By Noel Thompson, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE PARENT Teachers Association (PTA) of Mt Alvernia Kindergarten and Preparatory School, in Montego Bay, is appealing for public assistance in their bid to raise an additional $5 million to complete work on the school's multi-purpose auditorium.
According to Winston McKane, the president of the PTA, the project which is estimated to cost $17 million, is now well under way. However, he said that they had only managed to raise $12 million from their various fundraising events, leaving them with a shortfall of $5 million.
"I am appealing to all past students, other support groups and parents to lend some assistance to the project in order for us to achieve this goal," Mr. McKane said. We are also planning a number of fundraising events to be held for the remainder of this year and into next year to see if we can garner some more funds."
Among the events being planned by the PTA are a Bar-B-Que, a fair and a fish fry, which Mr. McKane said they were hoping to incorporate with a family fun day. This he expects will be the PTA's main fundraiser between now and next year.
"The Mount Alvernia Preparatory PTA will be embarking on a massive fundraising drive, it will be seeking to solicit corporate sponsorship where possible," said Mr. McKane, who added that the names of sponsors and/or their companies would be inscribed onto the building when the project was completed.
According to Mr. McKane, construction on the project, which started actively during the week of October 21, is progressing reasonably well. He said the school community had a very good support base, namely the Franciscan Sisters, Principal Mrs. Hyacinth Myrie; Bishop of Montego Bay - Charles Dufour; the PTA executive; teachers and parents and other fundraising committee members.
Mount Alvernia Preparatory School, now one of the top preparatory schools in Montego Bay, started out as a small institution in 1925 and has since grown to satisfy the needs of the community in providing the quality education it is noted for.
"We want to continue equipping the pupils so that when they leave for high schools they will be well-rounded," said Mr. McKane. "Hence the need arose to formally construct a computer lab. Computer technology has been introduced to the students, but there is a need to increase the space."
Upon completion, the $17 million project will house an auditorium, a computer lab, a library, music room and additional classrooms.
The Mount Alvernia Kindergarten and Preparatory School, which is being operated under the direction and sole jurisdiction of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny in New York, is a privately run catholic co-educational institution for children age four to 12.
