OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica)

PROPOSED SCHEDULE @ January 5:
♥ Wednesday, January 13: OPENING CEREMONY: Special presentations include by Winston “Bello” Bell(actor, I am the change founder), Barrington Watson(master painter and patron), Patrick James
♥ January 14: “Expressions” Special presentations include by Donald Oliver(PM Award recipient for excellence), Farenheit(actor, singer, musician), Emma Lewis(US Embassy), Shaggy Parrot book reading
♥ January 15: “Careers in Art”:Special presentations include by Peter Lloyd (actor, singer);
♥ Wednesday, January 20: “Linking Art to arts”:Special presentations include by Jermaine Gordon(motivator, composer,author, musician), Leighton Levy (journalist, media personality), Jerico Hanson (retired educator)
♥ January 21: “Building a a nation through a better understanding of the Arts”: Special presentation include by Anthony Henry(journalist, photographer), Bookophilia,JookyJam
♥ Friday, January 22: CLOSING CEREMONY
Creative workshop series end with Solid performances

SPONSORS:

(Whistling Frog (Sebastian Odgen)), P Gavin James graphics, Howard Moo Young (master at graphic design and photography, Print Xpress, Hot off the Press, Berger Paint, Burger King, Videographer Robin Chin, owner of Enhanced Realizm Studios and his team, Xclusiv Entertainment, Paralegal Dwane Forbes)

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Jamaica’s OAaSIS International Foundation launches creative workshop series
DAY 1: Jamaican artistes, artists ignite young minds
DAY 2: New creative depth for students through creative series
DAY 3: Colonel Derby, Peter Lloyd, artists time out for children
DAY 4: Creative connections at Allman Town Primary
DAY 5: Workshop stirs creative power at Allman Town Primary
DAY SIX(6): Creative workshop series end with Solid performances
DAY 6: Starry end to inaugural OAaSIS Fdn’s creative workshop series
DAY 6: Allman Town Primary thanks over 30 artists, artistes for creative workshop series

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Creative workshop series end with Solid performances

BACKGROUND OF THE SCHOOL

The Allman Town Primary School is nestled in the heart of Central Kingston. Catering to the needs of the immediate environs – Allman Town, Kingston Gardens, Campbell Town, Fletchers Land, and Beverly Gardens, there is an increasing number of students from the Spanish Town and Portmore communities.

The school is accessible from two main thoroughfares: Marascaux Road and Arnold Road.
The school, which was originally built to accommodate 1000 students,  has a total of 567 student - 305 boys and 262 girls. Principal Khandi-Lee Crooks-Smith says that punctuality has taken a giant leap, as an active PTA body is now in place, and the parents have been monitoring the gates in the mornings.

Of the 19 members of the academic staff including the principal, there are 11 auxillary staff members, including two full time volunteers.

The low socio-economic status of parents which drastically affected the attendance of students, is improving. High percentages of the people are unemployed, and spend most of their time on the streets. For many parents, sending their children to school was not a priority, and some even made it an impossibility.

The stigma attached to the school was that it was one of the noted underachiever and indisciplined institution, located in an inner-city community, known for crime and violence.’ Now the school is on an upward trend, and those views have been dispelled.
She spoke with the Gleaner about some of the school’s needs as a Crusader for the Arts.

ARTFUL ACHIEVEMENTS

The school participated in the Lion’sClub of Downton Kingston’s National Pride Competition, and placed second in the Art Competition, using the theme, “this is Jamaica My Jamaica, Bring Back the National Pride.”  The pieces were done by a Grade 5 student- Shaquille Crosse.

Shaquille is an introvert, but very mannerable. He is naturally gifted in the area of visual arts, and is now a member of the School’s Junior Challenge Quiz Team. He also represented the school in the 4H Achievement Day Competition with craft pieces. The school also received a trophy for the “table napkins category.”

CREATIVE PROJECTS

At present, the school’s dining room is being converted into a visual an performing arts centre. This will facilitate the growth and exposition of the aethetic values that the students naturally have. The school has a Drama Teacher (part-time) and is pursuing a part time music teacher who will begin in January 2010. Drumming classes will begin this month as an extra curicular activity.
The supplies available at present are sheets of news print paper, pencils and wax crayons. All classes have a time for art in their timetables, that spans the entire week. These times will allow the room to be free for use and equally shared among the arts.

FROM THE OAaSIS

Recognizing the challenges of obtaining a formal visual arts teacher, OAaSIS will work with principal and parents, artistically inclined to fill this gap. A schedule of sessions being sorted is for the strict intention of preparing the students for their entry into formal art classes.
Anyone wishing to be a part is being asked to contact the principal Mrs Kandi Lee-Crooks (876-967-3385) or OAaSIS (using the contact form).

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So far volunteers include:
Young master painter Bernard Hoyes, former resident of Allman Town who now resides in the US.
Jermaine Gordon, author of Colour My Thoughts and a musician. He is currently working on his newest book Discovering the Gold in You.