Chetwood Primary establishes vegetable garden as part of centennial celebration
Published:Thursday | February 27, 2025 | 12:09 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Students of the Chetwood Memorial Primary School, in Montego Bay, St James got a special hands-on agricultural experience yesterday when they created their very own school garden under the school’s Quality Educator Circle (QEC) 29-32 Garden Guardian Challenge. The challenge formed part of activities under the institution’s 100th anniversary celebration.
Yesterday’s initiative, originally spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, saw the students getting their hands dirty in their garden as they planted vegetables such as corn, carrots, and lettuce. They worked alongside members of the St Elizabeth-based Munro College’s 4-H Club, in a move coinciding with Munro’s own ongoing vegetable garden project.
Marvine Dewar-Dixon, Chetwood Primary’s 4-H Club coordinator and the coordinator of the school’s Garden Guardian Challenge, told The Gleaner that the two institutions’ collaboration on Chetwood Primary’s vegetable garden creation would help them both achieve their project objectives.
“We have a QEC 29-32 project wherein we are to create a garden to supply the school’s canteen with produce, including fresh vegetables. Munro College’s 4-H Club has a similar project, so they have chosen to partner with us and execute their project, and in executing their project, they are also assisting in our project becoming a reality,” said Dewar-Dixon.
“I just hope other young people will consider this venture to be truly a grand initiative, and that they would want to share in it and consider doing something of a similar nature. I want to just say that I am indeed feeling elated to be sharing in this occasion,” added Dewar-Dixon.
POSITIVE INFLUENCE
In addition to Chetwood students reaping a practical benefit from the creation of their school garden, the project is intended to provide youths with an alternative to harmful influences that could result in them falling prey to crime and violence when they get older.
Trisha-Gaye Elliot, one of Munro College’s 4-H Club advisers, was quite pleased that her group was able to assist Chetwood Primary during their centennial celebration. The school, along with Mt Alvernia High School and the Mt Alvernia Primary School, was founded in 1925 by the Franciscan Sisters from Allegany in the United States.
“It is the 100th anniversary for Chetwood Memorial Primary School, and of course we really wanted to be there to be a part of it. One of our club members also has a relative who is a teacher here at the school, so that has helped to cement the relationship between us some more,” said Elliot. “The reception we have gotten has been warm, welcoming, and so inviting. The students are excited, and we are also excited to be here.”
Chetwood’s acting principal, Joan Kerr, said the school garden’s installation will make it easier to supply nutritious lunches for the students at the institution.
“The Ministry of Education has given us a project to use the environment to aid in science and technology, and our project is to build a garden to plant vegetables that the children can get and from which the school can profit. We provide lunch here, so we can get vegetables to aid our lunch,” said Kerr.