St. Mary's Preparatory & Kindergarten

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK RECAP | ST. MARY'S PREPARATORY & KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL

We wrapped up an engaging and practical Professional Development Week 2026 with our dedicated teachers, and we are ready to start the new school year stronger than ever!

'Theme: Growing Together. Inspiring Excellence. Empowering Educators.'

Over 3 days, our teachers participated in hands-on workshops designed to equip, refresh, and empower them for the classroom:

MONDAY AUGUST 31
'Quick Quizzes, Big Impact: Digital Assessment Made Easy' with Ms. W. Whittingham
Teachers explored practical, student-friendly digital tools to make assessment more engaging and meaningful.

'Kings and Queens: Teaching Thinking, Not Just Reading' with Mrs. Nicola Shakes -Wilson
Focus: Practical literacy strategies to move beyond surface-level questions and promote critical thinking and deeper comprehension.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1 Science Detectives: Investigate Our World (STEM) with Mrs. Konor Peters
A STEM focus session filled with engaging, hands-on learning experiences to build students’ curiosity, observation, and inquiry skills.

Filling Your Own Cup: From Burnout to Balance with Ms. Michelle Bernard & Ms. Deishawna White
A powerful session on well-being. Teachers developed personal self-care plans and learned practical stress management strategies to stay balanced while serving others.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2
Traditional Folk form & Speech with Mr. Harriott
Teachers increased their awareness of the Performing Arts Programme and explored creative ways to integrate folk forms and speech into everyday learning.

THE IMPACT
✅ All presentation objectives were met
✅ Teachers were actively engaged, collaborative, and energized
✅ Practical strategies were shared for immediate classroom use
✅ Emphasis on STEM, digital tools, literacy, wellness, and culture
✅ Our team leaves feeling empowered and inspired to commence the new school year!

At St. Mary’s, we believe that 'Learning Together, Growing Together, Inspiring Every Child starts with investing in our educators.'

Thank you to all our presenters and to our amazing teaching team for your commitment to excellence!



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16/05/2026

Today marked a special milestone at St. Mary’s Preparatory & Kindergarten School as we hosted our very first Buffet Lunch Day!
Our Grade 4–6 students were excited to enjoy the experience of selecting their lunches from a wide variety of delicious dishes. It was a day filled with smiles, excitement, good manners, and happy hearts.
A wonderful experience in building independence, confidence, and social etiquette while enjoying great food together!

18/04/2026

Gratitude. Resilience. Progress.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the St. Mary’s Preparatory School family has been tested,but through unity, generosity, and unwavering determination, we continue to rise stronger each day.

Today, we pause to express our deepest and most sincere gratitude to all who have stood with us on this journey of recovery and rebuilding.

A very special thank you to Jeanette and her husband from the United States, whose leadership and compassion spearheaded a GoFundMe initiative that raised an incredible $1.5 million Jamaican dollars (USD $10,000) in support of our school. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on our students, staff, and wider school community.

We also extend heartfelt appreciation to every donor who contributed to this effort. Because of your generosity, we have successfully rebuilt five classrooms, creating safe and welcoming spaces for our students to continue their education.

Additionally, we have begun permanent construction, laying the foundation for a brick structure that represents strength, stability, and a brighter future.

Our initial temporary structures allowed us to quickly resume face-to-face teaching and learning, ensuring that our students’ education was not disrupted despite the challenges we faced.

While we celebrate these milestones, our journey is far from complete. We humbly invite others to join us in this mission. With your continued support, we can fully restore and enhance our school, providing an even stronger and more resilient learning environment for our students.
Together, we rebuild. Together, we rise.

16/04/2026

From the winds of Hurricane Melissa to the will of a determined school family ; this is the story of St. Mary’s Preparatory and Kindergarten School.

There was a moment when silence replaced laughter, when classrooms were no longer walls but memories, and when uncertainty hovered over 302 bright, eager minds. But even then, hope never left us.

Today, that hope stands tall.
In the face of adversity, we did not wait ;we acted. With resilience as our foundation, we rebuilt temporary board structures so that every single one of our 302 students could return to learning. Not one was left behind. And now, brick by brick, we are rising even stronger, as construction begins on permanent concrete buildings designed for sustainability and security.

But rebuilding has never been just about structures ,it’s about spirit.
Even in recovery, our students continue to shine. We proudly participated in inter-school activities, including the Black History Quiz, fostering awareness and pride in our heritage. Our voices and talents echoed through the Annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festivals, where one of our very own has advanced to the national finals playing the keyboard . This is an extraordinary achievement that fills us with pride.

Traditions remained alive, even when circumstances changed. Our beloved Kindergarten Track and Field Meet now 9 years strong ,was held without sponsorship this year. While participation was smaller, with nine schools instead of the usual seventeen, the spirit was bigger than ever. We chose courage over convenience, unity over uncertainty.

We also paused to celebrate what matters most community and culture. From our vibrant Jamaica Day celebrations to our observance of Peace Day, and even our cherished Valentine’s Lunch Hour gathering, we created moments of joy, connection, and healing.

St. Mary’s Preparatory and Kindergarten School is not just rebuilding buildings ,we are rebuilding hearts, minds, and a future filled with promise. Physically, psychologically, emotionally, and socially, we are stronger than before.
This is resilience.
This is unity.
This is Mary’s Preparatory School.

04/03/2026

Today, our hearts were full as the students of our school led a beautiful and interactive Peace Day observance

Through songs, prayers, engaging activities, and meaningful discussions, our little ones were reminded of the importance of kindness, love, and peaceful living. It was truly inspiring to see our school community come together to nurture these values in such a joyful way.
Thank you to our dedicated students for making this Peace Day celebration so special and impactful .

04/03/2026

What a vibrant and memorable celebration it was! Our Jamaica Day 2026 was filled with excitement, culture, and national pride as students enthusiastically participated in a variety of traditional games, sports, and cultural activities.
From classic Jamaican ring games to traditional outdoor sports, our children embraced the richness of our heritage while learning, laughing, and building teamwork. The day truly highlighted the spirit of unity and patriotism that makes us proud to say, “Out of Many, One People.”
Thank you to our staff, students, and supportive parents who helped to make this celebration a wonderful success.
🇯🇲

07/02/2026

Today was pure vibes and culture! 🇯🇲🎤
Our Lunch Hour Concert was a powerful celebration of the birthday and legacy of the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley, as music filled the air and hearts connected through his timeless messages of love, unity, and freedom.
In proud partnership with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), St. James, we welcomed four participating schools alongside our school family for an afternoon bursting with talent, rhythm, and inspiration.
The songs reminded us that Bob Marley’s legacy lives on ; in our voices, our youths, and our culture.
One Love. One Heart. One Jamaica. ✊🏾

.Mary'sPrep

31/01/2026

St. Mary’s Preparatory and Kindergarten School extends heartfelt thanks to the Chinese community for their generous donation of J$1,000,000, which will go directly toward the initial purchase of building materials to commence the rebuilding of our institution. This timely contribution comes after the school was severely devastated by Hurricane Melissa and further impacted by looting from sections of the community. We are deeply grateful for this show of solidarity and now appeal to other partners , corporate Jamaica and international donors to join this rebuilding effort, as we work collectively to restore a vital institution that serves our children and wider community.

18/01/2026

On behalf of the Board, administration, staff, students, and wider family of St. Mary’s Preparatory and Kindergarten, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese community of Montego Bay, St. James, for your generous donation of one million dollars toward our rebuilding efforts.
After Hurricane Melissa damaged over 80% of our school, and the painful loss of nearly 90% of our possessions due to looting, your kindness came at a moment when hope was greatly needed. Your support is more than a financial contribution; it is a powerful act of compassion, solidarity, and belief in education.
Thank you for standing with us in our time of need and for helping to restore not just buildings, but dreams, stability, and a future for our children. Your generosity will forever be remembered and appreciated.