andre has come a long way. He used to be disruptive. She says it was hard to hear from the school every day, and she was ready to give up, to move him, or make him stay home. “Mi did tyad fi talk and ‘im no hear,” she says. “Him did deh pon chalk line and me never expect seh him would a change.”

She says he had teachers who loved him, but he had to play his part. Andre had a lot of support and encouragement along the way. He finally turned things around in Grade 3 with Ms. McDonald, who really worked with him on his reading and math. The Academic and Social Services teams developed a Behavioral Plan, drawing on the many interventions in their toolkit, including detention, and in-house suspension. He even worked one-on-one with Ms. Smith on Saturdays.

Jodi-Ann also got involved. She used to shadow him in the classroom while she was pregnant. She also participated in a Restorative Justice Session and Parent Support workshops offered by the school, where parents learned how to better discipline and support their children in a positive way. “Mi realize seh cussing and cussing nah really help,” Jodi-Ann explains. Andre also participated in the Restorative Justice Session which included parents, teachers and students. He says it was “great.” During the session, he learned how to resolve issues with classmates.

Andre likes coming to Christel House Jamaica and is enjoying learning. He loves Math and his goal is to be top of the class in Math. Andre would like to be a football (soccer) player when he grows up. He was part of our inaugural team who won Most Disciplined Team in the Portmore Primary School Football Competition.

“Over the years I have seen his growth and maturity,” Ms. Smith explains. “Andre is now in Grade 4 and is appreciating the environment, understanding rules and expectations, behaving, and completing his assigned tasks.”

Jodi-Ann is thankful. “Mi haffi thank God fi dis school,” she says. “Mi jus wan him fi focus on his work, and don reach where it reach again.”

Links:

• Learn more about Christel House Jamaica