---

When little Sherene Francis emerged first place winner in the Schools Wellness Club Essay and Poster competition, she was simply continuing a double tradition of excellence. The first, her own incredible academic track record and the second, that of her school deep rural Inverness Infant and Primary School – an institution which has an impressive record of winning essay, poster, speech and agricultural competitions across Jamaica.

The School’s Wellness Club Essay and Poster Competition is an offshoot of the Schools Wellness Club, an extra curricular programme developed by Blue Cross of Jamaica, Jamaica National Building Society and Andrew’s Memorial Hospital for all school age children in Jamaica. Over 272 students from 74 schools across the island entered the competition, which was staged in three categories; category A – ages 7-9; category B ages 10-13 and category C ages 14-16.

Of the six students who mined gold in the competition, Sherene’s story and that of her school is exceptional. She originally won a five-year art scholarship. However, because of her economic circumstances, her parents David and Claudine Francis requested that the prize be converted into a tuition purse for her to attend high school. This was easy to do as a review of her last school report revealed that she is a blossoming scholar destined for academic greatness. Of the 11 subjects, she pursued, she scored 10 As’ and a solitary B.

Her high grades in the GSAT examinations (all 90s) secured for her a coveted place at Holy Childhood High School, which she began, attending at the start of the current school year. “Ever since she was in Grade One, she wanted to attend that school,” Mrs. Francis said. “From those days I saw something special in her.”

There is also something special about Inverness Primary and Infant School. The institution won four of the 20 top prizes in the Schools Wellness Club competition. Principal Miss Jeffrey Campbell reveals that over the years, the school has been excelling in various competitions.

Undoubtedly, being small in a deep rural community faced every day with limited resources has not dampened the creative and competitive spirit of the teachers and students of Inverness. “We stay alert for these competitions,” Miss Campbell asserted.

And their vigilance has certainly paid off. Since the beginning of this year, they have copped nine first places in various competitions. In the Peace Corps Creative Thinking Competition, they gained the second and third prizes as well as four honourable mentions. They also won the prize for best overall school in the 4 H competition and also first prize in the 4 H Challenge competition. They also placed 7th in the National Spelling Bee Competition. And now they have won four top prizes in the Schools Wellness Essay and Poster Competition, sweeping the entire category A ages 7-9.

Founded in 1960, Inverness is located in the Alexandria Community in the hills above Brown’s Town, St. Ann. According to Miss Campbell, “When I took up the position six years ago, I was faced with a run down school on the verge of closing with only 50 students. However, with the assistance of a dynamic school chairman, Claude Dussard, we revitalized the school. We formed the School Community Outreach Programme in Education (SCOPE) group. This group worked with the school hand in hand as well as the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), Past Students Association and the community. Through their help we were able to continuously improve the school,” Miss Campbell said.

The Mission of School’s Wellness Club is to encourage healthy lifestyle, promote talents and creative development, provide exposure to money management and facilitate educational competition among participants. The programme’s objectives include assisting students and their families to meet their physical, financial, intellectual, spiritual and mental health needs, whilst contributing to the well being of school staff, the creation of healthy school environment and maximizing school achievement through the efforts of increased awareness of wholesome health practices, knowledge and wise financial management.