Years in Review

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As a once-in-a-century pandemic descends upon the entire world, we’ve all experienced the continued lockdown in our communities. While COVID-19 lingers, some people refuse to take the life-saving vaccine, and the debates about wearing masks to diminish the spread of the virus continues. The United States barely survived political upheaval as hundreds of insurrectionists who refused to accept the results of the US Presidential Elections, stormed the nation’s capital. Suffice it to say, 2021 has been the world’s most challenging and unforgettable year to date. 

Through it all, our Association was able to meet its goals against the backdrop of the never-ending chaos. We continue to depend on technology, now a part of our daily routine, as some of us continue to work or learn from home.  Thanks to the principal and vice principal who kept us abreast on pertinent matters. 

We are pleased to report that, as unrelenting as the headwinds are, we see citizens and communities across the world exhibiting courage, humility and sacrifice. 

We were able to accomplish the following: 

· Bi-weekly Prayer Calls

· Scheduled monthly meetings

· Donated 25 tablets to the school

· Donated 44 Easter Packages to the school

· Conducted online mentorship to students

· Participated in UJAA’s Mega Raffle

· Nominated by JDAFCA for service & contribution to Jamaica

· Celebrated our 30th Anniversary with a Gala in October 

· Donated 18 Learnit Tablets

· Hosted Game-Night on Fridays

· Holiday Zoom Party (Dec 19)

We thank and commend Lesleyann Samuel for her leadership, encouragement, and support, along with the UJAA team for their unparalleled work and dedication in keeping us informed of the happenings throughout the year.

We are currently working on our next joint event with the school, as we collaborate to celebrate their 135th Anniversary with a week of activities. The event will be held Jamaica from January 16-23, 2022. 

We look forward to a greater and better year in 2022.

As we enter the new year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the challenges and successes of the past year. Despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been some positive outcomes, such as the adoption of remote work policies by many companies, which has become a permanent part of our daily routine. While there have also been indications of rising inflation worldwide, we are confident that we can overcome these challenges with the lessons we have learned and the support of our leaders. We would like to express our gratitude to the principal and vice principal for keeping us informed throughout the year. As we move forward into 2023, we are excited to continue working together towards our goals and achieving even greater accomplishments.

We have successfully hosted quarterly meetings, conducted online mentorship to students, participated in UJAA's Mega Raffle, collaborated with the school to celebrate its 135th Anniversary in Jamaica, donated 44 LearnIT Tablets, and hosted various events such as annual Fun Day in the Park and Game-Night on Fridays. Additionally, we participated in "The Joyous Noel Annual Christmas Benefit Concert" and celebrated the holiday season with a party. We extend our gratitude to Lesleyann Samuel for her leadership, encouragement, and support, along with the UJAA team for their unparalleled work and dedication in keeping us informed of the happenings throughout the year. We also congratulate Donovan Wilson on his new elected position as President and look forward to continuing working with UJAA. 

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our upcoming 3-day weekend fundraising event on October 12-14 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are committed to making 2023 even better and brighter, and we thank our community for their continued support and partnership.

The Shortwood Past Students Association is delighted to share our accomplishments from the year 2023. Despite facing resource constraints, we were able to provide substantial support to the school and students in their robotics efforts. Our donations included a Robotics Kit, refurbishment of the school's STEM Lab, 24 stools and 7 tables for the STEM Lab, among others. We also sponsored the students who attended the 1st Lego League, where they placed 2nd, and a teacher to the Turkey Robotics Competition in Montego Bay. 

In addition to our philanthropic efforts, we participated in UJAA Mega Raffle, hosted our annual family fun day in the summer and a Celebration Gala in Fort Lauderdale, which was a great success. We closed the year with our annual holiday party and will continue with our bi-weekly prayer calls, as well as Friday and Saturday evening Bingo. These events were a great way to connect with our past students and supporters, and we are grateful for their continued contribution and support. 

We are committed to supporting the school in any way we can, and we look forward to a brighter 2024. We are proud of what we have achieved together, and we hope to continue to make a positive impact on the school and the community.

Thanks to Donovan Wilson, President and the UJAA team for their continued leadership and support. Best wishes for a better & brighter 2024!