Black River Primary wins Trees for Peace parish competition

Black River Primary School is the parish champion for St Elizabeth in the Trees for Peace Competition organised by the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Information, Youth and Culture.

"We worked very hard and we are proud to have been placed first in the parish and fourth overall in the Trees for Peace Competition," said Cleon Foster, vice-principal of the school.

Shala Barnes, a teacher at the school, said it was a school and community effort where students, teachers, parents and members of the community played an integral role in creating their 'Garden of Eden'.

"We started in late June and July, cleaning up the area, putting things together, and then we took the summer break and we went hard at it. Even on weekends. It was fun and we are happy that we won," Barnes shared.

She said the peace garden is being utilised by the guidance counsellors and students.

"The guidance counsellors take students in there from time to time to resolve conflicts and issues. Students even go in there by themselves and they care for it. We even heard one student caution another student about walking carefully in the Garden of Eden," she laughed.

WORK PRAISED

Dr Elizabeth Ward, who is chair of the VPA, praised the work of the school in preparing their version of the 'Garden of Eden.'

She noted that the provision of such a beautiful and quiet space would go a far way in fostering peace.

"We need to keep these green, clean spaces and quiet spaces in our lives," she said.

More than 100 schools entered the competition, with 30 schools creating peace gardens across 12 parishes.

First-place winner was Prospect Primary School in St Thomas. Naggo Head Infant School in Portmore, St Catherine, placed second, and Holy Family Primary School in Kingston came third. Holy Family also copped the social media prize. It was voted the best peace garden by online followers of the VPA's Instagram and Facebook accounts.