THE Digicel Foundation says there has been tremendous improvement in the progress of the 51 special needs students enrolled at its centre of excellence opened a few months ago in St Thomas.

“The school, which opened its doors in September 2017 in the seaside village of Lyssons in St Thomas, is showing tremendous potential for the further development of students’ learning skills. With help and support coming from the wider community, the prospects for its plans and programmes in 2018 are looking up.

“Our students have shown vast improvement in all areas,” said centre coordinator, Jacqueline Hendricks Wilmot, as she expressed her gratitude for the school building from Digicel Foundation.

Constructed at a cost of $36.6 million, the school comprises three classrooms, a kitchen, a lunch area, students’ and teachers’ bathrooms, a sick bay, and an administrative block. The classrooms, kitchen, lunch and administrative areas were provided fully furnished.

Of the 51 students with special needs who are showing improvement, eight are on the autism spectrum at different levels, one has physical challenges and the others show varying levels of intellectual disability.

“We remain committed to enhancing the lives of, and providing opportunities for members of the special needs community in Jamaica,” said Jean Lowrie-Chin, chairman of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation.

“During the commemoration of our 10th anniversary in 2014, we pledged to construct or fully equip 10 special needs facilities in Jamaica, and we are elated to see the completion of this project,” she said.

The school plans to offer a technical vocational programme to develop the students’ skills in digital animation, agriculture, welding, home economics, numeracy and literacy.

“This centre of excellence is keeping parents in the picture with the recent launch of its ‘Phenomenal Parents Month,” said coordinator Jacqueline Hendricks Wilmot. “We brought the parents in every week, with demonstrations on healthy meal preparation,” she pointed out. “Nutrition is high on our agenda because it also contributes to the complete development of every student,” she added.

According to the coordinator, the school wants to set up a breakfast programme to further promote healthy eating habits. parents now meet regularly for roundtable talks at the school about students’ nutrition, sharing best practices and airing the challenges they face, while seeking solutions.

“This centre of excellence is poised for growth. We have the energy! We are not lazy, we work hard,” commented Hendricks Wilmot.

The children, she said, are excited about all the learning possibilities.