The Chapelton All-Age School in north-central Clarendon recently honoured six of its retired teachers for an accumulated 233 years of service to the Jamaican education system.

The six - Gloria Bennett (43 years), Hazel Brown (36 years), Eucinda Green (38 years) Adlin Simms (34 years), Birdie Williams (40 years) and Hortense Williams (42 years) - were honoured during a ceremony at the Salem United Church in Chapelton.

- George Henry

A number of persons in Annotto Bay and surrounding communities in St. Mary are benefiting from skills training in food preparation, which is designed to improve their employability.

The programme, which began in January, is the collaborative effort of the Annotto Bay Methodist Church and the business community. Louise O'Hara, coordinator of the training programme, says 13 persons were participating in the sessions, which were held on Thursday of each week at the church hall.

- JIS

While lauding the world-class qualification of graduates from the South Western Region of Heart Trust/NTA, at the Kendal Conference Centre in Manchester recently, executive director of the trust, Robert Gregory, reminded them of the transience of their qualification.

Receiving certificates were 1,788 young men and women trained at the Black River Vocational Training Centre, Ebony Park Academy, Junction VTC, New Port VTC, Enterprise-Based Training and Mandeville caregivers.

- Byron McDaniel

Six schools from western Jamaica attended the second annual Sandals Whitehouse Hotel Interdepartment Trade Show, which provided a wealth of information for the students, most of whom are currently pursuing courses directly related to the hospitality industry.

Assistant public relations manager of the hotel, Keith Wedderburn, told The Gleaner that the idea behind the interdepartment trade show was to give the students from the various skills training centres in western Jamaica a feel for what makes up the day-to-day operations of the hotel.

- Rayon Dyer

The School of Hope in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, which caters to children with learning disabilities, has been given a well-needed Christmas gift with a donation of $100,000 from Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB).

The donation, the second such gift the Santa Cruz branch of the financial institution is making this festive season, was presented to the school earlier this week.

The gift to the School of Hope learning centre was made possible through the efforts of the Rotary Club of Santa Cruz, which has entered into a partnership with JMMB in being a ray of hope to the unfortunate children in the parish.

- Michael McLean

Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, Dr. Simon Clarke, has called on teachers to help their students develop a sense of dignity, personal worth and respect for self and others, in order to rid the society of "lewdness, rudeness and crudeness."

Dr. Clarke, who was addressing a recent graduation ceremony at the Sam Sharpe Teachers' College in Montego Bay, said he knew of no country or society, which has developed socially, economically or politically, that has encouraged a culture of slackness.