Jolyn Bryan, Star Writer

Students of the Morant Bay High School in St Thomas recently benefited from motivational and inspirational talks facilitated by some members of the graduating class of 1985, who held their 30th anniversary alumni day at the institution.

Maxine Osbourne Foster, organiser of the event, told The Star that the class of '85 was keen on helping the students to develop and to move past the recent spate of violent incidents that was plaguing the school.

"We thought that, instead of having fun, we could do some good at our alma mater, so we organised for our members to come in and give talks and just to inspire the students and to bring some positive energy to the school," Osbourne Foster said.

Operating under the theme 'Discipline, Morals and Values, Educate, Motivate and Inspire', professionals from all walks of life gave talks to students from first to fifth form, with a special emphasis on developing soft skills to complement educational achievement.

Osbourne Foster explained that it was important that alumni of the school make presentations, as this would foster a deeper connection with students, showing them that graduates from Morant Bay High School were in every field and all over the world. It was important, she said, for alumni to set a good example to students and to underscore the importance of some of the values they had been taught that were equally important to success as good grades. Sixth formers, who were transitioning into college or into jobs, were also given encouragement and tips.

Special emphasis was also placed on child abuse and sexual abuse, an issue that has come to the fore in recent months in St Thomas.

"We see people who come to counsellors at 40 and 50 with issues that started at three or four, that could have been prevented," Osbourne Foster, a licensed pastoral and clinical counsellor, explained. "Prevention is better than cure. We have to identify these issues as early as possible, as well as convey the message that education is the way out of poverty and out of any difficult situation."

Julie Marie Mansfield, a native of Seaforth and graduate of Morant Bay High, and a survivor of child sexual abuse, read excerpts of her book Maybe God was Busy and led students in the discussion surrounding sexual abuse.

"It is a conversation that needs to be started," Mansfield said. "We need to dispel myths about the abuse of both males and females and to dispel misconceptions. We need to make children aware of what is happening and what can happen so they are empowered."

Special recognition was also given to teachers and staff of the institution for the good work they continued to do with limited resources, in a short ceremony at the end of the day. Teachers Nicola Holness, Lorveen Bell-Coates and Michael Coates, with more than 100 years of teaching experience between them, were also given special awards, as a token of gratitude by the alumni, most of whom they had taught. Reverend Dr Devon Dick was also specially recognised for his contribution to the institution and to St Thomas in general.